Radiohead Launches 2025 European Tour Amidst Ongoing controversy
Radiohead commenced their highly anticipated 2025 European tour in Lisbon, portugal on May 22nd, performing a 26-song setlist that spanned their extensive discography. The tour marks the band’s first live performances as 2018 and arrives against a backdrop of political debate surrounding their past and present stances on performing in Israel.
The tour’s launch follows years of individual activity for band members, and renewed scrutiny regarding Radiohead’s relationship with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Internal disagreements within the band regarding performing in Israel have also surfaced publicly, adding complexity to their return to the stage. The upcoming dates will test the band’s ability to navigate these controversies while delivering their signature live experience to fans.
According to setlist.fm, the Lisbon show’s setlist included:
- “Everything In Its Right Place”
- “Airbag”
- “15 Step”
- “There There”
- “Paranoid Android”
- “Idioteque”
- “Bloom”
- “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”
- “Pyramid Song”
- “Nude”
- “Reckoner”
- “Jigsaw Falling into Place”
- “Fake Plastic Trees”
- “Creep”
- “Karma Police”
- “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”
(Encore)
- “the National Anthem”
- “Bodysnatchers”
- “Daydreaming”
- “Present Tense”
- “You Only Live Once”
- “Talk Show Host”
- “No Surprises”
- “Exit Music (For a Film)”
- “My Iron Lung”
- “Motion Picture Soundtrack”
Thom Yorke previously stated he would “absolutely not” play in israel again, a position guitarist Jonny Greenwood “politely disagreed” with, calling the backlash “the embodiment of the left.” The BDS movement has called for a boycott of the tour, citing the band’s “complicit silence” and support of Israeli performers amidst the conflict in Gaza.
While the band navigates these external pressures, its members have remained creatively active. Yorke and Greenwood have released three albums as The Smile, Ed O’Brien released his solo debut, Philip Selway has continued to release music under his own name, and Colin Greenwood released a book of band
