Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has been battling an “extreme throat infection” and the band postponed two planned performances in Copenhagen on their European tour.
The band was set to perform at the Royal Arena in the Danish capital December 1st and 2nd; those shows are now set for December 15th and 16th. Two other shows — Decemeber 5th and 6th — at the venue are still on as scheduled.
“We are devastated to have to postpone these two shows at such short notice but Thom has been diagnosed with an extreme throat infection which has made it impossible for him to sing,” Radiohead said in a statement.
“We have been so blown away by the audience reactions on these dates and are loving being back on stage again; needless to say, we feel terrible that we have been forced to postpone these shows.”
Thom Yorke recovery could lead to setlist changes
Attention has already turned to how Yorke’s recovery might affect upcoming performances once the tour resumes. Even if he is well enough to return to the stage soon, a throat infection can leave lingering strain on a singer’s projection and falsetto — two pillars of Yorke’s vocal style.
That reality could influence the band’s song selection in the short term. Tracks that rely on powerful, soaring or high-register vocals may be temporarily scaled back. Songs such as “Airbag,” “2 + 2 = 5,” “Creep,” and “Reckoner” — all of which demand either strong projection or sensitive falsetto work — could be among the numbers more difficult to tackle during recovery.
The tour is the band’s first since 2018. It kicked off with four nights at Madrid’s Movistar Arena, selling 68,737 tickets and grossing a total of more than $12.2 million, according to Pollstar Boxoffice reports.
