Radiohead

Radiohead are an English rock band. Initially formed in Oxfordshire in 1986, the band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, electronics), Ed O'Brien (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar, synthesisers) and Phil Selway (percussion). Radiohead released their first single, "Creep", in 1992, followed by their debut album Pablo Honey (1993). Though it was initially unsuccessful, the song became a worldwide hit by the time it was re-issued a year later. Radiohead's popularity in the United Kingdom increased with their second album, The Bends (1995). The band's dense, textured guitar atmospheres and Thom Yorke's expressive falsetto singing were warmly received by critics and fans. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater attention. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, it was acclaimed worldwide, often being named a landmark record of the 1990s. The band's next recordings, Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001), saw Radiohead reach their peak of global popularity even as their music divided fans and critics.The period marked a change in the band's style, with influences including experimental electronic music as well as Krautrock, jazz and modern classical music. Radiohead's shift away from standard rock songwriting also resulted in greater flexibility, with each member playing a wider range of instruments in the studio and at live concerts. The band's sixth album, Hail to the Thief (2003), was seen to blend styles from throughout their career, mixing guitar-driven rock, electronic influences and contemporaneous lyrics. Radiohead recently released their seventh studio album In Rainbows through their own website as a digital download for which users may set their own price. The band plan both to issue In Rainbows as a standard CD in early 2008, and to embark on a world tour from spring to autumn 2008