Thom Yorke

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Thom Yorke
Birth name	Thomas Edward Yorke
Born	7 October 1968 Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England
Origin	Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England
Genres	Alternative rock, electronic music, experimental rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter, composer
Years active	1985–present
Labels	XL Recordings, Warner Bros. Records

Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician and the lead singer and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Radiohead. Known for his distinctive tenor voice, Yorke is also a multi-instrumentalist, playing instruments such as the guitar, piano, and synthesizer.

Early Life

Yorke was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and moved frequently during his early years. His family finally settled in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, where he attended Abingdon School. It was here that he met his future Radiohead bandmates Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, and Philip Selway.

Career

Radiohead

Yorke formed Radiohead in 1985 with his school friends. The band gained international fame with their 1992 single "Creep". Their third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater prominence. Yorke's lyrics often explore themes of modern alienation, technology, and political disillusionment.

Solo Work

In addition to his work with Radiohead, Yorke has released several solo albums, including The Eraser (2006) and Anima (2019). His solo work often delves into electronic music and features collaborations with various artists.

Atoms for Peace

Yorke is also a member of the supergroup Atoms for Peace, which includes Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker, and Mauro Refosco. The band released their debut album, Amok, in 2013.

The Smile

In 2021, Yorke formed a new band called The Smile with Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner. The band has been noted for its experimental approach to music.

Personal Life

Yorke has been an outspoken advocate on various political and environmental issues. He has supported organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Yorke has two children with his former partner, Rachel Owen, who passed away in 2016.

Discography

Solo Albums

• The Eraser (2006)
• Tomorrow's Modern Boxes (2014)
• Anima (2019)

With Radiohead

• Pablo Honey (1993)
• The Bends (1995)
• OK Computer (1997)
• Kid A (2000)
• Amnesiac (2001)
• Hail to the Thief (2003)
• In Rainbows (2007)
• The King of Limbs (2011)
• A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)

See Also

• Radiohead
• Atoms for Peace (band)
• The Smile (band)
• List of alternative rock artists