“The best”: The show that made David Bowie fall in love with Radiohead
One of the most essential aspects of music is live performance. Fans of artists like David Bowie and Radiohead have been given the chance to feel a deeper connection to the bands they love by attending live shows. Standing in a crowd of like-minded people, singing along to songs that hold personal meaning, creates a sense of unity and shared experience. It’s no wonder that so many people cherish the thrill of live concerts.
Recently, there has been a buzz around the musical world as whispers about a Radiohead show have started circulating. The band never formally broke up, but they made it clear following their 2017 tour that they had no clear plans to begin making new music or touring again.
The band’s bassist, Colin Greenwood, recently spoke about some rehearsals that the band had been doing. “You know, we did some rehearsals about two months ago in London, just to play old songs,” he said, “And it was really fun; we had a really good time.”
The news that the band could be getting back together was massive for a number of fans, as Radiohead continues to be praised as one of the best live acts on the planet. Their sound hits listeners like a wall, and they can create a set with lights, news clips, and videos that add an added layer of atmosphere to the show.
These shows would also give people who have never seen the band a chance to go and check them out. If you ever needed any more proof that they’re a band worth seeing live, one of the greatest artists of all time, David Bowie, once described them as “the best”. While their music certainly spoke to him on a number of levels, it was seeing them live that cemented Radiohead as something special.
When Bowie was asked about the last great performance he saw, he was quick to offer up Thom Yorke and co as an answer. “This year, I saw Radiohead at the Beacon Theatre [in New York],” he said, “I had a shrewd suspicion that they were the best band around, and that convinced me.”
It’s not surprising that Bowie was a fan. The two of them are examples of excellent musicianship and a testament to what can be achieved when a band really throw themselves into the concept of a record. Some of their best work has been layered and intricate, touching upon complex themes and becoming heavily conceptual in its creation.
Translating some of this music to the live stage can often be tricky. A concept album often needs to be absorbed in its entirety in one sitting; however, gigs don’t usually work that way. Fans don’t want to just hear a live version of an album; they want songs given in a different order, with tracks from various albums thrown into the mix to display a healthy mix. Radiohead and Bowie were able to do this, not just committing to one record but delivering it in a way that defies the boundaries of an album and instead exists in something more comprehensive.
