Get ready for the ultimate musical reunion! Radiohead's Ed O'Brien has dished out the inside scoop on why their shows are so electrifying that they're limiting themselves to just 20 gigs a year. The Oxford-born band stunned fans with their comeback tour in 2022, tearing up the stages of five cities across the UK and Europe – including four sold-out nights at London's iconic O2 arena.
O'Brien dropped a bombshell in an interview, announcing plans for Radiohead to keep touring till 2027 and beyond. But here's the twist: they've got a strict rule book. "Every year we'll do a different continent," he revealed, "and it will be 20 shows each year, no more, no less." He made it crystal clear that the reason behind this decision is to preserve the high-octane energy of their performances. "We want to give absolutely everything every night... we're not getting any younger!"
But why just 20 shows? O'Brien spilled the beans in a chat with the Los Angeles Times, saying fans should take his words with a pinch of salt – but confirming that they won't do more than 20. "These songs are too powerful," he warned, "the shows last year were emotionally draining by the end." This commitment to quality over quantity is music to the ears of die-hard Radiohead fans.
The band's guitarist also highlighted a fascinating trend: their biggest demographic – from streaming numbers – is 16-24-year-olds. No wonder their concerts are packed with raw emotion! O'Brien made it clear that sacrificing performance quality for more shows isn't an option. "You can't limit what you give each night," he said, "that's not the Radiohead way."
But will we see a new Radiohead album soon? Not anytime soon, according to O'Brien – who did hint at future touring plans and expressed his gratitude for fans' continued enthusiasm. And in a separate move, the guitarist has released a solo single, 'Abbeycwmhir', and is gearing up for a UK and European tour this October to support his latest solo album, 'Blue Morpho'.