Radiohead

 

Radiohead

by Pete Clemons

One Saturday in 1992 saw a normal unsuspecting Whipround event at Warwick University. The Spasmodics from Bristol. They were described as a long haired band, that apparently make the Manic Street Preachers look like Brownies. They had hope and a lot of record company interest.

Little did The Spasmodics know though, that when the band drove to the Uni, that they would meet their nemesis! For the support band that night had also had a lot of EMI interest and it was said that a record deal was in the offing for one of them. They were a 5 piece band from Oxford, lead by a singer with a bleach blonde mop of hair, who called themselves Radiohead!!

It wasn't long after that gig that they had the deal and the rest is.......!! So with that disappointment the Spasmodics headed off to France for a few dates and had a memorable time on tour! This proved to be the bands swan song though, as upon return to Bristol the band slowly fell apart, with stress, money, drugs, and musical differences all being cited as reasons. All the clichés really!

By the autumn of 1992 The Spasmodics had called it a day and gone their separate ways. The band, together since 1989, saw their various ex members getting involved in a lot of musical projects. None of those ventures have really matched the summer of 91 when a live album was recorded, and the great times they all shared together!

On the other hand Radiohead released 'Drill' EP later followed by 'Creep' single which was, slightly later, being reissued as an EP

The following year, 1993, and Radiohead were back. The 'Anyone can play guitar,' single had just been released and followed the acclaimed 'Creep' EP. It calmly blew away any sceptics who thought Radiohead had peaked early.

The eponymous track was a progression of their slightly unusual sound as they prove that they’re not just another 'bland-indie band'. 'It’s definitely a hit if it can get the play it deserves' predicted local pundits.

There are bands that like the idea of being a guitar band, the rest just like being a guitar band. What set Radiohead apart was a purpose far beyond posters and parties and making a noise with the lads.

During 1993 Radiohead's main aim is to surpass the standard set by Creep. Then the sky’s the limit. Which of course it was with the release in 1997 of OK Computer. The only criticism back in 1993 was that their records paled besides their live sound.

Creep had been heralded in locally with 'Radiohead worthy support of last year. Another production let-down: the guitar suffocation still hasn’t found its way onto vinyl. And another thing. The lyrics are so ingloriously morbid'.

'Such works live, for the quiet desperation of the words were always drowned by the ferocious stringed onslaught, a strong metaphor of depression'.

Thom Yorke, brothers Jonny Greenwood and Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien and Philip Selway certainly created some landmark records and influenced a whole generation.