Radiohead

Lore & Background

The members of Radiohead met while attending Abingdon School, a private school for boys in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. In 1985, the group formed On a Friday, the name referring to their usual rehearsal day in the school's music room. They played few gigs and focused on rehearsing in village halls. On the strength of an early demo, On a Friday were offered a record deal by Island Records, but they decided they were not ready and wanted to go to university first.

In 1991, the band regrouped in Oxford and recorded another demo, which attracted the attention of Chris Hufford, a producer and co-owner of Oxford's Courtyard Studios. That November, On a Friday performed at the Jericho Tavern to an audience that included several A&R representatives. On 21 December, On a Friday signed a six-album recording contract with EMI. At EMI's request, they changed their name; 'Radiohead' was taken from the song 'Radio Head' on the Talking Heads album True Stories (1986).

Radiohead released their debut album, Pablo Honey, in 1993. Their debut single, 'Creep', was a worldwide hit, and their popularity and critical standing rose with The Bends in 1995. Their third album, OK Computer (1997), is acclaimed as a landmark record and one of the greatest albums in popular music, with complex production and themes of modern alienation. Their fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock.

Though Kid A divided listeners, it was later named the best album of the decade by multiple outlets. It was followed by Amnesiac (2001), recorded in the same sessions. Radiohead's final album for EMI, Hail to the Thief (2003), blended rock and electronic music, with lyrics addressing the war on terror. After a hiatus, Radiohead toured Europe in 2025.

Reader's Guide

Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock. Their fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock, and was later named the best album of the decade by multiple outlets. Their awards include six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards, and they hold five Mercury Prize nominations, the most of any act.