Four decades after five boys formed a group at school to play music together, over 20,000 people gather in the O2 Arena on a Friday night to watch them perform, as they have in venues across the world, over the last 40 years. Tickets for this tour sold out in minutes. Millions of records sold. Charts topped with critically acclaimed albums. Adored and followed by fans with an unusual intensity. How, and why?
It’s all laid out on the circular stage in front of me, as they’re playing “in the round” tonight. Phil Selway is in the middle on his drum kit. Ed O’Brien’s on the left. Thom Yorke’s in the centre but wanders around. Jonny Greenwood’s on the right with his many instruments. His brother, Colin, is further back on the right. Chris Vatalaro is also here as the second drummer. Vast screens project graphics of oozing fluorescent slime, glitched octopi, close-ups of each band member.
