Radiohead announced the postponement of their first two Copenhagen dates this week, citing a serious health issue affecting frontman Thom Yorke. The announcement was shared on Instagram.
Yorke has been diagnosed with an extreme throat infection that has made it impossible for him to perform. The affected shows—originally scheduled for December 1st and 2nd—have been rescheduled for December 15th and 16th, respectively. Tickets will be automatically transferred to the new dates.
“Radiohead are gutted to have to announce the postponement of the first two Copenhagen dates this week – tonight, Dec 1st and tomorrow, Dec 2nd,” the band stated. “The shows have been rescheduled for Dec 15th and 16th, respectively. Tickets for the shows will be automatically transferred to the new corresponding date. If you require a refund, please contact your point of purchase.”
The band expressed hope for Yorke’s recovery in time for their remaining performances. “We are devastated to have to postpone these two shows at such short notice but Thom has been diagnosed with an extreme throat infection, which has made it impossible for him to sing,” they said. “Treatment is underway and we’re hopeful Thom will recover in time to play the final two Copenhagen shows on Dec 4th and 5th, and all four Berlin shows, starting on Dec 8th.”
The band emphasized their appreciation for their audiences and regret over the last-minute cancellations. “We have been so blown away by the audience reactions on these dates and are loving being back on stage again; needless to say, we feel terrible that we have been forced to postpone these shows.”
The postponement marks a significant disruption to what has been a triumphant return to touring for the legendary British rock band. Music Radar reported that this tour represents Radiohead’s first major tour in seven years. The tour features 20 shows across five European cities. The tour follows an exceptionally successful residency at London’s O2 Arena in November, where the band set new attendance records with each successive night.
AOL Entertainment noted that the band’s final performance at the O2 Arena drew 22,355 fans. This broke the previous record held by Metallica since 2017. The achievement underscored the immense demand for Radiohead’s live performances and the significance of their return to the stage after years away from touring.
The timing of the postponement is particularly challenging given the momentum the band had built throughout their European tour. Yorke’s throat infection is serious enough to warrant cancellation. The band chose to reschedule rather than cancel outright, demonstrating their commitment to their fans and the tour schedule. The Independent revealed that the band remains optimistic about completing their remaining European dates. These include the final two Copenhagen shows on December 4th and 5th and all four Berlin shows beginning December 8th.
Fans requiring refunds have been directed to contact their point of purchase for assistance. The rescheduled Copenhagen dates on December 15th and 16th will allow Yorke time to recover while maintaining the band’s commitment to performing for their European audiences.
