From Pablo Honey to Stadium Shoegaze – The Radiohead Legacy
English alternative rockers Radiohead formed in 1985 in Oxfordshire, where all the members attended the same private boarding school, Abingdon.
Originally going by the name On A Friday—a nod to their rehearsal day using the school’s facilities—they spent six years honing their sound before signing with EMI in 1991.
Their debut album, Pablo Honey, arrived in 1993 and included one of the band’s most recognisable tracks, Creep. The song first gained traction in Israel, then on American college radio alongside artists like R.E.M., Nirvana, and Beck.
With international approval in the bag, Radiohead became the cool band to like in the U.K., standing apart from more mainstream acts like Oasis and Blur.
Their follow-up, The Bends (1995), confirmed Creep wasn’t a one-off. It featured future classics like High and Dry and Fake Plastic Trees, solidifying the band’s growing credibility.
In 1997, they released what many consider their best work—and perhaps the best album of the ’90s—OK Computer. With tracks like Paranoid Android, Karma Police, and No Surprises, it became a global success and established Radiohead as one of the most respected bands in the world.
Rather than replicate their winning formula, the band took a bold turn with 2000’s Kid A. More abstract and less radio-friendly, it featured tracks like Everything In Its Right Place, The National Anthem, and How To Disappear Completely. It lacked obvious singles but pushed boundaries and challenged listeners.
Subsequent albums followed in 2001, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2016, though none quite captured the same magic as their peak years.
Still, Radiohead have managed to maintain their artistic credibility—often playing huge venues without leaning on their biggest hits. In fact, much of their live set is improvisational, shoegaze-inspired material, and for years, they refused to play Creep, despite it being their biggest tune to date.
Radiohead Tunes | Related Pages
Creep | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Creep by Radiohead using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G5 | G | B5 | B |
When you were here before, couldn’t look you in the eye…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Creep (Radiohead) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
High and Dry | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play High and Dry by Radiohead using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| F#m11 | Asus2 | E | E |
Two jumps in a week, I bet you think that’s pretty clever, don’t you, boy…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: High and Dry (Radiohead) Guitar Lesson with TAB,
Radiohead on the web
