Thom Yorke Biography
Early Life
Thomas Edward Yorke, popularly known as Thom Yorke, was born upon October 7, 1968, in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England. He was the youngest of 4 siblings. Yorke was born with a paralysed left eye, which went through five surgeries before the age of six, leaving him with a completely drooping eyelid, a feature that would later enter into his unique appearance.
Yorke's family moved regularly during his childhood due to his daddy's work as a nuclear physicist and his mom, a teacher. They eventually settled in Oxfordshire in the late 1970s. Yorke revealed an early interest in music, discovering to play the guitar and piano, and began composing tunes at a young age. He went to Abingdon School, an all-boys public school in Oxfordshire, where he met three future members of Radiohead:
Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway, and the Greenwood brothers, Colin and
Jonny Greenwood.
Formation of Radiohead
Thom Yorke, in addition to his good friends from Abingdon School, formed a band contacted a Friday in 1985, called after their regular rehearsal days. Yorke was the main songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for the group. After finishing school, Yorke participated in the University of Exeter, where he studied art and English literature. While he was away at university, the band dissolved temporarily but reformed in 1991.
Following their reunion, On a Friday altered their name to Radiohead at the idea of their record label, EMI. In 1992, the band released their debut single, "Creep", a tune written by Yorke. It initially got little attention, however it rapidly got popularity after being re-released in 1993, catapulting Radiohead to global stardom.
Radiohead's Success
After the success of "Creep", Radiohead launched their debut album, 'Pablo Honey,' in 1993 to combined evaluations. However, their subsequent albums, 'The Bends' (1995) and 'OK Computer' (1997), sealed their status as one of the most innovative and successful rock bands of their period. 'OK Computer' topped a number of year-end and decade-end lists, and is frequently credited with declaring the period of alternative and speculative rock in the late 1990s.
Throughout the next twenty years, Radiohead continued to press musical borders with their albums 'Kid A' (2000), 'Amnesiac' (2001), 'Hail to the Thief' (2003), 'In Rainbows' (2007), 'The King of Limbs' (2011), and 'A Moon Shaped Pool' (2016), exploring a wide range of categories, consisting of electronic music, ambient music, and art rock.
Yorke's emotive and haunting singing performances, coupled with his deeply introspective and frequently difficult lyrics, are thought about key elements of Radiohead's unique sound.
Solo Career and Collaborations
Thom Yorke has also had an effective solo career, launching his very first solo album, 'The Eraser,' in 2006. This was followed by 'Tomorrow's Modern Boxes' (2014), 'Suspiria' (2018, a score for the movie of the same name), and 'ANIMA' (2019). Yorke's solo work, like his deal with Radiohead, frequently checks out themes of societal alienation and individual psychological chaos, and his music often features electronic instrumentation and experimental production techniques.
In addition to his solo work, Yorke has collaborated with popular artists such as Björk, PJ Harvey, and Flying Lotus. He also established the supergroup Atoms for Peace in 2009, with Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, producer Nigel Godrich, drummer Joey Waronker, and percussionist Mauro Refosco. The group released their album 'Amok' in 2013.
Personal Life
Thom Yorke remained in a long-term relationship with Rachel Owen, an artist and speaker, whom he met while studying at the University of Exeter. The couple had two children together, but they separated in 2015 after 23 years together. Unfortunately, Owen passed away from cancer in 2016. Yorke is known for his environmental activism and his support for different charitable causes, consisting of human rights and climate modification.
Tradition
Thom Yorke's contributions to Radiohead and his solo work have actually positioned him as one of the most prominent and ingenious musicians of his generation. His unique voice and speculative technique to songwriting and production have actually had a long lasting influence on the musical landscape, motivating many artists across multiple categories. His continued commitment to developing thought-provoking and innovative music has earned him a place in the pantheon of the greatest rock musicians of all time.
Our collection contains 30 quotes who is written / told by Thom.
Related authors: Colin Greenwood (Musician), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Ed O'Brien (Musician), Jonny Greenwood (Musician)
Discography: