Radiohead, a new album after the tour? Jonny Greenwood speaks

After a seven-year hiatus, Radiohead have gone back to playing live together on a tour that reignited fans' enthusiasm. But will the return to the stage also be followed by studio work on a new album? Guitarist Jonny Greenwood attempts to clear things up in an interview with the British Telegraph, first revealing that he was "surprised by how much the band enjoyed the reunion tour", which took place between November and December 2025. Five European cities (including, for Italy, Bologna), a circular stage at the centre, over 60 songs in rotation: more than a celebration, a deep dive into the history of the Oxford band.

At the same time, however, Greenwood calls it "a strange feeling", being on tour without offering "anything new" and without any new recording projects in the works. And judging by the guitarist's words, the milestone of a new Radiohead album still remains a distant prospect: "I'm already surprised the tour happened and that we enjoyed it so much…". Even a possible new tour, he explains, would require "immediate decisions and very long lead times".

The English band's last studio work, "A Moon Shaped Pool", dates back to 2016, and today each member is busy with parallel projects. Greenwood himself has recently released the original soundtrack for Paul Thomas Anderson's film, "One Battle After Another", earning an Oscar 2026 nomination, where the film ranks among the frontrunners in the predictions.  

In the interview with The Telegraph, Greenwood also spoke of the pleasure of rediscovering songs the band always felt were "right", and of sensing how they are now finally being recognized by audiences too. But above all, he highlights a human element: "It was really lovely to play and listen to Thom Yorke again".

However, when it comes to a possible new Radiohead album, Greenwood won't commit either way: "I have no idea," he admitted, noting that the spaces for making new music are often the very same ones where each member is already channeling their creative energy into side projects. The guitarist pointed to the creative paradox of years spent on projects like The Smile (the side project of Thom Yorke and Greenwood himself) and on their individual careers, which now seem to coexist with the desire to reunite onstage, but not necessarily with any urge to record new material.

Over the course of 2025, Radiohead's activity was not limited to the live circuit. The release of a live album built from archival recordings and the registration of the company RHEUK25 LLP had already reignited speculation about a possible return to the studio. Understandable speculation, but premature: Jonny Greenwood made clear that the personal and creative bond among the members remains solid, even if it hasn't translated into new material just yet.

2025 also proved significant on the editorial front. Alongside the tour, the band launched a systematic effort to showcase their catalogue, reaffirming their intent to oversee and reorganise their recorded history. The release of "Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009)", out in August 2025 via XL Recordings, was the year's main undertaking: a collection of live performances drawn from the "Hail To The Thief" repertoire, brought back into circulation through new mixes and mastering to more accurately capture the dynamics and energy of the original performances.

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