Radiohead (music group)
Radiohead is an influential English rock band formed in 1985, comprising Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood, and Phil Selway. The band gained widespread recognition with their 1992 debut single "Creep" from their album *Pablo Honey*, which marked the beginning of their journey to international fame. Over the years, Radiohead's musical style has evolved significantly, transitioning from alternative rock to a more experimental and electronic sound, incorporating influences from various genres such as jazz, classical, and electronic music. Their seminal 1997 album, *OK Computer*, is often lauded for its innovative approach and critical acclaim, earning them their first Grammy Award.
Radiohead's subsequent albums, including *Kid A* and *In Rainbows*, showcased their willingness to experiment with new sounds and distribution methods, such as offering *In Rainbows* as a pay-what-you-want digital download. The band has received multiple accolades and continues to impact the music scene, both collectively and through individual members' side projects. Radiohead was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, solidifying their legacy as pioneers in modern music. They remain active in touring and recording, captivating audiences with their thought-provoking lyrics and distinctive sound.
Radiohead (music group)
Radiohead is an English rock band formed in 1985 by guitarist, pianist, and lead vocalist Thom Yorke; lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood; guitarist Ed O'Brien; bassist Colin Greenwood; and percussionist Phil Selway. Radiohead first gained fame in 1992, following the release of its debut single "Creep," which was featured on the band's first full-length album, Pablo Honey. Over the next few decades, Radiohead garnered a worldwide fan base and earned multiple accolades for its music. The band's musical style gradually evolved with each new release, and the group's early alternative rock sound was soon eclipsed by a more electronic and experimental tone. The band's musical influences span across many genres, including rock, jazz, dance, classical, electronic, avant-garde, and Krautrock. The band members have cited artists such as Queen, Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, the Beatles, Joy Division, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and Aphex Twin as inspirations over the years.
Background
Yorke met bandmates Colin Greenwood and O'Brien while attending the all-boys Abingdon School in England in 1985. He asked them to start a band and had soon recruited Selway on drums and Greenwood's little brother Jonny on harmonica, though he would later pick up keyboard and guitar. They called themselves On a Friday and played together until going to university. The members would later reunite to record a number of demo tapes in the early 1990s. The band's 1991 EP Manic Hedgehog caught the attention of the EMI record label, which quickly signed the group to a six-album deal. The label requested a name change, so the group was renamed Radiohead in 1992.
Radiohead's first EP, Drill, was released later that year. The band's initial sound was heavily influenced by the Pixies, Yorke's favorite band, and the EP's four songs were later included on the full-length debut Pablo Honey. That album's number-one single, "Creep," would become Radiohead's most successful and enduring hit, launching the band to new heights of fame. The band's sophomore effort, 1995's The Bends, further illustrated its members' extensive talents. The album received critical acclaim throughout the United Kingdom and produced several of the band's most memorable songs, including "My Iron Lung," "High and Dry," and "Fake Plastic Trees." The hype surrounding The Bends eventually made its way to the United States, though the band was not as popular in America.
The Bends also marked the first collaboration between Radiohead and engineer Nigel Godrich, who became the band's full-time producer following the album's release. The success of The Bends landed Radiohead spots as the opener for R.E.M. in 1995 and Alanis Morissette in 1996. While touring, Yorke and company began working on new material that would become the band's third album, OK Computer. Considered Radiohead's seminal work, OK Computer was released in June of 1997 to critical and commercial success. The band earned its first Grammy Award for best alternative album for OK Computer, and the album would go on to become an inspiration for many burgeoning alternative rockers.
Radiohead Today
Radiohead's members worried their next album could never live up to the success of OK Computer, and the tension led to some discord within the group. Apart from the disagreements over what direction the band should take next, Yorke also suffered from writer's block. Despite these issues, the group entered the recording studio with Godrich in 1999 and began work on the next release, Kid A. Although the band had added a solid amount of electronica to its previous album, Kid A emphasized electronic and techno music even more. Prior to its release in October of 2000, Radiohead used the internet to help promote the album, becoming one of the first bands to do so. Kid A debuted at number one in the United Kingdom and the United States, making it the band's first American success. The album earned the band its second Grammy for best alternative album, and it went on to gain certified platinum status.
Radiohead released two more studio albums between 2001 and 2003 as well as a live album and a collection of B-sides. The band's 2001 full-length album Amnesiac featured many songs that did not make the track list for Kid A. While Amnesiac did not reach the same success as its predecessor, the band's next release was another hit. Radiohead's much-acclaimed sixth album, Hail to the Thief, was released in 2003 and quickly topped the UK charts. Following an extensive tour through 2004, the band ended its contract with EMI and took an extended break from recording.
While the band was on hiatus, several members worked on side projects. Yorke released a solo collection titled The Eraser in 2006, while Jonny Greenwood began collaborating with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson on scores for movies. The group had reconvened in the studio by the end of 2006 and completed another album within a few months. In Rainbows was released as a digital album in October of 2007. Fans were able to purchase the entire album online for whatever price they chose. The odd move proved successful, and the album received more than a million downloads on its first day of release. A physical album was released in January of 2008, debuting at number one in the United Kingdom. Radiohead set out on a promotional tour through 2009, and In Rainbows later garnered the band another Grammy Award for best alternative album.
After a brief break in 2010—during which Yorke formed a new band called Atoms for Peace and Selway released a solo album—Radiohead regrouped to record King of Limbs. Initially released as a digital download only, physical copies of the album hit shelves in March of 2011, and the band soon embarked on a worldwide tour. After another extended break, Radiohead's ninth studio effort began to take shape in 2014. The band worked on the album through 2015, and it was eventually released as A Moon Shaped Pool in May of 2016. A critical hit, the record was nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Grammy Award for best alternative music album (the single "Burn the Witch" was also nominated for the best rock song Grammy).
In the late 2010s, Radiohead members continued to release solo works and side projects, including several film soundtracks. Notably, Jonny Greenwood earned an Academy Award nomination for best original score for his work on the film The Phantom Thread (2017). Yorke composed the soundtrack to the 2018 film Suspiria, and in 2019 released the solo album Anima.
Radiohead was first nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, the first time they were eligible. Though they were not initially selected, they were nominated again the following year. They were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. The band continued to tour and perform throughout the 2020s.
Bibliography
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