30 Years of Pablo Honey

One of the most influential bands of the 21st century, Radiohead is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their debut album Pablo Honey. The UK-based band consists of 5 members, Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Phil Selway. Pablo Honey was released on February 22nd, 1993 and since that day they’ve made their mark on the music industry indefinitely. Many good albums were released in 1993, but Radiohead produced a new sound that not many were familiar with and this first album really set them up for growth and success. The melancholy themes and heavy sounds that are used throughout the album make it a truly addictive listen. 

With over one billion plays on Spotify, the second track on the album Creep is the song that really made Radiohead a staple artist when talking about alternative music. Creep is about a man who follows a woman that he’s infatuated with but ultimately isn’t confident enough to actually talk to her and confront her with his feelings. Creep came out in 1992 and even though it wasn’t as known as it is now, the popularity it gained from its original release gave it a spot on their debut album. Thom Yorke is the brains behind Creep, and after being asked about the song he stated “I have a real problem being a man in the ’90s… Any man with any sensitivity or conscience toward the opposite sex would have a problem. To actually assert yourself in a masculine way without looking like you’re in a hard-rock band is a very difficult thing to do… It comes back to the music we write, which is not effeminate, but it’s not brutal in its arrogance. It is one of the things I’m always trying: To assert a sexual persona and on the other hand trying desperately to negate it.” Creep rose to be one of the most popular Alternative rock songs, and for good reason.

Radiohead had a great start to their career, Pablo Honey even peaked at number 32 on the charts, above artists like Mazzy Star and Kate Bush. The band was first playing under the name On A Friday and decided to change their name to Radiohead when they signed with EMI Records in 1992. The band decided to go on a tour for Pablo Honey that stretched from January 1993 all the way to December 1993. They played a total of 74 shows all throughout the world and it’s the third-largest tour that they’ve done.

Some call the band a one-hit wonder because of the single Creep, but as time has gone on they’ve proven that they’re more than that. Since Pablo Honey, Radiohead has released a total of 10 albums over the course of 30 years. This year the band isn’t only celebrating their 30-year anniversary of Pablo Honey, but also their 30-year anniversary of Radiohead. 1993 is when they really got their start and made a place for themselves in the music industry.