Radiohead was formed in 1985 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. The founding band members, Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards), Colin Greenwood (bass), Ed O’Brien (guitar, backing vocals), and Philip Selway (drums), met at Abingdon School. They changed their name to Radiohead in 1991, inspired by a song from Talking Heads’ album True Stories. They signed with EMI and released their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993), which featured their breakout hit “Creep.”
Radiohead’s second album, The Bends, marked a significant shift from the grunge-influenced sound of Pablo Honey (1993). Released on March 13, 1995, the album featured a more atmospheric and emotional style, blending alternative rock with intricate melodies and introspective lyrics. Songs like “High and Dry,” “Fake Plastic Trees,” and “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” showcased Thom Yorke’s new and refined vocals and the band’s evolving sound.
Radiohead has won numerous awards like:
- Grammy Awards – 3 wins (Best Alternative Album for OK Computer and Kid A, Best Boxed Set for In Rainbows).
- Brit Awards – 1 win (Best British Group in 1998).
- Ivor Novello Awards – Recognized for songwriting excellence.
- Mercury Prize – Nominated multiple times, winning in 1997 for OK Computer.
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Inducted in 2019.
Radiohead has supported some causes like:
- Climate Change & Environmental Efforts – Partnered with organizations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.
- Fair Trade & Human Rights – Advocated for Amnesty International and supported fair trade initiatives.
- Disaster Relief – Donated proceeds from concerts and albums to aid victims of natural disasters, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
- Music Industry Reform – Released In Rainbows (2007) using a “pay-what-you-want” model to challenge traditional music distribution.
“Fake Plastic Trees” is an important song because it was inspired by a singer named Jeff Buckley. Radiohead went to one of Buckley’s concerts, and seeing him sing inspired Thom Yorke to be more comfortable with his voice and hit falsettos comfortably. This made “Fake Plastic Trees” a beautiful song, and The Bends became my favorite album from Radiohead because of its guitar-heavy songs as well as Radiohead becoming one of my favorite bands because of their alternative style of rock music.
