so we had to sort of learn to like them again before we could record them, which is odd.' The band used the extra time to practice their songs, but this later proved unsatisfactory to them – Yorke said, 'We had all of these songs and we really liked them, but we knew them almost too well. Radiohead agreed to postpone the start of the album's sessions to 24 February to accommodate Leckie. Sessions were due to begin at London's RAK Studio in January however, fellow Oxford band Ride asked Leckie to perform some last-minute emergency work on their forthcoming album Carnival of Light. They were encouraged by both the material and their producer of choice, John Leckie, who had agreed to work with them on the album. Recording and productionAt the start of 1994, Radiohead began working on song arrangements for The Bends. The album is dedicated to the late comedian Bill Hicks. The 1994 EP My Iron Lung, featuring the single of the same title, was Radiohead's reaction, marking a transition towards the greater depth they aimed for on their second album. However, confronted again by their popularity, Yorke became disenchanted at being 'right at the sharp end of the sexy, sassy, MTV eye-candy lifestyle' he felt he was helping to sell to the world. The band sought a change of scenery, touring Australasia and the Far East in an attempt to reduce the pressure. The band described the tour as a miserable experience, as towards its end they were 'still playing the same songs that recorded two years previously… almost like being held in a time warp.' Tensions were high, as the band felt smothered by both the success of 'Creep' and the mounting expectations for a superior follow-up. Radiohead nearly broke up due to the pressure of sudden success as the tour extended into its second year. The grunge sound of their debut album Pablo Honey (1993) had led to the band being described as 'Nirvana-lite', and neither the album nor the singles 'Stop Whispering' and 'Anyone Can Play Guitar' matched the chart success of 'Creep'. In the years since its release, the album has frequently appeared in listener polls and critics' lists of best albums of all time.īackgroundBy the time Radiohead began their first US tour in early 1993, their single 'Creep' (1992) was in heavy rotation on MTV and had achieved top ten chart positions in the UK and the US when reissued in 1993. Although it lacked the instant success of later Radiohead albums, The Bends achieved triple platinum sales certifications in the UK and Canada and platinum sales in the United States and the European Union. However, it failed to build on the commercial success of their single 'Creep' outside the United Kingdom, and it peaked on the American charts at number 88. The album was subject to greater critical acclaim than their debut Pablo Honey (1993), receiving an enthusiastic critical reaction, and it reached number four in the UK Albums Chart. 'Street Spirit (Fade Out)', the final single and last song on the album, became their first top five UK hit. 'Fake Plastic Trees', rated as one of Radiohead's best songs, was released as the second single, with 'Just' as the album's third. My Iron Lung was released as an EP and later, 'High and Dry' was released as an A-side with 'Planet Telex' as the B-side. The introspective grunge-influenced style of Pablo Honey evolved toward more multi-layered rock with cryptic lyrics and larger ideas, as the band and singer Thom Yorke reacted against the rigors of near-constant world tours. Featuring five charting singles, the album also marked the beginning of a shift in aesthetics and themes for the band, with greater use of keyboards, and more abrasive guitar tracks balancing subtler ones. The Bends was produced by John Leckie at EMI's studios in London, and engineered by Nigel Godrich, who would go on to produce all future albums by the band. The Bends is the second studio album by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, released on 13 March 1995 by Parlophone.

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