Radiohead’s attempt to protect fans from scalpers has triggered fury after thousands were blocked from buying tickets for the band’s European tour while resale sites listed seats for more than £1,700.
Ahead of the general sale, the group warned touts they would be clamping down after spotting over 1,000 “potentially fraudulent” tickets online before the official release.
“Radiohead have always strived to protect their audience from exploitative ticket touts which, in the absence of robust government legislation, becomes increasingly challenging,” their manager Julie Calland told The Guardian earlier this week.
She urged fans to avoid secondary sites and promised to work with promoters, venues and groups such as FanFair Alliance to shut down unauthorised sales.
Fans were invited to apply for unlock codes earlier this week, but many who secured codes were still unable to buy tickets when sales opened on Friday.
However, buyers reported being kicked out of AXS’s queue mid-purchase, accused of being bots even after following every instruction.
“I got identified as a robot and blocked from purchasing tickets after spending 5 minutes trying to find two seats and everytime I found two they would tell me they were no longer available,” one penned on X.
“Definition of irony,” another wrote. “Trying to buy tickets for @radiohead via @AXS_UK and being told by a bot that you can’t buy tickets as you’re suspected of being a bot.”
A third wrote: “@AXS_UK @radiohead you didn’t block the bots you blocked the fans! Had a code and failed. Kicked out multiple times, claiming I was a bot, tickets visible then gone…@viagogo already plenty up for sale…joke of a system”.
“What a farce @AXS_UK was for @radiohead saying can’t get access to tickets because I’m a bot,” another shared. “Get tickets in my basket and kicked out thinking I’m a bit but let’s bots and tours buy tickets and put them on resale.”
Another fumed: “@radiohead @AXS_UK I am not a bot! I thought you knew I had been following you for 30 years. I followed every rule communicated to me but I ended being blocked as a bot. Turned off Private Relay, tried from another devices.. when I finally got in, it was sold out. NotOK Computer”.
AXS apologised, explaining that demand was “very high” and that tickets were often “sold or held in customers’ carts”.
Responding to the frustrated fan: “We are sorry to hear that you have experienced difficulties trying to purchase tickets. This is a very popular event and there are many customers trying to secure tickets this morning. Due to very high demands tickets are either sold or held in customers carts.”
But their assurances did little to calm fans who saw tickets immediately appear on resale platforms. Viagogo advertised some seats for their London gig on November 21 £1,720 and StubHub listed others from £472, despite the band warning that anyone buying from secondary sites could be refused entry.
Critics accused the system of punishing genuine fans rather than stopping profiteers.
@radiohead @AXS_UK I am not a bot! I thought you knew I had been following you for 30 years. I followed every rule communicated to me but I ended being blocked as a bot. Turned off Private Relay, tried from another devices.. when I finally got in, it was sold out. NotOK Computer
— Thomas Gayno (@thm_a) September 12, 2025
What a farce @AXS_UK was for @radiohead saying can’t get access to tickets because I’m a boy. Get tickets in my basket and kicked out thinking I’m a bit but let’s bots and tours buy tickets and put them on resale
— Fordie (@Fordie83) September 12, 2025
I had the tickets on the basket - then this… @radiohead #Radiohead2025tour #shitshow pic.twitter.com/qS09d2b20j
— Jahski (@jahski) September 12, 2025
“You didn’t block the bots—you blocked the fans,” one user wrote, as others alleged dynamic pricing had driven costs up even before the virtual waiting room opened.
“Hi @radiohead fair play lads considering you tried to make today’s ticket sales fair I don’t think you could’ve f**ked it up any more if you tried,” another claimed. “No dynamic pricing? Tickets went up by £200 before the waiting room opened. It looks like all of us who had codes got nothing. S**t”.
Radiohead, whose tour will visit London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid and Bologna, have not yet commented on the backlash.
The Standard has contacted AXS and a rep for Radiohead for comment.
