Rock On The Net: Radiohead

Radiohead hail from Oxford, England consisting of Thom Yorke (vocals), Jon Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), Ed O'Brien (guitar), and Phil Selway (drums). The band formed in 1989 and have gradually became a top alternative band for the 90s. With angst in their voices and force in their music, Radiohead has become a favorite with fans and critics. Before coming together as a band, Thom and Colin were in a band called TNT before they broke off on their own to form their own band. With Ed, Phil and Jon joining in, the quintet formed a band called On A Friday while they were students in England in 1987 and made their first appearance in Jericho's Tavern in Oxford. When a music career was determined to be their focus and their name wasn't helping their image, they became known as Radiohead (from the Talking Heads song "Radio Head").

Radiohead released an EP called Drill with a single called "Prove Yourself" that helped the EP sell moderately in England. Soon the band signed with EMI/Capitol.

# 107 Singles Artist of the Year

Radiohead's debut LP, Pablo Honey, was released and the band had their first hit - the self-loathing "Creep" with the chorus "...but I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo, what the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here." Other tracks, including "Pop Is Dead" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar" were also played on modern rock and college radio.

Radiohead hit the Top 40 with "Creep."

The band found more success in the U.S. than their native England, and toured throughout '93 opening for Belly and Tears For Fears. By the end of the year, Radiohead found their fans in England when "Creep" was re-issued and hit the Top 10.

Radiohead's second LP, The Bends, was released. Critical praise of the LP had demonstrated that the "sophomore slump" had not hit the band. The LP was not however a commercial success and had few tracks played on the radio - even as the band toured with R.E.M. in the U.S. and Europe. "High And Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees" were moderate hits on alternative radio. The LP did fare better in England than the U.S. this time. The LP also made the Top 50 of Q magazine's Best Albums of 1995.

The band started work on a new LP in and also toured with Alanis Morissette in the summer.

Radiohead were nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video ("Just").

Radiohead contributed the haunting track "Talk Show Host" to the Romeo And Juliet soundtrack.

O.K. Computer topped the UK Albums chart for 2 weeks.

Radiohead released O.K. Computer in the US. The band toured in support of the LP throughout the U.S. and England to sell-out crowds. The first single "Paranoid Android" was a Top 3 hit in the U.K. and a video and alternative radio favorite in the U.S. Thom said of the LP title: "When we were doing it, when we were recording it, we would walk around the studio like robots going, 'OK, Computer! And it kind of stuck."

Radiohead were nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video ("Paranoid Android").

O.K. Computer was Spin magazine's #2 LP of the Year. Spin magazine also named Radiohead their Band of the Year for 1997 and made the Top 10 lists of numerous "Best LPs of 1997."
Readers of Rolling Stone named "Paranoid Android" the Best Video of the Year and critics named Radiohead the Best Band of the Year.

When the nominations for the 1998 Brit Awards were announced, the front-runners included Radiohead with 3 nominations: Best Group, Best Album for O.K. Computer and Best Single for "Paranoid Android."

A poll of England's favorite LPs of all-time found 2 Radiohead LPs in the Top 10: The Bends at #4 and O.K. Computer at #7.

Radiohead won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance (O.K. Computer) and was also nominated for Album of the Year (O.K. Computer). It wasn't a big surprise that Radiohead were not going to perform at the ceremony considering they are often called "anti-television." Yet, the band apparently was willing to perform at the ceremony, but declined the invite when it was told that they would have to perform with David Bowie (singing solo was considered "not too good for ratings"). The group had planned on performing because the awards show has a history of helping developing bands (which Radiohead feels they are in the U.S.) and had planned on singing "Exit Music (For A Film)."

Radiohead released the limited edition EP, Airbag / How Am I Driving? containing several unreleased tracks.

Radiohead were nominated for a few MTV Video Music Awards including Best Group Video, Best Direction (Jonathan Glazer), Best Cinematography (Stephen Keith-Roache), and Best Alternative Video ("Karma Police").

Radiohead came out in support of Amnesty International at a concert held in France which also included Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Alanis Morissette, Peter Gabriel, Shania Twain, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and Youssou N'dour. The concert was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Nominees announced for the 1999 Brit Awards include Radiohead for Best British Video (for "No Surprises").

Radiohead were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance (Airbag / How Am I Driving?).

MTV: 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made includes "Fake Plastic Trees" at # 77.

Radiohead were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video Long Form (Meeting People Is Easy).

Radiohead announced via their website that the band has finished up their next LP (Kid A) to be released in October. Yorke said on the website: "Yesterday we finished recording. I am free and happy, and now I'm going for a walk in the park. Goodbye."

Radiohead toured in Europe during the summer.

Radiohead released Kid A and hit #1 on the LP charts and was certified gold by the end of the month.
Kid A topped the UK charts for 2 weeks and the Billboard Internet Album Sales chart for 1 week.

Rolling Stone & MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs includes "Creep" at # 76.

. Radiohead was named 'Band of the Year' by Spin magazine.

VH1: 100 Greatest Albums includes O.K. Computer at # 94.

Radiohead won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance and were nominated for Album of the Year (Kid A).
Kid A was certified platinum.
Radiohead were nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Group.

Radiohead's next LP, Amnesiac, was released and included tracks from the Kid A sessions along with a few new songs.
Amnesiac topped the Billboard Top Internet Albums chart for a week and the UK Albums chart for a week.

Amnesiac was certified gold.

Radiohead topped the Canadian singles charts with "Knives Out."

Radiohead won a Q Award for Best Act In The World Today.

Radiohead released a live LP - I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings.

Radiohead were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance (Amnesiac).

Radiohead won Q magazine's 'Best Act in the World Today' award for a second year.

# 175 Singles Artist of the Year

Radiohead released their next LP, Hail To The Thief.
VH1: 100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years includes "Creep" at # 84.
Radiohead topped the Billboard Internet Sales chart for a week and the UK for a week and Canadian LP charts with Hail To The Thief.

Hail To The Thief was certified gold.

Radiohead's video for "There There " won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction (Chris Hopewell) and was nominated for Best Special Effects (John Williams & Dave Lea), Best Editing (Ben Foley), and Best Cinematography (Fred Reed).
Radiohead embarked on a tour of North America kicking off in Massachusetts.

Critics in Rolling Stone named Radiohead's tour as the Best Tour of the year and Best Band (tied with Queens Of The Stone Age).
Rolling Stone: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 110: The Bends, # 162: O.K. Computer, # 428: Kid A.

Radiohead was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("There There") and Best Alternative Music Performance (Hail To The Thief).

Rolling Stone: The Immortals - The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time included Radiohead at # 73.

O.K. Computer was certified 2x platinum.

Yorke released a solo LP The Eraser (Billboard peak: # 2 - Rolling Stone: - Entertainment Weekly: B-).
Yorke topped the Billboard Top Internet Albums chart with The Eraser.

Yorke released the EP Spitting Feathers, 5 B-Sides & 2 Videos.

Yorke was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album (The Eraser).

Radiohead released the EP Com Lag (2Plus2IsFive) - a collection of b-sides and rare tracks originally released 3 years ago in Japan.

Radiohead released their next LP In Rainbows (Rolling Stone: - Entertainment Weekly: A) on the webset www.inrainbows.com where fans could name their price for the LP (including $0) and then download it.

Radiohead released the box set Radiohead: Limited Edition Box Set - the set included all 7 Radiohead LPs.
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's included "Creep" at # 31.

Radiohead officially released In Rainbows.
Radiohead topped the Billboard 200 LP chart, Top Rock Albums chart, and Top Internet Albums chart with In Rainbows.
Radiohead topped the UK and Canadian LP charts with In Rainbows.

Yorke appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.

In Rainbows was certified gold.

Radiohead released the limited edition 2CD set The Best Of Radiohead.
Entertainment Weekly: 100 Best Albums of the Last 25 Years included In Rainbows at # 10 and O.K. Computer at # 62.

Radiohead topped the Rolling Stone 'Readers Poll' for Best Tour/Live Act of 2008.
Rolling Stone: 'The Greatest Singers' includes Yorke at # 66.

Yorke released The Eraser Remixes.

Radiohead won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album (In Rainbows), and were nominated for Album of the Year (In Rainbows), and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Best Music Video, Short Form, and Best Rock Song (awarded to the songwriter) ("House Of Cards"). Radiohead performed at the ceremony with a memorable performance of "15 Steps" with the USC Torgan Marching Band.

Yorke could be heard on the soundtrack for The Twilight Saga: New Moon with the track "Hearing Damage."

Rolling Stone: '100 Best Albums of the Decade (2000-2009)' included Kid A at # 1, Amnesiac at # 25, In Rainbows at # 30, and Hail To The Thief at # 89.
Rolling Stone: '100 Best Songs of the Decade (2000-2009)' included "Everything In Its Right Place" at # 24.

Radiohead digitally released their next LP The King Of Limbs via their website - the LP was released as a CD in March.

Radiohead topped the Billboard Rock Albums chart and Alternative Albums chart with The King Of Limbs.

Radiohead performed on Saturday Night Live.

Radiohead released the remix LP Tkol Rmx 1234567.

Radiohead was nominated for 4 Grammy Awards including Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance, and Best Music Video, Short Form ("Lotus FLower"), and Best Alternative Music Album (The King Of Limbs).

• May 8: Radiohead digitally released their next LP, A Moon Shaped Pool.
• May 28: Radiohead topped the Billboard Digital Albums chart, Rock Albums chart, and Alternative Albums chart with A Moon Shaped Pool.

• June 7: The CD version of A Moon Shaped Pool was released.
• June 30: Radiohead topped the UK LP chart with A Moon Shaped Pool.

• February 12: Radiohead were nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Best Rock Song (awarded to the songwriter) ("Burn The Witch") and Best Alternative Music Album (A Moon Shaped Pool).

• July 7: OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017 was released.

• December 8: Yorke released the solo LP Tomorrow's Modern Boxes.

• October 26: Yorke released Suspiria (Music For The Luca Guadagnino Film).
  available for download at iTunes and Amazon.mp3
  available on vinyl

• November 9: A Moon Shaped Pool was certified gold.

• May 29: Radiohead was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

• June 28: Yorke released Anima.
  available for download at iTunes and Amazon.mp3
  available on vinyl
  Grammy Nominee: Best Alternative Music Album

• August 3: Yorke topped the Billboard Dance Electronics Albums chart with Anima.

• January 26: Yorke was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards including Best Alternative Music Album (Anima), Best Song Written for Visual Media (awarded to the songwriter) ("Suspirium"), and Best Music Film (Anima).

• November 20: Radiohead topped the Billboard Rock Albums chart and Alternative Albums chart with Kid A Mnesia.