Radiohead frontman and founder Thom Yorke recently reflected on the massive cultural shift triggered by the grunge movement in the early 1990s, recalling the exact moment he realized that Nirvana was destined to become one of the biggest bands in rock history.
During a recent interview with broadcast journalist Matt Everitt for BBC 6 Music, the legendary British musician discussed the immediate, undeniable impact of the Seattle trio’s seminal 1991 sophomore album, Nevermind. For Thom Yorke, the band’s massive success and their role in defining an entirely new musical era alongside acts like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden felt inevitable from his first listen.
“In the real world, people need to feel that an artist comes along every couple of years and goes, ‘Oh s**t’. Like I remember when I first heard Nevermind and I was like, ‘OK, it’s on’. Every now and again you get that. That’s what I’m talking about,” he said.
While Radiohead themselves went on to achieve global dominance with landmark records like OK Computer and Kid A, Yorke used the interview to shift focus away from past successes. Having recently received the Academy Fellowship Award at the 71st Ivor Novello Awards, the frontman expressed his frustration with the current state of the music industry, specifically targeting tech billionaires who prioritize acquiring legacy catalogs over supporting emerging talent.
He argued that the industry needs to invest in the next generation of artists to recreate the kind of cultural excitement that Nirvana once provided.
“I think it’s really interesting that the same people who have done all that are now speculating these old catalogues as things of value, like Picasso paintings that just sit in a vault, without realising that their entire economic model will expire unless they do a little bit of the old redistribution,” he explained.
“For really not a lot of money, you can back an artist you really care about and see them through the early days. With not a lot of support, you can really let people grow and find their way. The truth of the matter is that you only learn through your mistakes. Nowadays you make one mistake and you’re toast,” Yorke concluded.
Yorke‘s comments arrive as Radiohead continues to maintain their status as one of the most influential acts in modern rock. Last year, the band thrilled fans by embarking on their first tour in seven years, delivering expansive setlists covering their three-decade discography.
Outside of the band, Yorke remains highly active with his solo and collaborative projects. Earlier this month, on May 6, he teamed up with longtime visual collaborator Stanley Donwood to launch a limited edition print exhibition in Venice. The gallery showcase, titled “No Go Elevator (not without no keycard),” will remain open to the public until June 7.
