Photos: Radiohead, The Early Years

Long before they became one of the biggest and most enigmatic rock bands in the world, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Phil Selway, and Ed O’Brien were just an ambitious young group of Abingdon School students. Taking their name from the day they most often rehearsed, Radiohead’s first incarnation was called On a Friday from 1985 until 1991, after signing with EMI. Given that it’s been almost three decades since their mid-’80s formation, we thought now’s a good time to look back at their humble beginnings. Below, find early photos of the lads before they were famous, featured in the documentary Anyone Can Play Guitar (via giventothewild):

Thom Yorke

Jonny Greenwood

Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood

Phil Selway

Radiohead, ‘Winter Wonderland’

Back in December of 2002, Radiohead performed an unusual, partially holiday-themed webcast from their official site called “Inside Out Night,” debuting this year’s The King of Limbs cut “Morning Mr. Magpie” among other impromptu takes and in-studio banter. While this version doesn’t bring the cheer of most holiday tunes, “Winter Wonderland” is morphed into a tripped-out, jaunty number that finds Thom Yorke and the boys loosening up from their usual self-serious approach. Radiohead completists and curious Christmas covers aficionados alike might want to check out the gloriously odd version above.

Meanwhile, in recent Radiohead news, a recording surfaced this week that many believe is an unreleased, previously-unheard song from the Bends era. Though some publications and fans aren’t entirely sold on whether the tune is real or not, the band have yet to confirm or deny either way. In fact, the title of the track itself is up for debate, with some calling it “How Do You Sit Still” and others dubbing the cut “Putting Ketchup in the Fridge.” Regardless, this is a pretty catchy number and worth checking out:

“How Do You Sit Still / Putting Ketchup in the Fridge”

Thom Yorke Replies to Radiohead Fan Letter, 1994

Image

Dearest Rob.

Thanks for writing. Wow! Framing T-shirts. Next thing we know we’ll have our plectrums framed in “Rock Café”s around the world! Or not.

I’m sitting in the control room of a studio in London. – ‘RAK’ where we’re recording new stuff, for the album & so on. Phil is currently playing a wierd ride cymbal thing on Nice Dream. Jonny’s in the corner drawing with an Apple Mac.

Hope you like the new stuff!

all love

thom

(via Letters of Note)