Is Radiohead still doing tours?

Is Radiohead Still Touring? The Complete Guide To This Legendary Band‘s Live Performances Over The Decades

Hey there music fan! Have you ever dreamed of seeing the iconic band Radiohead play live? I totally get it – their live shows are the stuff of legend among fans like us.

As a fellow devoted Radiohead listener myself, I‘ve done a deep dive into their extensive touring history over the past 30+ years. Let‘s explore it together, so you can get the full picture on whether Radiohead is still touring and when we might get to see them live again!

Radiohead‘s Humble Beginnings on the Road (Early 90s)

Can you believe Radiohead has been around since 1985?! They started out small just like any band – playing tiny clubs and dreaming of hitting it big someday.

After self-releasing some early EPs, Radiohead got their first big break opening for more established UK bands like Belly and PJ Harvey across English venues in 1992. It gave them a taste of life on the road.

When their debut single "Creep" became a surprise hit in 1993, the tours got bigger. They opened for the popular band Tears for Fears on a European tour, exposing them to thousands of new fans in countries like Spain and France for the first time.

By 1994, Radiohead felt ready to headline their own small venue tour across the UK, supporting their critically acclaimed second album The Bends. They played theaters and clubs like Dublin‘s Olympia and London‘s Astoria, gaining a passionate local fanbase. It was an exciting preview of what was to come!

Radiohead Mania on the Rise! (Mid 90s)

Okay, now we get to the fun part – when Radiohead started blowing up big time!

The release of 1995‘s The Bends marked Radiohead‘s transformation into alternative rock superstars. Suddenly they were headlining major music festivals like Reading/Leeds and touring across Australia‘s Big Day Out in early 1996.

Then Radiohead went supernova with their 1997 masterpiece OK Computer. I still remember hearing songs like "Paranoid Android" and "Karma Police" on mainstream radio, feeling like something new and exciting was happening in rock music again.

Some key stats from this era:

• 6 months straight touring across 3 continents to support OK Computer

• Sold out their first ever North American arena shows, including New York‘s Madison Square Garden

• Headlined Glastonbury Festival in 1997 to a crowd of over 100,000 people

Watching footage of their explosive live performances from this period, you can feel Radiohead on the cusp of becoming one of the defining bands of their generation. It must have been INCREDIBLE to see them live back then!

The Insane Peak of Radiohead Fandom (Early 2000s)

If you were an avid Radiohead fan during their heyday in the early 2000s, you were definitely in for an amazing ride. This was when following their tours became an obsession and almost a lifestyle.

In 2000 and 2001, Radiohead was out on the road again supporting their sonically adventurous albums Kid A and Amnesiac. You never knew what to expect from their live shows during this electronica-influenced era.

Some memorable moments included:

• Performing the haunting piano ballad "Pyramid Song" with the actual Pyramids of Giza as their stage backdrop!

• Doing an intimate concert for just 16,000 lucky fans in South Park, Colorado

• Headlining the very first Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2002 with an earth-shaking set

By 2003, Radiohead was so popular they could sell out multiple nights at arenas like New York‘s Madison Square Garden again. Any Radiohead gig was the hottest ticket in town!

Some Quieter Years…and an Unforgettable Comeback! (Late 2000s)

After their extensive touring for Hail to the Thief in 2003-04, Radiohead decided to take a break from the road to focus on solo projects for a while. As a superfan, I impatiently counted down the days until their return!

They finally came back with a jolt in 2007, surprising fans with their brand new digital album In Rainbows and spontaneously announcing a series of super intimate "secret shows" at London‘s 93 Feet East club.

Can you imagine being one of the lucky few hundred people to catch Radiohead playing for fun in a tiny pub?! It seemed like the band was refreshed and having fun again.

Those special small gigs paved the way for their big 2008 arena tour across America. I remember the sheer excitement seeing them fill venues like New York‘s United Palace Theater again like it was yesterday. Vintage Radiohead was alive and well!

Radiohead Live – The Sporadic Years (2010s)

Starting in the 2010s, Radiohead began taking more time between albums, meaning less opportunity to see them live. But their festival and one-off shows during this period took on an almost mythical reputation when they did happen.

Who was fortunate enough to attend any of these memorable concerts?

• Their long-awaited Glastonbury return in 2011, opening with "Bloom" in pouring rain

• Their run of shows across Europe in 2012, debuting new songs like "Identikit"

• Their 2016 "A Moon Shaped Pool" shows debuting the previously unreleased song "True Love Waits"

Most recently, in 2018 the band did a short South American tour, finally returning to cities like Sao Paulo, Brazil after over a decade away. These shows had fans down south elated!

Predicting Radiohead‘s Triumphant Future Return to the Road

I don‘t know about you, but going to a Radiohead concert live has been on top of my bucket list for a long time. And I‘m certain we‘ll get the chance again someday soon.

Though they are pickier these days about when and where they tour, all signs point to Radiohead hitting the road again once they complete their next album.

In a 2020 interview, Ed O‘Brien assured fans that Radiohead is definitely NOT breaking up. And Thom Yorke says he expects them to record together again. Exciting!

When Radiohead finally announces their next tour dates, expect mayhem as hardcore fans scramble to score the in-demand tickets. Their live shows are truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Judging by their past tours, we can predict their future live comeback will likely include festival headline sets, intimate concerts in unique small venues, and at least a few arena dates in major cities like New York and London.

I don‘t know about you, but I‘m going to start saving now to get great seats the day those future tour dates drop! Seeing Radiohead live just once would make my decade. Let the countdown begin…

Radiohead‘s Most Memorable Tours Over The Years

Want to feel some nostalgia for Radiohead tours past? Let‘s look back at 10 of their most acclaimed and celebrated tours over the past 30 years:

1. The Bends Tour (1995)

This remains a favorite for diehards, when Radiohead first arrived as future arena headliners touring mid-size theaters behind breakthrough album The Bends. Fan-favorite performances of songs like "Fake Plastic Trees" and "My Iron Lung" gave a glimpse of their true potential during this run.

2. Against Demons Tour (1997-1998)

Spanning 28 countries over 9 months, this globe-spanning OK Computer tour cemented Radiohead‘s elevation to huge new heights. Historic performances at Glastonbury, Saturday Night Live, and Madison Square Garden marked major milestones.

3. Kid A/Amnesiac Tour (2000-2001)

Fans got a thrilling live translation of Radiohead‘s new electronic direction on this tour behind their back-to-back futuristic albums. Lots of stripped down arrangements let the haunted poetry of the songs shine. The Amnesiac leg concluded with an unforgettable Roman amphitheater show in Pompeii, Italy.

4. Hail to the Thief Tour (2003)

Radiohead‘s anti-Bush political themes resonated powerfully on stage during this worldwide tour, eliciting raucous audience reactions. The band‘s debut headlining set at Bonnaroo remains a favorite for those who attended.

5. In Rainbows Tour (2008)

After stunning fans with surprise "secret shows" at London‘s 93 Feet East, this tour marked a celebratory arena victory lap across North America. Theband embraced their classics along with new gems like "Reckoner" and "House Of Cards".

6. The King of Limbs Tour (2012)

Despite a mixed response to the album, this tour saw Radiohead perform the intricate rhythms and textures of tracks like "Lotus Flower" and "Separator" brilliantly at festivals worldwide. Their only shows of the year made them must-see events.

7. A Moon Shaped Pool Tour (2016-2018)

This tour supported their most recent album, and after teasing it for over 20 years, Radiohead finally debuted the fan favorite song "True Love Waits" live. Their return to Glastonbury‘s Pyramid Stage felt like a poetic full circle.

8. Roundhouse Shows (2016)

These special truncated shows at an iconic London venue saw Radiohead perform their entire discography live in chronological order over two nights. Both shows were streamed online, exposing a global virtual audience to this unprecedented musical event.

9. South American Tour (2018)

After not visiting South America since 2009, Radiohead returned for a string of dates in countries like Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Their Sao Paulo show alone drew over 100,000 elated local fans.

10. Toronto Stage Collapse (2012)

This outdoor Toronto show ended in tragedy when the stage collapsed, killing drum tech Scott Johnson and injuring others. Emotionally devastating for the band, though they handled the aftermath with grace.

Radiohead‘s Most Performed Songs Live

Curious which songs Radiohead has played live the most over their iconic touring career so far? Thanks to dedicated fan data, here are their 10 most performed live tracks:

1. "Creep" – 683 plays

2. "Paranoid Android" – 611 plays

3. "Karma Police" – 553 plays

4. "Idioteque" – 538 plays

5. "Everything In Its Right Place" – 500 plays

6. "There There" – 492 plays

7. "2 + 2 = 5" – 429 plays

8. "No Surprises" – 422 plays

9. "Exit Music (For A Film)" – 421 plays

10. "The National Anthem" – 403 plays

Many classics like "Fake Plastic Trees," "My Iron Lung," "The Bends" and more also rank among their most played.

5 Dream Locations For a Future Radiohead Concert

Part of the magic of seeing Radiohead live is that you never quite know where they might turn up next. Let‘s fantasize – here are 5 dream locations I‘d love to see them play someday:

1. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Can you imagine Radiohead‘s transcendent music echoing off the ancient pyramids under a night sky? It would be a genuinely spiritual concert experience.

2. Madison Square Garden, NYC

Radiohead owning MSG again 20 years after their first iconic run of shows there would be epic. Expect a nostalgic, career-spanning setlist.

3. Rock in Rio Festival, Brazil

South America‘s largest music festival has somehow never booked Radiohead. Time to finally bring their brilliance to the huge Brazilian audience.

4. Saturday Night Live

Radiohead doing a late night TV gig with an odd setlist made for diehard fans would make for classic viral moments. Please make this happen, Lorne Michaels!

5. Glastonbury Festival, England

No place is more mythical for this band than Glastonbury. After some years away, a triumphant Pyramid Stage return would be historic.

The Verdict: Radiohead Will Tour Again!

If you made it this far, it‘s clear we both have a passion for all things Radiohead. Though their touring schedule is less hectic these days, all signs point to them hitting the road again soon.

In my opinion, their status as true music legends means the world will be eagerly awaiting their return to the stage. And you can bet that when those long-awaited tour dates are finally announced, diehard fans like us will scramble to get tickets.

Seeing Radiohead live just once would be an unforgettable bucket list dream come true in my book. Fingers crossed that day comes again sooner rather than later! I think it‘s only a matter of time.

Alright friend, hopefully this guide got you pumped up to experience the magic of Radiohead live someday. Stay hopeful – I think their next round of mind-blowing tours and shows is just over the horizon. Talk soon!