Radiohead’s landmark 2025 tour’s production features advanced LED panels that serve as a backdrop to the music and culminate in a display of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
This 1948 UN document, comprising 30 articles on fundamental rights, scrolls across the screens post-encore, backed by fading ambient noise. The gesture harkens back to Radiohead’s involvement in human rights advocacy, such as their 1998 Paris concert for Amnesty International’s 50th UDHR anniversary, where they shared the stage with artists like Bruce Springsteen and Alanis Morissette.
Setlists vary nightly, celebrating the 30th anniversary of “The Bends” while spanning their discography.
A standout moment is the revival of “Just,” unplayed live since October 2009 in Mexico City. Performed during Madrid’s third and fourth shows, the song’s cryptic themes and Jonny Greenwood’s signature guitar riff elicited ecstatic responses, with fan videos capturing the energy. Other surprises include “Optimistic” from *Kid A*, also dusted off after years.
The tour’s political undertones build on Radiohead’s legacy, including past controversies like their 2017 Tel Aviv show amid BDS calls. Yorke has defended such decisions, arguing against cultural boycotts, but the UDHR display suggests an evolved, inclusive stance in a post-2013 landscape where advocacy has mainstreamed.
To provide a comprehensive overview, below is a table of the confirmed tour dates based on official announcements:
(Source: Compiled from official W.A.S.T.E. schedule and fan reports.)
Radiohead’s 2025 European tour comes after a seven-year hiatus from collective live performances. Announced on September 3, 2025, through their official Dead Air Space website and Instagram, the tour focuses on European dates in November and December, starting with multiple nights at Madrid’s Movistar Arena.
This marks their first major outing since the 2018 tour supporting “A Moon Shaped Pool”, during which members pursued individual projects: Thom Yorke with solo albums and The Smile, Jonny Greenwood with film scores like *The Power of the Dog*, and others like Ed O’Brien with his debut solo record.
Header Image: Peter Hyland
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