Radiohead’s comeback after 7 years, Oasis reunion in Cardiff, Ozzy’s last performance: The most moving concerts of 2025.
The old men are back: The live year 2025 was dominated by returning greats of the Cool Britannia era, North American icons of protest songs and an ascension from heavy metal hell. As was so often the case in these times marked by the decay of the 20th century, young women provided a breath of fresh air.
Radiohead
After seven years away from the stage, Radiohead returned for a European tour on November 4th: they played four concerts each in Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen and finally in Berlin. The band always performed and continues to perform on a round stage in the middle of the venue and has rehearsed 70 songs for the concert series, from which they put together their own setlist every evening.
Black Sabbath
Eight years after their “The End” farewell tour (without original drummer Bill Ward), Black Sabbath got together again with their original line-up for a monumental gig. Under the motto “Back To The Beginning” they returned to their old home, the Birmingham district of Aston. In Villa Park there they performed after an opening act with top-class heavy artists such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Anthrax and many others with a health-stricken Ozzy Osbourne. 17 days later, the “Prince of Darkness” died of a heart attack.
Oasis
“Because we need each other / We believe in one another”: Holding their hands in the air, Liam and Noel Gallagher swaggered onto the stage together in Cardiff on July 4th for the first time since Oasis split in the summer of 2009. A quick brotherly hug and off we went into a set that gave the audience exactly what they wanted: a recreation of the 1994/’95 Britpop season. Only a single song from the 21st century made it onto the setlist, which the band didn’t change once over 41 gigs. Why? She was perfect.
Billie Eilish
For the 106 concerts on her “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour”, Billie Eilish, who turns 24 on December 18th, was able to draw on an incredible back catalog spanning ten years: The setlist ranged from her breakthrough hit “Ocean Eyes” from 2015 to the ’25 global hit “Birds Of A Feather”.
Haim
The titles were misleading: I QUIT was the name of Haim’s first album in five years, and “Gone” was its opener, which featured George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90”. But the three sisters were neither passé nor were they thinking of stopping, as they proved on their tour, which unfortunately (for us) only took them through their US H(e/a)imat and the UK. Haim are something from there! Unfortunately not here, come over again! The Berlin show 2018 was (too) long ago.
Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Grand National” was the name of the joint tour by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, on which the two US superstars chased their audience through around 50 songs in nine acts.
Most segments consisted of solo performances, the fifth and ninth acts being the exceptions; During this the two performed together. The power duo played to more than 1.1 million people and grossed a whopping $256 million.
pulp
“You deserve more – & we have more,” joked Jarvis Cocker in reference to the as yet unannounced comeback LP MORE when Pulp scheduled UK arena gigs in February. Following their tour, they returned as secret act Patchwork to the Glastonbury Festival, where exactly 30 years ago they became a national shrine overnight as headliners.
Neil Young
Neil Young, who celebrated his 80th birthday on November 12th, raised the average age at the Glastonbury Festival as the third headliner alongside The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo. It’s good that Rod Stewart, who has been 80 since January 10th, was there to support him at the traditional “Legends Slot” on Sunday afternoon.
Bruce Springsteen
As part of his 130 (!) concerts world tour, which spanned almost two and a half years, Bruce Springsteen returned to Germany for three shows in June.
The “Boss” also used the world’s largest stages to loudly protest against US President Trump.