Thom Yorke has opened up about the personal struggles that led Radiohead to take an extended break from touring. He shared his story in an interview with The Times.
The Radiohead frontman explained that he had been dealing with the aftermath of his ex-wife Dr. Rachel Owen’s death in 2016. This significantly impacted his ability to continue performing.
“I guess the wheels came off a bit, so we had to stop,” Yorke said. “There were a lot of elements. The shows felt great but it was, like, ‘Let’s halt now before we walk off this cliff.’ I needed to stop anyway… I hadn’t really given myself time to grieve. It was coming out in ways that made me think, ‘I need to take this away.'”
Yorke further described how deeply the trauma affected his relationship with music itself.
“[T]he idea of having to stop it, even when it makes sense to… I can’t,” he continued. “I need something that I can hold on to. But there have been points in my life where I have looked for solace in music and played the piano, but it literally hurts. Physically. The music hurts, because you’re going through trauma.”
The band’s decision to pause touring allowed Yorke the necessary time to process his grief and recover. This hiatus marked a significant shift for one of rock’s most influential bands, whose touring schedule had been relentless for decades.
Louder Sound reported that Radiohead’s break followed an exhausting tour for their 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool. The tour concluded in August 2018. The tour had been emotionally demanding, coming at a time when Yorke was still processing his personal loss.
During the seven-year hiatus, the band members remained creatively active. Parade noted that Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood channeled their energy into The Smile, an experimental side project. This allowed them to explore new musical directions while maintaining some distance from Radiohead’s intense touring demands.
Now, Radiohead is ready to return to the stage. Wikipedia confirmed that the band has announced a comeback tour set to begin in Madrid on November 4, 2025. The tour will conclude in Berlin on December 12, 2025. The European tour will include performances in several major cities, marking their first live shows in seven years.
The announcement signals a renewed commitment to live performances. It offers fans a chance to reconnect with the band after years of waiting. For Yorke, the return represents not just a professional milestone but a personal one—a sign that he has found a way to reconcile his grief with his passion for music.
