Radiohead bio

Radiohead are an English rock band from Oxfordshire, initially formed by school friends in 1985. Radiohead's first single "Creep", from their debut album Pablo Honey (1993), became an unexpected worldwide hit, at first branding Radiohead a one-hit wonder. However, the band caught on at home in the UK with their second album, The Bends (1995), earning fans with their dense guitar atmospheres and frontman Thom Yorke's expressive singing, often in falsetto. Radiohead's third album OK Computer (1997) propelled them to greater attention. Popular for its expansive sound and themes of alienation, it has been acclaimed by many critics as one of the landmark albums of the 1990s. Radiohead's original influences were alternative rock and post-punk bands such as R.E.M., The Smiths, Pixies and Joy Division. With their albums Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001), the band reached their peak global popularity even as their music became less conventional, turning towards influences in electronic music, experimental jazz and avant garde classical, ranging from Autechre and Can to Charles Mingus and Olivier Messiaen. Their latest album Hail to the Thief (2003) was also inspired by Neil Young and The Beatles, and was noted for its mix of guitars, electronic atmospheres and topical lyrics. Although the band's recent albums have polarised listeners, Radiohead have often been praised as among the most creative musical groups of their era, drawing crowds to their concerts and influencing artists in many genres. Radiohead have enjoyed surprising commercial success for a band of "outsiders" but are seen by some to have maintained a spirit of musical and political independence despite recording for EMI, a major label. Radiohead are currently without a label, and are working on their seventh studio album, expected for release sometime in 2007.

Source: Wikipedia