6 minute read
Radiohead has become one of the most influential bands in modern music.
Over the years, they’ve made hit songs, reinvented themselves, and even changed how music is released.
But how did it all begin?
What made them take the risks that set them apart?
And now, after years of working on separate projects, could they finally get back together?
Let’s take a journey through the history of Radiohead to find out.
It all started in the mid-1980s at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire.
Five teenage friends—Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Phil Selway—formed a band called On a Friday, named after their weekly practice sessions.
At the time, they had no idea they would one day become one of the most influential bands in modern music.
They started out playing local gigs in Oxford, performing in small venues like the Jericho Tavern.
It was a slow, steady climb, but they were determined.
After finishing university, they decided to stick to traditional careers or commit to music.
They chose the latter.
In 1991, they signed a record deal with EMI, rebranded themselves as Radiohead—inspired by a Talking Heads song—and began recording their first album.
Their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993), didn’t immediately turn heads.
But one song, Creep, changed everything.
Initially ignored in the UK, the track found an unexpected audience in the U.S., where alternative rock radio stations embraced it.
Before long, Creep was everywhere.
For a while, it seemed like Radiohead would be defined by that one song.
But instead of chasing a formula, they went in the opposite direction.
They wanted to prove they were more than a one-hit wonder.
Their second album, The Bends (1995), was a turning point.
It was richer, deeper, and more mature.
Songs like “Fake Plastic Trees,” “High and Dry,” and “Street Spirit” (Fade Out)” showed that Radiohead wasn’t afraid to be emotional, experimental, or bold.
So, critics and musicians couldn’t help but take notice.
Touring with R.E.M. introduced them to a wider audience, and suddenly, they weren’t just “the Creep band” anymore.
They were something more—something that would only grow in the years to come.
In 1997, Radiohead released OK Computer, and nothing was ever the same.
It explored themes of technology, modern isolation, and paranoia in an eerily prophetic way.
Songs like Paranoid Android, Karma Police, and No Surprises were dark, beautiful, and thought-provoking.
Critics called it one of the greatest albums ever made, and fans connected deeply with its message.
Some compared it to Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
But while the success was exciting, it also became overwhelming.
Thom Yorke, in particular, struggled with the fame.
The constant touring drained the band, and instead of trying to repeat OK Computer’s success, they chose a different path.
Yorke was exhausted when they started working on their next album.
Instead of making another OK Computer, the band decided to tear everything apart and start over.
Released in 2000, Kid A was unlike anything they had done before since it was strange, abstract, and filled with captivating electronic sounds.
Guitars took a backseat, and haunting tracks like Everything in Its Right Place and Idioteque initially confused listeners.
But over time, the album was recognized as a masterpiece.
It won a Grammy, and many fans now see it as one of the most important records of all time.
A year later, Amnesiac followed—a companion album recorded during the same sessions, featuring songs like Pyramid Song and Knives Out.
Evidently, Radiohead wasn’t interested in playing it safe.
In 2003, the world felt like it was in turmoil.
The war in Iraq, government surveillance, and global unrest inspired Hail to the Thief, an album filled with tension and urgency.
Tracks like 2 + 2 = 5 and There There captured the feeling of paranoia and frustration.
It was their last album with EMI, and after another long tour, they stepped away to regroup.
By 2007, Radiohead had shaken up the industry again, but this time, it had to do with how they released their music.
In Rainbows was made available as a “pay-what-you-want” download.
Fans could pay whatever they felt was fair, even if that meant paying nothing.
As you can imagine, this was a move that stunned the industry.
Some people thought it was a brilliant way to put power back in the hands of artists, while others worried it would destroy the value of music.
Despite the controversy, the album itself was a triumph.
Songs like Nude, Reckoner, and House of Cards were some of their most personal and intimate to date.
The experiment worked—In Rainbows topped the charts when it was later released physically.
After In Rainbows, Radiohead continued to push boundaries.
In 2011, they released The King of Limbs, an album focused on loops and rhythms.
Some fans found it too experimental, but it showed they were still willing to explore new ideas.
Then came A Moon Shaped Pool in 2016, a deeply personal album filled with haunting melodies.
Yorke was grieving the loss of his ex-wife, and songs like Daydreaming and True Love Waits carried a raw emotional weight.
They toured until 2018, then went quiet.
The members turned their attention to solo projects—Yorke and Jonny Greenwood formed The Smile, Ed O’Brien released a solo record, and Colin Greenwood played bass with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
For years, fans were thinking, “What happened to Radiohead?”
But in September 2024, Colin Greenwood gave them something to hold onto.
During a video call appearance at the Hay Festival Querétaro in Mexico, he revealed that Radiohead had reunited in the studio just two months earlier to rehearse old songs.
“It was really fun,” he said. “Had a really good time.”
He didn’t say which songs they played, but speculation immediately took off.
Could it be Paranoid Android? No Surprises? Karma Police?
Meanwhile, Jonny Greenwood recently told The Guardian that “lots of music is being made” by the members of Radiohead.
But for now, they’re all still focused on their separate projects—The Smile, solo records, collaborations.
“We just need to make a plan,” Jonny said.
Drummer Phil Selway also reassured fans in 2023, saying, “We’re still a band. If anybody knows any different, I’d be very interested.”
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