The members of Radiohead, one of Britain's more visible recent rock exports, say they're not afraid of the hard work it may take to get their music heard throughout the United States.

"We've always realized you have to work hard in America," guitarist Ed O'Brien said. "Why are the biggest bands in the world American bands? Because they've toured constantly to get that way. British bands haven't been willing to do that kind of work, and there's an arrogance that goes along with their refusal."

Radiohead isn't exactly unknown on this side of the pond. Currently in the midst of its third tour, the five-member Oxford-based band scored a new-rock radio hit with the angst-anthem "Creep" a few years ago.

"Nobody knew at the time it would be a hit," O'Brien, 27, said. "It was the first thing we ever recorded. We've since tried to escape from that song, but it was the reason a lot of people came to see us in the first place."

Radiohead - Thom Yorke (vocals), Phil Selway (drums), O'Brien, Colin Greenwood (bass) and Jonny Greenwood (guitar-keyboards) - is touring behind its sophomore album, The Bends (Capitol).

"We spent so long on the road after 'Creep' that we felt like we were digging ourselves into a rut," O'Brien said. "We worried we may not have anything left to say, but eventually we came up with the new songs. We're stronger as a unit now than we've ever been. . . .

"Probably our biggest criticism of ourselves is we think too much. We all went to university and have never thought there was anything wrong with thinking too much."

O'Brien, who first visited the U.S. as a teen-ager in 1987, said he especially enjoys the touring aspect of life in a band.

"America is a fantastic place to play," he said. "It's the most beautiful country in terms of landscape. Some of the cities are the ugliest in the world, but as far as the country itself goes, it's incredibly diverse. The first time I came over, I was backpacking and taking Greyhound buses. This is so much better."