{"id":6101,"date":"2025-10-26T10:44:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T11:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unlockingsite.com\/?p=6101"},"modified":"2025-10-27T12:30:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T12:30:12","slug":"radiohead-star-reveals-the-wheels-came-off-after-death-of-wife-aged-48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.unlockingsite.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/26\/radiohead-star-reveals-the-wheels-came-off-after-death-of-wife-aged-48\/","title":{"rendered":"Radiohead star reveals \u2018the wheels came off\u2019 after death of wife aged 48"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Thom\t<\/div>
Thom Yorke has opened up about the impact of his late wife’s death (Picture: Roberto Ricciuti\/Redferns)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thom Yorke has revealed the impact of his ex-wife’s death, as he reveals grief was behind his decision to take a break from Radiohead.<\/p>\n

The band \u2013 made up of Thom Yorke<\/a>, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O\u2019Brien and Philip Selway \u2013 announced last month they will be putting on 20 shows, landing in London<\/a> for performances in late November.<\/p>\n

In anticipation of their new tour, the band has opened up about the decision to take a seven-year-long break.<\/p>\n

Speaking to The Times<\/a>, Thom explained that he personally was dealing with a lot of grief that he hadn’t taken time to deal with when they decided to take a break. <\/p>\n

‘I guess the wheels came off a bit, so we had to stop,’ the singer said. ‘There were a lot of elements. The shows felt great, but it was, like, let\u2019s halt now before we walk off this cliff.<\/p>\n

‘And I needed to stop anyway,’ he added. ‘Because I hadn\u2019t really given myself time to grieve.’<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Radiohead\t<\/div>
Dr Rachel Owen was married to Thom for several years (Picture: Pembroke College Oxford)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Radiohead,\t<\/div>
The band consists of Phil Selway, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, and Ed O’Brien (Photo by Gie Knaeps\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In December 2016, Rachel Owen, Yorke\u2019s first wife, died from cancer at the age of 48. The couple had recently amicably separated and had two children together, Noah, 24, and Agnes, 21. <\/p>\n

‘[My grief] was coming out in ways that made me think, I need to take this away,’ he said.<\/p>\n

He added that ‘obviously’ music was a salve, adding: ‘Music can be a way to find meaning in things and the idea of having to stop it, even when it makes sense to, because you\u2019re not well? Even at my lowest point? I can\u2019t. <\/p>\n

‘I need something that I can hold on to. But there have been points in my life where I have looked for solace in music and played the piano, but it literally hurts. <\/p>\n

‘Physically. The music hurts, because you\u2019re going through trauma.’<\/p>\n

Thom and his late ex-wife were together for 23 years after meeting at the University of Exeter, and split amicably in 2015. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Mandatory\t<\/div>
Thom remarried in 2020 (Picture: Richard Nicholson\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2019, he opened up about the death of his former partner.<\/p>\n

\u2018I can\u2019t hope to be their mum, but we\u2019re alright. I\u2019m just really proud of them both. It stuns me most days. I can\u2019t believe they\u2019re anything to do with me. They\u2019re just such great people,\u2019 he said of his children on Desert Island Discs.<\/p>\n

\u2018When the kids\u2019 mum died, it was a very difficult period and we went through a lot,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was very hard. She suffered a great deal, and my ambition is to make sure that we have come out of it alright, and I hope that\u2019s what\u2019s happening.\u2019<\/p>\n

Thom has since married Dajana Roncione, 41, an Italian actress. The pair tied the knot in a Sicilian wedding<\/a> in 2020 after meeting in 2017, and confirming their relationship in 2019, when Dajana made an appearance in his ANIMA short film. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Mandatory\t<\/div>
Radiohead’s tour is set to begin in just under two weeks (Picture: Richard Nicholson\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Radiohead\u2019s latest tour was announced by Philip Selway, just a year after Thom said he \u2018really doesn\u2019t give a f***\u2019<\/a> if fans want a Radiohead return.<\/p>\n

Philip said in the announcement that they had rehearsed the same year Thom made his bold comment. <\/p>\n

\u2018Last year, we got together to rehearse, just for the hell of it. After a seven-year pause, it felt really good to play the songs again and reconnect with a musical identity that has become lodged deep inside all five of us.<\/p>\n

\u2018It also made us want to play some shows together, so we hope you can make it to one of the upcoming dates. For now, it will just be these ones but who knows where this will all lead.\u2019<\/p>\n

The tour is set to kick off in Madrid<\/a>, Spain, on November 4 and conclude in Berlin<\/a>, Germany<\/a>, on December 12.<\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page – we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n


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