Radiohead Surprise Release Live Album 'Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)'
Thursday, 14 August 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Tom Sheehan
Radiohead have surprise released a new live album.
'Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)', as the title suggests, features performances of tracks from the 2003 album, recorded in London, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires and Dublin between 2003 and 2009.
Mixed by Ben Baptie and mastered by Matt Colton, the release is described by the band as a way for them to "re-evaluate their relationship" with their sixth studio album.
Available digitally now, with physical editions following on October 31, it will also be available in a limited-edition red colourway via independent record stores and on exclusive cyan-coloured vinyl through Radiohead's W.A.S.T.E. store.
The revisiting follows frontman Thom Yorke's recent co-creation of Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet set to a deconstructed score of reworked tracks from 'Hail To The Thief'. He explained:
"In the process of thinking of how to build arrangements for the Shakespeare Hamlet/Hail To The Thief theatre production, I asked to hear some archive live recordings of the songs. I was shocked by the kind of energy behind the way we played. I barely recognised us, and it helped me find a way forward. We decided to get these live recordings mixed and released (it would have been insane to keep them for ourselves). It has all been a very cathartic process. We very much hope you enjoy them."
Alongside the record, Radiohead have unveiled a live performance video for the track There, There, shot in Buenos Aires in March 2009.
Radiohead wrapped up their most recent tour in 2018, following the release of their latest studio album, 2016's 'A Moon Shaped Pool'. In the time since then, Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood formed the side project The Smile with former Sons Of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner. The trio have put out three albums; 2022's 'A Light For Attracting Attention' and last year's 'Wall Of Eyes' and 'Cutouts'.
Earlier this year, Yorke released 'Tall Tales', a collaborative album with electronic producer Mark Pritchard.
'Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)' tracklist:
1. 2 + 2 = 5
2. Sit Down. Stand Up
3. Sail to the Moon
4. Go to Sleep
5. Where I End and You Begin
6. We Suck Young Blood
7. The Gloaming
8. There, There
9. I Will
10. Myxomatosis
11. Scatterbrain
12. A Wolf at the Door
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