“Who’s Radiohead?”
That was the punch line on an episode of the TV sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” when genius Sheldon Cooper announced he knew more than a pop-savvy neighbor. Of course, he was stumped by the question. Everyone, it seems, knows Radiohead and is unabashedly excited about its rebirth, perhaps with the exception of the band.
“I’m feeling quietly excited — and quietly nervous,” frontman Thom Yorke told David Fricke of Rolling Stone for the magazine’s recent cover story on the band. “Everything — the production, the new lights, the set list — is still a work in progress.”
| On stage |
| Radiohead |
| When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday |
| Where: Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW |
| Info: The show is sold out, but tickets might be available through resellers. |
But, really, who can doubt that Radiohead will rule the airwaves again? One of the most popular bands in the 1990s, the British-based rock group sealed its superstar status with the released of “Kid A” in 2000, often hailed as one of most important recordings of that decade.
But in a way, that runaway success was the problem. The band, particularly Yorke, has never subscribed to the rock god creed of following the popularity. The band’s 2009 album “The King of Limbs” went almost nowhere because the band stayed locked away, out of the public eye.
It took three years and plenty of discussion for the band to reinvent itself to the point that the members were ready to hit the start button on Radiohead.
Now, the band has launched a massive tour, mainly in three-week segments, so that its members can tend to family concerns. They’re older now, of course, and each is a father.
The band has worked up 75 songs for the tour, writes Fricke, and will likely road test a few brand-new tunes on at least a few dates.
