Colin Greenwood has revealed that Radiohead’s reunion rehearsals were held in the same studio where they recorded ‘OK Computer’, and opened up about the possibility of the band coming together for a new tour.
The bassist caught up with NME around the release of his new photo book How To Disappear, which was published last week and came two decades in the making. It captures candid moments from the band’s time together between 2003 and 2016, when they shared their latest album, ‘A Moon Shaped Pool‘.
As well as opening up about the project, the musician also discussed his time as a touring member of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – having contributed to new album ‘Wild God‘ – as well as Radiohead’s reunion rehearsals over the summer.
“We got together in the summer just for a couple of days and just ran through all the songs and picked up where we left off in 2018,” he recalled of the latter. “It was really fun and nice to see everyone. We were going to do three or four days but knocked it on the head after two because it was fine and we could still do it. My brother [Jonny Greenwood] said that we’d just need a couple of weeks’ rehearsal and we could go on the road, no problem.
“Beyond that, everyone’s heads are focused on finishing up what they’ve been doing.”
He continued: “My brother has been unwell and is still recovering. Rehearsals were really fun and amicable, though. We rehearsed in this studio called The Church where we ended up finishing up ‘OK Computer’, so the last time I was there was 1996 recording the bass for ‘Airbag’. There we were, back in Crouch End. It was great, but beyond that get together, I’m sure we’ll get together and make plans – but for what, I don’t know.”
While recalling how there may be some big announcements in the future for Radiohead, Greenwood confirmed that his comments were in no way an indication of a tour being “imminent”.
He also explained how he views his work with the members as being something that is allowed to evolve, and will always have a sense of intrigue from devoted fans.
“I was talking to Nick [Cave] about this […and] he was saying that Radiohead would be in a position to go and do whatever we wanted in terms of when we play, what we play and how we play.”
“There’s a freedom that we have that we should appreciate,” he added. “It’s not like we’ve reached a point where people are only interested in listening to something from the first three albums. I think we’re still a band where people might want to know what might happen next. We’re very lucky to have that.”
The comments made by Colin Greenwood align with those his brother, Jonny, shared with NME recently too. In the interview, the guitarist said that he found the rehearsals “fun and natural”, but went on to add that there are “no plans” for anything Radiohead-related in 2025, as the members are focused on “individual projects”.
While Colin has been focusing on his new photo book and tour with Nick Cave, Jonny has been releasing more work with The Smile – most recently on the new album ‘Cutouts’.
It marked the third album from The Smile – which also has Thom Yorke and jazz drummer Tom Skinner (formerly of Sons Of Kemet) as members – following on from 2022’s ‘A Light For Attracting Attention’ and ‘Wall Of Eyes’, which was released this January.
Speculation that Radiohead would be planning something new has been around for a couple of years now, and came to a head when drummer Philip Selway said that the band were “coming back around to that point” of returning and reuniting.
Before then, he said that he and his bandmates would be meeting up to start putting things in motion. “We’re going to get together at the start of [2023], and I’m sure we’re going to start looking at other ideas for what comes next,” he said.
In other Radiohead news, at the start of the year Ed O’Brien shared that he was “deep into” his next solo album and also called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
His last solo release was his 2020 album ‘Earth‘, released under his moniker EOB, and speaking to NME about creating the record, O’Brien said: “A theme on the record is that in spite of the darkness and challenging times that we live in, humanity can do amazing things when they put their mind to it.”
NME gave The Smiles’ ‘Cutouts’ a four-star review, and described it as the band “seem[ing] to be having more fun than ever”.
“The Smile’s M.O., then, seems to be experimentation without the baggage of Yorke and Greenwood’s bulging back catalogue – and ‘Cutouts’ certainly delivers here,” it read. “Featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra, the album was recorded in Oxford and Abbey Road Studios alongside ‘Wall of Eyes’, but this is a freer, more playful set than its predecessor.
“Where that record boasted ‘Bending Hectic’, a lush, eight-minute ballad that collapsed into jagged dissonance that made Lou Reed sound like Aqua, this one presents ‘Instant Psalm’, a woozy pop song that channels The Beatles’ Indian classical phase.”
The Smile have been busy touring this year, but had to cancel various European tour dates in August following Greenwood falling ill and needing time to recover after a stay in intensive care. Yorke, meanwhile, is heading out on tour around Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan through November.