AR:
IOHEAD
W O R D S B Y: S A M H I L L
S
ince being lumped in with grunge bands of the 1990’s with the debut release Pablo
Honey, Radiohead has evolved into one of the most innovative musical acts in the world,
releasing such masterpieces as the alt-rock-tinged OK Computer, groundbreaking electrorock hybrid Kid A and the beautiful In Rainbows. Because of the band’s tendency to
experiment and write music in various genres, some debate whether Radiohead belongs in the
rock ‘n’ roll canon at all, arguing that “pure” rock ‘n’ roll bands and British contemporaries like Oasis
and Blur trump them with their straight-ahead, no nonsense attitude, although that argument
seems to come mostly from music writers looking to get attention. Plenty of listeners—the author
included—love all of those bands and appreciate what they all bring to the table. So today, let us
focus on the gear that drives the sounds of one of the greatest and most beloved bands of the
modern era. Even the casual fan is aware of the vast amount of vintage synths and software the
band uses, but because this is a guitar-centric publication, we’ll be focusing on Radiohead’s guitar
gear (and since we won’t be discussing him at great length, let me just put it out there that Phil
Selway is one of the best drummers of all time, and an all-around phenomenal musician who plays
nearly every instrument in the studio on his solo records). It’s not easy to be a three-guitar band,
and Radiohead executes it flawlessly. Keep in mind that their gear rotates and I’m referencing
what was used on the latest King of Limbs tour. For your convenience, I’ve broken the gear down
according to band member.
ToneReport.com
25