Sublime return for one of our most radical rock bands

More than seven years since their last gig, Radiohead play a career-spanning set in the round

- Craig McLean

When I interviewed Thom Yorke in early August - one of two, typically scant interviews to which he'd submitted (“submit being the word,” he joked) to promote the Ashmolean Museum's exhibition of Radiohead's artwork - I reminded him that he'd said he would be back in his painting studio this autumn. I thought I was being clever when I then asked if his long-dormant band might be returning to the recording studio.

“I have no idea,” the frontman replied firmly. “Not on the cards from where I'm sitting.” Even less clever, my failing to follow up with: “And what about returning to the stage?”

Four weeks after that conversation came the surprise announcement of 20 European and UK shows, kicking off tonight in Madrid with the first of four gigs at the 17,000-capacity Movistar Arena. No Oasis Live ’25-style, yearlong banking of excitement and brand deals here... Radiohead are, quite simply, back.