The artistic kinship between Flea and Thom Yorke remains one of the most thrillingly unpredictable alliances in alternative music. Last night at London’s historic KOKO, fans witnessed the latest chapter of this cross-genre brotherhood when the Radiohead frontman made a surprise appearance during the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist’s headline set.
Far from a fleeting cameo, the reunion delivered sprawling, improvised jams, the live debut of their latest collaboration, and a falsetto-heavy nod to soul royalty.
From Atoms for Peace to Honora
The bond between the two icons traces back to Atoms for Peace, the experimental supergroup formed in 2009 alongside producer Nigel Godrich and drummer Joey Waronker. While that project has been dormant since brief link-ups in 2018 and their work on Edward Norton’s film Motherless Brooklyn, their creative telepathy has never faded.
Earlier this year, Flea finally fulfilled a lifelong dream by releasing Honora, a trumpet-infused jazz album backed by a formidable ensemble of jazz virtuosos. Yorke lent his haunting vocals to the album’s standout single, “Traffic Lights.”
When Flea’s promotional tour rolled into London, the stage was perfectly set for a reunion.
A 10-Minute Debut and a Marvin Gaye Time-Machine
Yorke—sporting a hairstyle reminiscent of his 1997 OK Computer era and wearing what appeared to be exceptionally flouncy shorts—graced the KOKO stage just two songs into the set to deliver the live debut of “Traffic Lights.”
The studio version was instantly transformed into a living, breathing organism. Stretched out to nearly ten minutes, the performance became a masterclass in live music improvisation. Flea seamlessly pivoted between laying down heavy, foundational basslines and unleashing fierce trumpet blasts. Meanwhile, Yorke held down the rhythm, playing a Fender Stratocaster signature model belonging to his own Radiohead bandmate, Ed O’Brien.
“There is a deep, unspoken language when these two play together. It’s not about sticking to the script; it’s about pushing the boundaries of the room.”
The true curveball, however, was saved for the encore. Yorke returned to the microphone to front Flea’s jazz ensemble for a cover of Marvin Gaye’s 1977 disco-soul masterpiece, “Got to Give It Up.”
Digging deep into his upper register, Yorke went into full, soaring falsetto mode. The band locked into a twitchy, hypnotic groove, stretching the funk classic into an epic, fluid jam. Longtime fans will remember that Atoms for Peace previously covered this exact track during a London gig back in 2013, making last night’s rendition a nostalgic full-circle moment for the capital’s crowd.
With over 20 minutes of high-quality fan footage already making waves across social media, this unexpected London collision proves that whenever Flea and Thom Yorke occupy the same space, musical lightning inevitably strikes.
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| Song Performed | Estimated Length | Performance Highlights & Gear |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights | ~10 Minutes | Live debut of the track from Flea’s new jazz album Honora. Flea doubled on bass and trumpet; Yorke played Ed O’Brien’s signature Fender Stratocaster. |
| Got to Give It Up (Marvin Gaye Cover) | ~10 Minutes | Show-closing encore. Yorke delivered a full falsetto vocal performance backed by Flea’s touring jazz band in an extended psychedelic disco-funk jam. |