Radiohead have recently alluded that they are set to tour again after a seven year hiatus as it was revealed that several tickets to a “Radiohead concert of your choice” were recently donated to a charity auction for the Los Angeles fire relief fund by the band’s own management. They last toured in 2018 and have been off the stage since, not releasing new music since their ninth album A Moon Shaped Pool back in 2016, so fans are eager for their return to the music scene.
The band were formed right here in Oxford with their debut album Pablo Honey containing the infamous smash hit Creep, which has since become their legacy – and from what I hear a popular BOP tune. The band members, including main vocalist and songwriter Thom Yorke, met at Abingdon School and formed the band in 1985. They have always maintained the connection to their roots here in Oxford, with an exhibition even set for this Autumn in the Ashmolean; the museum’s website promising it ‘will explore the visual art of Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke and the iconic images of Radiohead’ and hold over 180 object from the artists’ 30-year collaboration.
Rumours have been sparked of a Radiohead return since the band incorporated a new LLP (limited liability partnership) a few weeks ago; a business entity that allows Radiohead to work outside the confines of a standard label model. In Radiohead history, a new LLP has always meant a new release:
‘In 2016, the group incorporated the entities Dawn Chorus LLP and Dawnnchoruss Ltd., which later released A Moon Shaped Pool. Back in 2007, Radiohead formed Xurbia Xendless Ltd. ahead of In Rainbows. The band established Ticker Tape LTD in 2010 before releasing The King Of Limbs. And four years ago, they incorporated Spin With A Grin just six months before announcing the 2021 compilation Kid A Mnesia.’1
Moreover, Resident Advisor reports that an unnamed source close to the group, has since reached out and confirmed to the magazine that the band are already placing holds on venues for a Eurpoean leg of their potential tour, predicted to take place this Autumn.
It’s clear the band have been working together, as they recently shared a playlist of The Bends’ B-sides and remixes in celebration of the album’s 30th anniversary. The album was Radiohead’s second full record produced by John Leckie, and was instrumental in propelling them into stardom. It also marked their first time recording with Nigel Godrich, who has worked with them on every single Radiohead album since. The release of this playlist comes right after the band shared an unseen live video of one of Yorke’s solo shows from the time of the release of ‘The Bends’.
However, in an unfortunate twist the Radiohead auction tickets have now been removed and replaced by a generic offer of “Four Premier Concert Tickets”. Fans still remain hopeful however, as multiple media outlets managed to publish evidence of the original listing before its removal.
Moreover, the band seem unbothered by fans’ demands for their return. Just last year, Yorke made headlines in his comment to Australian outlet Double J by declaring “I am not aware of it and don’t really give a flying fuck.” He continued, “No offence to anyone and err, thanks for caring. But I think we’ve earned the right to do what makes sense to us without having to explain ourselves or be answerable to anyone else’s historical idea of what we should be doing.”
Opinions and evidence seems to be split. Whether our Oxford musical heritage is going to reenter mainstream is yet to be decided. Fans are still hopeful nevertheless and I personally hope for a tour announcement soon.