Biography of Radiohead

Radiohead's combination of British pop sensibilities and noisy, Pixies-derived post-punk managed to cross into the mainstream while keeping a fair amount of alternative credibility. Consisting of vocalist Thom E. Yorke, Johnny and Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, and Phil Selway, the Oxford-based group were relative unknowns in their homeland when the brooding single "Creep" became an American hit in 1993. "Creep" carried their debut album, Pablo Honey, into the charts, as well as into gold record status; soon, the single also became a hit in Britain. However, the group wasn't able to produce any successful follow-up singles, and the record disappeared from the charts by the end of the year. Radiohead delivered their second album, The Bends, in spring of 1995. Although it received positive reviews and sold well upon its British release, the record was still-born in America. After a couple of months, radio and MTV began playing "Fake Plastic Trees," making the single an alternative hit and pushing The Bends into the charts. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine