Radiohead make live return

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke and bandmate Jonny Greenwood have played new songs at a special one-off show in London.

The pair took a rare trip out of their Oxford studio, where they’re working on the follow-up to ’Hail To The Thief’ to play the KOKO club in aid of Friends Of The Earth.

The concert (May 1) is being held in support of The Big Ask, Friends Of The Earth’s climate campaign. During the show, which was hosted by former Popworld presenter Simon Amstell, the band played semi-acoustic versions of some of their biggest hits and three new songs.

The tracks, 'Arpeggi', 'Bodysnatchers' and 'Cymbal Rush', were mixed in with songs such as 'Karma Police', 'No Surprises' and closer 'Paranoid Android'.

'Arpeggi', a ballad, was played by Yorke on finger-picked acoustic and Greenwood on softly distorted electric guitar. It featured the lyrics "Why should I stay here... I'd be crazy not to follow." Towards the end of the song, Greenwood swapped his guitar and started playing organ.

'Bodysnatchers' was far more uptempo and featured the lyric "I'm trapped in this body... can't get out," while the third new song was the best of the bunch.

At the beginning, Yorke sampled and looped his own voice to create a drum beat before playing a piano over the top. The song featured the line "You should have took me out when you had a chance."

Two other members of Radiohead, bassist Colin Greenwood and guitarist Ed O'Brien, watched the show from the balcony. Other stars in the audience included band producer Nigel Godrich, Michael and Emily Eavis and David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party.

The setlist ran:
'Karma Police'
'There There'
'Arpeggi'
'Fake Plastic Trees'
'Bodysnatchers'
'Pyramid Song'
'How To Disappear Completely'
'No Surprises'
'Cymbal Rush'
'I Might Be Wrong'
'Street Spirit (Fade Out)'
'Gagging Order'
'Paranoid Android'

Other artists who appeared on the night included Super Furry Animals singer Gruff Rhys and UK folk singer Kate Rusby.

Radiohead now go back into rehearsals for their forthcoming club tour, which starts this coming Saturday in Copenhagen. This week’s NME, out Wednesday nationwide, contains a full preview of the tour.

The band have also announced details of a summer North American tour, calling at:

Upper Darby Tower Theatre (June 1/2)
Boston Bank Of America Pavilion (4/5)
Toronto Hummingbird Centre (7/8)
Montreal Salle Wilfred-Pelletier at Places des Arts (10/11)
New York The Theatre at Madison Square Garden (13/14)
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (17)
Chicago Auditorium Theatre (19/20)
Berkeley Greek Theater (23/24)
San Diego Bayside (26/27)
Los Angeles Greek Theater (29/30)