For me Radiohead were one of the ‘new’ bands of 1992. Why? Because they released two amazing records.Their debut EP "Drill" hit the shops last May on an unsuspecting public.The lead song Prove Yourself was a guitar monster of a track, the lyrics were hard hitting, the music fast and slow. Their perfect debut. This was just the start. If that was not enough, then the band released the classic (really) "Creep" last September, which was admired by many a critic. At first I thought it was the most desperate song that could have ever been written, but I soon realized that it was also a very positive song. Personally it makes me feel that it is wonderful to really love yourself; also to really hate yourself. Plus it was nice to be reassured to know that there are some people who feel the same as me.If we had an end of year of poll round these parts, it would have been odds on favourite to have been our single of the year. It would have been mine. It stood out, and still does. Well..that..was until their latest offering, that being "Anyone Can Play Guitar." Which is, do I dare write, equally as important as Creep, or even slightly better. Mainly because it is completely different from their second single.
Although I only managed to see them live twice in 1992, those live outings are still memorable.They are great to watch, they are now confident in the live arena; rather energetic. I will not forget the first time I caught them live. It was to a half full back room at the Imperial in Nottingham, I did not know what to expect. Lisaxxx had recommended them to me,she said “Sid you will like them." She was right. I was convinced. They also got the small crowd clapping and cheering by the end of their set. I became a fan. I would state that last year was a special year for the band.It is sure going to be good having Radiohead around in 1993. Welcome to Radio(special )head.
"Christ with all the things you can do with your life, it's probably the best thing.It's going be the biggest laugh you know” states Thom. He is referring to the whole idea of being in a band. The lucky sod is in full flow.
“I think it’s very strange, people get into bands to get out of normal life and it’s not their fault - it’s the fault that normal life is so fucking boring” continues the lead singer.
Radiohead had just finished playing a frantic and great support slot to Kingmaker. We decided to move to the bar, at Nottingham Trent University so we could drink beer, John [Jonny] eats a baked potato, he doesn’t drink. Is this what it’s like to be in a band and play a guitar? So, you want to be in a band, but you think you don’t have the talent to play the guitar. Well Thom has wrote you a song telling you that you might be able to play those cords after all.
Can anyone play guitar?
“Yeah, anyone can play guitar” smiles Thom.
Anyone Can Play Guitar is different to their previous records, as I have said. Lyrically it is Radiohead. However, the music, to me, has developed, it is a progression. It sounds more grown up, more sharp, more focused; a lot more polished. Anyone Can Play Guitar is a song of hopes, dreams; ambitions.
Explain the song.
“Anyone can play guitar was a sentiment that I had in my head for ages. I had a real problem for ages, why do people form bands, buying guitars, spending huge amounts, only to lose it all and play in front of very few people, and get very disillusioned" claims Mr Yorke as he takes a sip of his beer. They really should be playing this song in school assemblies across the land. After the schoolchildren have heard it, then some of them will decide to pick up a guitar instead of a joystick. Sonic the Hedgehog is going to produce a generation of non-thinking, zombie people; music haters. Maybe, I hope that Radiohead will make some of the population realize that the guitar/music is far more important than a fucking computer game!
The album is finished and should be out for the public to hear by February. What is it like?
"It sounds like everyone else really" jokes John.
"It is a real pop album, it's a real fucked-up pop album. I can't describe the first album, it is one of those things. I'm interested in how people are going to respond to it. I really am" Thom tells me. If their singles are any indication, then the album could turn out to be a classic debut. A killer of a record, maybe. The Abuse posse really can't wait.
Have you had any interest from America?
"Yeah! It's really weird" mutters John, trying not to spit out bits of hot potato. They tell me that various big boys, i.e. CBS have been in touch with them. The actual vice presidents of some of the huge record labels.
John is philosophical about the situation though: "We are not getting our hopes up, as all this happened when we signed. All those companies covering their backs, at the start, in case anything did happen."
Thom explained that they had signed a worldwide deal with EMI, but they still have the option to sign to someone else in the States if they wished. It is all down to red tape, and EMI would lose points and so on. I didn't understand either. However they both seemed very interested if Geffen would want them.The band are hoping to go to the USA by the end of 1993.
Although I am a fan of Radiohead, however being the cynical bugger I am, it does seem to me that they have been somewhat lucky. For example they were signed mainly on the power of their demo; had only ‘really’ played their native Oxford before they signed on the dotted line.
Do you feel you have been lucky? I mean you haven't played that many toilets have you?
“I think we've done a lot of toilets actually" replies Thom sharply.
You have not done a MC4/Senseless Things sort of thing, ie play constantly on the road?
“That is only because we choose to do support tours, rather than our tours" spits Thom.
Okay. That does seem fair enough. Especially now seeing the details of their first UK headline tour.
“We're generally lucky. I think you work hard for your luck. There is a lot of luck, there's a lot of gritting your teeth, not saying anything when people shit all over you. I think we're lucky, because the press have been quite good to us, but on the other hand we are not lucky because Radio One decided they didn't like Creep.They played it for one week before it was released, and then decided they would drop it" he explains.
We are nearly finishing our beers. John has demolished his baked potato. Kingmaker could be heard in the background.
Why should people like the music created by Radiohead?
“I think musically people should like us because we hate all the types of music which each other likes. Too many bands get together and go, oh wow aren't the Pixies great. Let's form a Pixies style band.We haven't had to do that. It's been good" smiles the guitarist.
"Hopefully when they see us live,they get really excited. We try to be a good live band" argues Thom. They are. He continues: "I get upset when bands start off and have one idea;when it's the third EP, you think, fuck I've heard that before - you should do something else” states an angry Thom.
We have now finished our beverages. The kids are shouting at Kingmaker. John keeps looking at his empty carton that once was the home of his baked potato. We all get serious, we debate about the thing we all love and that was music, and more importantly the new music of today. It was all rather depressing. However, I’m afraid what they said is so bloody true.
“There’s so many people who own records who don't really listen to them, just put them on, that is depressing. When you see a band, you have no choice but to listen to the music” proposed John.
Thom has the last word: "A lot of music is dead now, which is really weird. The mechanism of a major record company, and the mechanism behind Our Price and HMV now, they have all this weird stuff going on. Basically if you're not in the forty, you cannot get your single in the record shop, unless specifically the manager orders it, and he is not supposed to order it anyway. It's a really weird situation, the only way you can get in the forty is if you get on the A list of Radio One. So, all these bands are out there. We are really fucked, we are not on the indie chart, no one sees us on that. We are not in the major chart, because fucking Radio One will not play our records.So we are in a dicey position. It is their fault, not ours, they are killing music, not us. They'll fucking realise very soon."
How bloody true! I couldn't agree more, and we let them get away with it.
Radiohead are really special. My only little worry is that, I hope that they haven't peaked too early, because their recorded output already is what a lot of bands could only dream for. I want the boys to be around for years, and not months. I'm praying it is the former.

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