There Is Deep Condolences Behind The Reason For The Seven-Year Radiohead Hiatus Of The World Music Stage

JAKARTA - Radiohead's long break from the world stage since 2018 has finally been answered. Thom Yorke, the vocalist, revealed that their seven-year absence could not be separated from emotional exhaustion and deep personal sorrow.

This admission is also a flashback of why the British rock band suddenly disappeared after their last tour, A Moon Shaped Pool Tour, which ran for 2016-2018.

In a recent interview with The Times, Yorke reflected on the final moment of the album tour "A Moon Shaped Pool" which closed in Philadelphia in August 2018. For him, the moment felt like an alarm bell.

"The wheel (the band) came off a bit, so we had to stop," he said. "The performance feels amazing, but it feels like, let's stop it now before we walk down this cliff."

Behind the scenes, Yorke itself is facing a heavy burden of grief. The departure of his first wife, Rachel Owen, at the end of 2016 was an unavoidable reason to take a break.

"I really need to stop, because I haven't really given myself time to mourn," said the 57-year-old musician.

"My sadness arises in a way that makes me think, I have to get rid of this (from the stage)," he added.

Yorke added, although music is often a coverage, there are times when it actually serves as a painful reminder. "There are points in my life where I look for entertainment in music and playing piano, but it really hurts. Physically. Music hurts, because you are through trauma."

Not only Yorke felt the impact of this fatigue. Guitarist Ed O'Brien also openly acknowledged how much the last tour was draining his energy.

O'Brien admitted, towards the end of the tour, he felt he was done with Radiohead. "He enjoyed the concert but hated the rest. We felt disconnected, stupid tired," he said.

The distance that has been created over the years has ultimately brought enlightenment. "I reached my lowest point in 2021. And one of the beautiful things that emerged afterward was realizing how much I love these people," O'Brien said.

He continued, "I met them when I was 17 years old and I've switched from thinking I can't see myself doing it again so realize that, you know, we do have some amazing songs."

Now, the wait of fans is over. Radiohead has announced a comeback to the stage for the first time since 2018. They will hold 20 limited concerts in five European cities "Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin" starting on November 4.

This comeback is expected to be a fresher new chapter for one of the most influential bands in the world.