Radiohead's much-anticipated return to the European stage after a seven-year hiatus has proven to be full of surprises. On November 5, during their second consecutive night at Madrid’s Movistar Arena, the legendary band delivered a set list that was as thrilling as it was unpredictable. The show became a remarkable event when Radiohead dusted off two beloved tracks that hadn’t been performed live in 16 years: '(Nice Dream)' from their iconic album The Bends and 'Jigsaw Falling into Place' from In Rainbows.
The atmosphere at the Movistar Arena was electric as the band launched into 'Jigsaw Falling into Place', only the third song of the evening. This track set the tone for a night largely themed around their acclaimed 2007 album, In Rainbows. Alongside 'Jigsaw', fans were treated to other favorites from the album, including 'All I Need', 'Nude', and 'Reckoner'. As was the case during their tour kickoff the previous evening, crowd-pleasers such as 'Bodysnatchers' and 'Weird Fishes/Arpeggi' were once again highlights of the performance.
In a nod to their early years, Radiohead delved deep into their 1995 release, The Bends, with performances of tracks like the eponymous 'The Bends', 'Street Spirit (Fade Out)', and 'Planet Telex'. However, the real surprise came with '(Nice Dream)', a track they had not performed since 2009, offering fans a rare glimpse into the band’s past repertoire.
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of The Bends, and speculation is rising about what other deep cuts might surface during this tour. With songs like 'Bones' and 'Black Star' not played since 2006, fans are holding their breath for more rarities as this festive celebration continues.
Radiohead's European tour is set to continue with two more shows in Madrid on November 7 and 8 before moving on to a four-night stint at Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy. The tour will also take them to London's O2 Arena, Copenhagen’s Royal Arena, and Berlin’s Uber Arena, where they will perform four nights in each city, culminating on December 12.
With such an exciting start to the tour, hopes are high that Radiohead will extend these performances to the U.S. and perhaps other parts of the world next year. For now, each show is an unmissable opportunity for European fans to experience the band's evolution from their earliest hits to their latest, all performed with unparalleled skill and passion.