‘Radio Head’: The Talking Heads song that gave rise to one of alternative rock’s most iconic bands
In the early 1990s, Radiohead were best known for their debut single, ‘Creep’, a beautiful, albeit slightly mopey track that demonstrated lead vocalist Thom Yorke’s ability to incorporate falsetto into his performance effortlessly. The track remains one of their most recognisable songs, although the band have since vocalised their dislike for it.
It is understandable why the band have disregarded much of their first album, Pablo Honey, which was received with a lukewarm reception from critics. It reflects that the band was still finding their feet in a musical world dominated by grunge and Britpop. However, with their follow-up, The Bends, Radiohead demonstrated maturity and progression, and by 1997, they’d released one of alternative rock’s most vital albums – OK Computer.
They’ve only continued to release endlessly creative and boundary-pushing albums, such as In Rainbows and A Moon Shaped Pool. Never sticking to a distinctive formula, the band largely ditched their guitars in favour of electronic instruments for Kid A, a stark contrast from its predecessor, OK Computer. Taking inspiration from artists ranging from Aphex Twin and Björk to Scott Walker and Jeff Buckley, the band have never shied away from taking cues from other successful musicians.
In fact, Radiohead’s name is taken directly from a Talking Heads song – ‘Radio Head’ from True Stories – with the band finding the American post-punk/new wave experimental icons a beacon of inspiration. The David Byrne-fronted band emerged in the late 1970s, blending avant-garde, African and art-rock influences to create their unique and pioneering sound. The name was picked after Radiohead realised they needed a better, catchier one than their pre-existing moniker – On a Friday.
While Radiohead and Talking Heads both possess rather different sounds, the latter band’s approach to experimentalism and off-beat lyricism certainly inspired the Oxford fivesome. Additionally, Byrne is a big admirer of Radiohead, even inducting them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. During the speech, he called himself a “huge fan of the band.”
He also addressed the fact that Radiohead named themselves after one of his songs, stating, “I was surprised and very flattered when Radiohead stated they named themselves after a song that I had written. I did ask myself, ‘Why that song?’ I still haven’t been able to figure it out, and in a certain way I don’t want to know. This was kind of a goofy Tex-Mex song that I’d written. Maybe we’ll find out, who knows.”
Byrne picked out Kid A as his “conversion moment,” praising its uniqueness. He said, “The record joined together electronics with song forms blew me away. I’d never heard anything like it. There are elements and influences of Can and Miles Davis’s electric period, but this was very different.”
Revisit Talking Heads’ inspirational song, ‘Radio Head’, below.
