Genre Perception: Despite tour difficulties, Radiohead fans remain loyal

It’s been seven years since the genre-defying group Radiohead gave a live performance, and it’s been nine since the release of their terminal album, “A Moon Shaped Pool.” Though the original five members seem to have organically parted ways after their 2018 tour, with lead singer Thom Yorke and keyboardist Jonny Greenwood creating music as The Smile and two others releasing music independently, fans worldwide remained desperate as ever to see them together in person. 

The group made their breakthrough in the ‘90s rock scene with their hit single, “Creep.” According to fans and the members themselves, their music has only gone up from there. Originally named “On A Friday,” Radiohead renamed themselves after signing on with EMI records in 1991, beginning a chain of steady successes into the early 2010s. They transitioned to more electronic production with “Kid A” in 2000 and had a groundbreaking pay-what-you-want release of “In Rainbows” in 2007 after breaking their record contract years earlier. 

Fan favorites include basically everything, but “OK Computer” (1997) and “Kid A” (2000) are generally lauded as their best albums. Over its lifespan, Radiohead has transitioned from mostly rock to increasingly experimental work, including the jazzy “Life In A Glasshouse” (“Amnesiac,” 2001) and the rap-like “Wolf At The Door” (“Hail to the Thief,” 2003). 

Just when hope of seeing them live again seemed to dissipate, on Sept. 3, 2025, Radiohead announced their first tour in seven years. This sudden tour unfortunately only spans five major locations in Europe. Tickets were distributed through a complicated system where fans registered through the official site and received — in unpredictable batches — unique email codes. The tickets also started from around ~$115, with an additional markup for premium seats.

For avid listeners, this was a source of great agitation. My friends who follow the Radiohead subreddit reported that fans have been on the trail of a possible tour for months. One friend delayed purchasing her flight tickets until August because she was waiting to see if the tour date would drop and subsequently influence how long she stayed abroad.

That friend, who is studying abroad at Oxford during her first semester and had the (missed) chance to attend the London performance, is one of many “Let Down” by the group’s cryptic reveal of tour information. However, this poorly handled event has not been a deterrent to worldwide fans; in fact, the group continues to draw new listeners. On Oct. 27, they gained 18,040 Spotify followers, a 91.3% higher increase than usual for the band, according to Chartmetric.

But what draws these new fans to Radiohead — and what keeps them coming back? For me, it started through mutuals. My friends and I would make each other Spotify playlists and rotate the aux when we drove around, and Radiohead became an increasingly common pick. I know many others who also started listening to the group through friends before getting hooked themselves.

Fans also praise the band’s songwriting and lyricism, which many describe as relatable and evocative, as well as their ethereal instrumentals. Radiohead does a lot of experimentation between sounds and genres, and they are sure to have something for everyone.

Radiohead is one of the most influential alternative rock/electronic/experimental groups of the past few decades. Perhaps because of the fame brought on by “Creep,” they are perceived publicly as depressive rock. Still, any fan, new or old, is familiar with their true scope. Through personal difficulties and a flawed public image, Radiohead remained together for nearly three decades, innovating their production with each successive album.

At no point during their active years did they become stagnant or derivative, and while new output from the original group is unlikely, Radiohead’s music is sure to remain culturally relevant for years to come.

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