Jonny Greenwood on Being a "Clumsy, Lazy" Guitarist Early On — Radiohead Confirm 2027 Tour Dates
Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has opened up to The Independent about how his relationship with the guitar has changed over the years, admitting that in the band's early days he saw himself as a clumsy player who was "always lazy." Greenwood joined the Oxford band in 1985. Alongside the interview, Radiohead have confirmed 21 tour dates for 2027, opening in Australia in May before moving to Saitama, Japan in June.
From distrusting fluency to playing every day
Greenwood told The Independent he now sits down to play guitar every day — something he says he never used to do. He used to distrust any kind of fluency, conflating it with mere technical showiness, but says he feels differently now and considers it lucky that his fingers can still do what they do.
"I have a facility with it, so I've decided to just go with that and realize that I really love playing the guitar," he said. He added that in Radiohead's early years he always felt like a clumsy and lazy guitarist; now he's simply hooked from repetition and wants to play constantly.
2027 tour: three Australian cities plus Saitama, 21 shows total
Radiohead reunited and toured the UK and Europe last year, their first live performances since 2018, playing in the round across five cities including a four-night run at London's O2. Guitarist Ed O'Brien said in March that the band's long-term plan is to tour a different continent each year, doing 20 shows a year — no more, no less.
Tickets for the 2027 dates are only available via registration through Radiohead's official website.
Practical details
- Dates: May 3, 4, 6, 7 — RAC Arena, Perth; May 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne; May 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, June 1 — Afterpay Arena, Sydney; June 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 — GMO Arena Saitama, Japan
- Venues/cities: Perth, Melbourne, Sydney (Australia); Saitama (Japan)
- Ticketing: registration required via Radiohead's official website; on-sale date not yet announced
- Price: not yet announced
New album? "We haven't even discussed it"
While the touring footprint is expanding, new material is a separate question. O'Brien told NME the band hasn't even discussed the next album, jokingly asking where the reporter got the idea there was a new one coming. He pointed to the famously grueling process behind their previous album, A Moon Shaped Pool, saying its shadow still lingers, and added, "ask me again in six years."
Greenwood has previously said he was surprised by how much the band is enjoying this reunion tour, and has spoken about the possibility of new material.