Radiohead plays to the depth of their fans rather than the masses (London O2 Arena, Night 3 11/24/25)

Thom Yorke performs ‘Paranoid Android’ under vivid blue lights during Radiohead’s 2025 European Tour.

Jade Read

President / Editor-In-Chief

November 24th, 2025

Radiohead's four nights back in the homeland were some of the most anticipated nights in music this year. After a seven year hiatus, Radiohead decided it was time to get back on the saddle and take over the pinnacles of Europe with a 20 night tour spanning from the 4th of November until the 12th of December.

In a public statement by drummer, Phillip Selway, he said "last year, we got together to rehearse, just for the hell of it". This initial jam session is what sparked the idea for a European Tour. The band felt together again, and after so much grief, loss, and new beginnings it was perhaps time.

For some context, Radiohead’s most recent tour, the A Moon Shaped Pool tour, was a long and unusual stretch for the band. It began in May 2016 and wrapped up two years later, though not without some difficult moments. During the break between the first and second legs of the tour, Thom Yorke’s partner, Rachel Owen, passed away in December 2016, only four months before the band was scheduled to continue. Her death put the group in an extremely challenging place. Even so, they decided to move forward, began the next leg on time, and ultimately finished the tour on a strong note.

Afterward, the band members felt they needed time to re-center themselves. Ed O’Brien even expressed uncertainty about continuing with the group. Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood stayed closely connected and eventually formed The Smile, releasing new music and touring worldwide during Radiohead’s hiatus. Thom also remarried in 2020, marrying Italian actress Dajana Roncione. Philip Selway remained active by releasing his third solo album, Strange Dance, and contributing to various compilation and tribute projects, including The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs of Nick Drake. Colin Greenwood joined Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for their 2024 tour and contributed to their album Wild God, stepping in while longtime bassist Martyn P. Casey was ill.

With their new growth, Radiohead revisited their roots, jamming on 65 songs to decide their tour setlist. Guitarist Ed O'Neil explained to NME that no two shows are alike, as the band takes a "busking attitude" to their setlists. This is managed by the 'Setlist Committee' of Thom Yorke, Ed O'Neil, and Phillip Selway, excluding Johnny and Colin Greenwood due to their self-acknowledged 'indecisiveness'. The setlist is chosen just hours before each show, leading to significant variations. For instance, the first night at the O2 featured five songs from "Hail to the Thief," while the third night focused on "OK Computer" and "In Rainbows," with "Hail to the Thief" only having 3 songs make the cut. This unpredictability makes the shows exciting and tense for die hard but riskier for less acclimated fans.

Johnny Greenwood onstage at the O2 during Radiohead’s 2025 European tour.

The third night kicked off with the classic "Planet Telex" from The Bends, followed by the tour's usual opener, "2 + 2 = 5." This led into a Hail to the Thief double feature as the music transitioned into "Sit Down. Stand Up." The concert quickly turned into a series of hits, with the audience instantly recognizing each song from the first note. Some dedicated fans could even predict the next song just by the instruments being picked up. As they switched instruments, the band gradually changed their positions on stage, offering the audience fresh perspectives of the performance. At times, we'd see Thom Yorke's raving dancing, while at others, Jonny Greenwood's rapid shredding on his signature Telecaster took the spotlight. No matter what perspective you had of the circular center stage, you were treated to the talent of one of the five who made up the band that took innovation as their mantra.

Despite all this energy, the band kept their speaking to a minimum. Thom Yorke addressed the audience only briefly,just a few words here and there, and the rest of the members remained silent. The night was carried almost entirely by the music, a deliberate choice that felt unmistakably Radiohead.

Later in the set, the arena was filled with random distorted radio noises, marking the tour debut of "Climbing Up the Walls." This added another win for OK Computer fans that night. With all the songs performed, it seemed impossible for the show to get any better, but then came the encore—a perfect blend of everything Radiohead in just seven songs. Starting with the heart-wrenching "Fake Plastic Trees," the audience was in complete awe. The band knew exactly what the audience wanted to hear and delivered accordingly. It was one hit after another, with a short appearance of Amnesiac featuring "You and Whose Army?" The performance finally wrapped up with the masterpiece "Karma Police."

Radiohead’s third night at the O2 Arena on November 24th, 2025 brought together new fans, old songs, new beginnings, and old bandmates. It may not have catered to the casual fan, but it was everything the devoted ones could hope for.

Setlist:

1. Planet Telex

2. 2 + 2 = 5

3. Sit Down. Stand Up.

4. Lucky

5. 15 Step

6. The Gloaming

7. Kid A

8. No Surprises

9. Videotape

10. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi

11. Idioteque

12. Everything in Its Right Place (Björk’s “Unravel” intro)

13. Bloom

14. The National Anthem

15. Daydreaming

16. Let Down

17. Climbing Up the Walls (tour debut)

18. Bodysnatchers

    
    

Encore

19. Fake Plastic Trees

20. Jigsaw Falling Into Place

21. Paranoid Android

22. All I Need

23. You and Whose Army?

24. Just

25. Karma Police