Music Metrics Vault

Thom Yorke

Data updated on 2025-05-06 08:05:00 UTC
As the frontman for Radiohead, Thom Yorke provides the band with a humanistic focus: his keening, emphatic vocals balance even the group's chilliest moments. However, other than duets with similarly inclined artists (PJ Harvey, Björk), Yorke resisted venturing into solo recordings until 2006's The Eraser, which further plumbed the depths of Radiohead's most experimental electronic efforts. He has continued to maintain that focus in his work outside the band, whether it's through subsequent solo albums, soundtrack contributions, and original scores such as 2018's Suspiria and 2024's Confidenza, or new bands such as the Atoms for Peace project co-starring Flea and Nigel Godrich and the Smile with Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner.

Yorke was born on October 7, 1968, in Wellingborough, England. His left eye was paralyzed from birth and remained shut until the age of six. He underwent a total of five operations; the last operation was botched and he almost lost all sight in that eye. Only after wearing an eye patch for a year was he able to see, albeit slightly. His family moved often since his father worked as a chemical-engineering instruments salesman, and by his teens, he had turned to music as an inspiration, namely Elvis Costello, Queen, and the Beatles. After his family finally settled down in Oxford, Yorke was sent to an all-boys school, where he met future Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien and bassist Colin Greenwood, soon after discovering such '80s alternative bands as the Smiths, R.E.M., and the Cure. The seeds of what became Radiohead were planted at this point, as the trio jammed with a drum machine before replacing it with another friend, drummer Phil Selway, and inviting Greenwood's younger multi-instrument-playing brother Jonny to join up, too.

The group's original name was On a Friday before being changed to Radiohead, which they'd swiped from the title of a song on Talking Heads' True Stories. By late 1991, the band was signed to Parlophone in the U.K. and Capitol in the U.S., as an EP, Drill, came and went without much fanfare. Released in 1993, the group's full-length debut, Pablo Honey, appeared to be suffering the same fate until American radio/MTV made a surprise hit out of the Nirvana-esque alternative anthem "Creep." Radiohead's fan base grew considerably over the course of their next two releases, 1995's The Bends and 1997's OK Computer, the latter being voted Greatest Album of All Time in the British magazine Q shortly after its release. One of the world's top rock bands by this time, Radiohead attempted to alienate their newly found Top 40 audience with their next release, 2000's abstract Kid A, but instead found it debuting at the top of the U.S. charts (despite the absence of a video or single being released from the album).

While Radiohead remained his top priority during the '90s, Yorke also found the time to guest on other bands' recordings. Some of these cameo appearances included the songs "El President" by Drugstore (off the album White Magic for Lovers), a cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" with Sparklehorse, "Rabbit in Your Headlights" by UNKLE (Psyence Fiction), Björk's "I've Seen It All" (Selmasongs), and PJ Harvey's "This Mess We're In" (Stories from the Cities). Yorke also appeared as part of the ad hoc alternative supergroup Venus in Furs for the soundtrack to the 1998 glam rock film Velvet Goldmine, lending his vocals to the tracks "2HB," "Ladytron," and "Bitter-Sweet."

In May 2006, Yorke announced an imminent solo album on Radiohead's blog. The Eraser, made with extensive assistance from Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, was released on XL in July. It debuted inside the Top Ten in the U.K. and U.S. and was also nominated for Britain's Mercury Prize and a Grammy Award in the category of Best Alternative Music Album. Radiohead also surprised fans with a new album when they announced the making of In Rainbows roughly a week before it was released in 2007.

A few years later, Yorke formed the band Atoms for Peace, recruiting Godrich on keyboards and production, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass, Joey Waronker on drums, and Mauro Refosco on percussion. The group played several live dates around the U.S. during 2009 and 2010, and began recording for an album, Amok, that eventually appeared in 2013 (but not before another surprise Radiohead album, 2011's King of Limbs). Upon release, Amok performed well on charts across the world, although the members' more pressing commitments meant that a successor was not immediately forthcoming. Yorke also provided vocals for tracks by Flying Lotus and Modeselektor, and collaborated on recordings with Burial, Four Tet, and SBTRKT.

Yorke's second solo album arrived as a surprise, much like the first. Following a series of cryptic clues dispersed through social media, Yorke released Tomorrow's Modern Boxes in September 2014. Initially, it was distributed through the torrent service BitTorrent, and then it was made available on vinyl. The eight-song set was another concise, subdued, yet tense set from the Radiohead frontman. In 2015, Yorke performed with audiovisual artist Tarik Barri and Godrich at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan and the Latitude Festival in the U.K.

2016 saw Yorke and Radiohead surprise fans with their ninth LP, A Moon Shaped Pool, after dropping cryptic hints across social media tied into elements featured in lead singles "Burn the Witch" and "Daydreaming." The band promoted the record with an international tour throughout 2016 and 2017. During the latter year, it was announced that the songwriter would be composing his first film score for Luca Guadagnino's remake of Dario Argento's 1977 horror classic Suspiria. Yorke revealed that during the writing process he had been inspired by various aspects of Krautrock as well as Vangelis' score for Blade Runner. The movie and its soundtrack arrived in late 2018, with the Suspiria album led by the track "Suspirium."

Yorke returned with ANIMA, his third solo album, in June 2019. Produced by Godrich, the chart-topping, Grammy-nominated set was also accompanied by a short film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The Not the News Rmx EP arrived months later. A solo tour was scheduled for 2020, but that was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yorke kept busy with one-off tracks like "Plasticine Figures," collaborations with Four Tet and Burial, and a remix for Clark. His most significant project was unveiled in 2021 with the debut of a new band, the Smile, a trio with Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner. That band released their debut, A Light for Attracting Attention, to great critical acclaim in 2022. A follow-up, Wall of Eyes, landed in 2024. Later that year, Yorke composed the score for Daniele Luchetti's film Confidenza, which featured the London Contemporary Orchestra and Skinner. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

Total plays

595.6 million
Updated on 2025-05-06

Monthly listeners

1,596,816

Followers

1,175,174

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    23,714 listeners
  2. Australia
    20,889 listeners
  3. United States
    20,388 listeners
  4. Australia
    19,595 listeners
  5. Mexico
    19,486 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
This Mess We're In
This Mess We're In
66,620,943 3:58 2000-01-01
Suspirium
Suspirium
61,880,532 3:22 2018-10-26
Hearing Damage
Hearing Damage
50,280,705 5:03 2009-10-01
Dawn Chorus
Dawn Chorus
46,390,478 5:23 2019-06-27
Black Swan
Black Swan
31,891,004 4:50 2006-07-10
Unmade
Unmade
21,749,579 4:27 2018-10-26
Rabbit in Your Headlights
Rabbit in Your Headlights
21,320,284 6:16 1998-08-24
The Eraser
The Eraser
11,547,546 4:56 2006-07-10
Shipwreck
Shipwreck
10,677,102 6:13 2011-09-30
Traffic
Traffic
10,482,499 5:18 2019-06-27
Daily Battles
Daily Battles
9,611,895 2:53 2019-08-21
Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here
9,491,873 6:58 2010-01-01
Her Revolution
Her Revolution
8,600,805 5:49 2020-12-11
Analyse
Analyse
8,565,165 4:03 2006-07-10
Not the News
Not the News
8,151,064 3:57 2019-06-27
Twist
Twist
8,052,519 7:03 2019-06-27
I Am a Very Rude Person
I Am a Very Rude Person
8,012,351 3:45 2019-06-27
Last I Heard (...He Was Circling the Drain)
Last I Heard (...He Was Circling the Drain)
7,250,341 5:07 2019-06-27
Harrowdown Hill
Harrowdown Hill
6,769,231 4:39 2006-07-10
5.17
5.17
6,059,628 4:02 2022-03-13
I've seen it all
I've seen it all
5,976,571 5:28 2000-01-01
I've Seen It All
I've Seen It All
5,976,571 5:31 2002-11-04
Atoms For Peace
Atoms For Peace
5,805,567 5:14 2006-07-10
His Rope
His Rope
5,560,816 5:32 2020-12-11
...And the World Laughs With You
...And the World Laughs With You
5,492,244 2:55 2010-04-21
The Axe
The Axe
5,099,432 6:59 2019-06-27
Beautiful People (feat. Thom Yorke)
Beautiful People (feat. Thom Yorke)
5,087,665 6:02 2016-03-22
Impossible Knots
Impossible Knots
4,849,062 4:20 2019-06-27
The Clock
The Clock
4,596,474 4:13 2006-07-10
Has Ended
Has Ended
4,587,795 4:56 2018-10-26
A Brain in a Bottle
A Brain in a Bottle
4,582,449 4:40 2014-01-01
The Mother Lode
The Mother Lode
4,509,779 6:07 2014-01-01
Runwayaway
Runwayaway
4,253,690 5:57 2019-06-27
Beautiful Feeling
Beautiful Feeling
4,211,560 4:00 2000-01-01
After The Gold Rush
After The Gold Rush
3,670,631 3:45 2011-10-21
All for the Best
All for the Best
3,421,070 5:30 2017-02-07
Skip Divided
Skip Divided
3,388,994 3:36 2006-07-10
Guess Again!
Guess Again!
3,354,787 4:24 2014-01-01
This - Radio Edit
This - Radio Edit
3,285,854 3:55 2012-05-11
Open Again
Open Again
3,219,209 2:50 2018-10-26
The White Flash
The White Flash
3,192,231 4:52 2007-09-10
And It Rained All Night
And It Rained All Night
3,184,621 4:16 2006-07-10
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
3,041,933 4:42 2014-03-12
Cymbal Rush
Cymbal Rush
2,995,835 5:15 2006-07-10
Creep - Very 2021 Rmx
Creep - Very 2021 Rmx
2,771,738 9:03 2021-07-13
YouWouldn'tLikeMeWhenI'mAngry
YouWouldn'tLikeMeWhenI'mAngry
2,742,711 5:13 2017-12-08
This
This
2,655,571 6:39 2011-09-30
Truth Ray
Truth Ray
2,632,939 5:14 2014-01-01
Interference
Interference
2,597,777 2:49 2014-01-01
Nose Grows Some
Nose Grows Some
2,162,150 5:23 2014-01-01
GAZZILLION EAR - THOM YORKE REMIX
GAZZILLION EAR - THOM YORKE REMIX
2,152,944 4:13 2009-03-23
Gazzillion Ear - Thom Yorke Remix / Instrumental
Gazzillion Ear - Thom Yorke Remix / Instrumental
2,152,944 4:13 2010-02-01
Shipwreck - Radio Edit
Shipwreck - Radio Edit
2,055,032 4:26 2011-11-04
Volk
Volk
1,973,031 6:24 2018-10-26
Pyramid Song (Arr. Lawson)
Pyramid Song (Arr. Lawson)
1,943,810 4:35 2019-01-18
A Storm That Took Everything
A Storm That Took Everything
1,803,955 1:48 2018-10-26
Knife Edge
Knife Edge
1,784,840 3:20 2024-04-22
Suspirium Finale
Suspirium Finale
1,709,326 7:03 2018-10-26
The Jumps
The Jumps
1,694,108 2:38 2018-10-26
Klemperer Walks
Klemperer Walks
1,628,993 1:39 2018-10-26
Belongings Thrown in a River
Belongings Thrown in a River
1,591,575 1:28 2018-10-26
The Hooks
The Hooks
1,562,721 3:18 2018-10-26
That's How Horses Are
That's How Horses Are
1,418,538 2:24 2022-04-03
Retarded Fren - Thom Yorke & Jonny Greeenwood Version
Retarded Fren - Thom Yorke & Jonny Greeenwood Version
1,415,780 3:18 2014-02-17
There Is No Ice (For My Drink)
There Is No Ice (For My Drink)
1,361,426 7:00 2014-01-01
Olga's Destruction - Volk tape
Olga's Destruction - Volk tape
1,323,688 2:58 2018-10-26
Pink Section
Pink Section
1,323,050 2:35 2014-01-01
Medicine
Medicine
1,322,227 5:12 2023-05-26
Suspirium (Arr. Rimmer)
Suspirium (Arr. Rimmer)
1,248,412 3:50 2020-09-25
Electric Candyman
Electric Candyman
1,222,699 3:32 2012-09-26
Pyramid Song
Pyramid Song
1,211,685 5:10 2013-01-01
The Conjuring of Anke
The Conjuring of Anke
1,127,955 2:16 2018-10-26
Sabbath Incantation
Sabbath Incantation
1,118,896 3:07 2018-10-26
FeelingPulledApartByHorses
FeelingPulledApartByHorses
1,106,807 6:41 2009-01-01
All Buttons In
All Buttons In
1,087,213 2:06 2012-05-11
The Inevitable Pull
The Inevitable Pull
986,928 1:37 2018-10-26
Atoms For Peace - Four Tet Remix
Atoms For Peace - Four Tet Remix
979,468 5:52 2008-02-10
Dull Hull - Edit V7
Dull Hull - Edit V7
978,294 4:27 2011-11-04
A Light Green
A Light Green
839,440 1:49 2018-10-26
The Universe is Indifferent
The Universe is Indifferent
825,747 4:49 2018-10-26
The White Flash - Trentemøller Remix
The White Flash - Trentemøller Remix
812,090 9:28 2008-07-25
Nattura
Nattura
774,432 3:49 2008-10-27
Back in the Game
Back in the Game
772,680 4:41 2025-02-13
Skip Divided - Modeselektor Remix
Skip Divided - Modeselektor Remix
764,229 5:38 2008-02-10
This Conversation is Missing Your Voice
This Conversation is Missing Your Voice
686,573 3:54 2025-03-11
The Balance of Things
The Balance of Things
679,410 1:08 2018-10-26
A Soft Hand Across Your Face
A Soft Hand Across Your Face
614,423 0:44 2018-10-26
Gazillion Ear - Thom Yorke Man on Fire Remix
Gazillion Ear - Thom Yorke Man on Fire Remix
594,528 3:18 2021-08-12
And It Rained All Night - Burial Remix
And It Rained All Night - Burial Remix
594,217 4:13 2008-02-10
A Choir of One
A Choir of One
583,659 14:02 2018-10-26
TheHollowEarth
TheHollowEarth
573,524 4:07 2009-01-01
A Rat's Nest
A Rat's Nest
559,281 3:36 2006-08-21
E-Bow The Letter - Live From St. James’s Church, London / 2004
E-Bow The Letter - Live From St. James’s Church, London / 2004
527,427 5:10 2018-10-19
Prize Giving
Prize Giving
483,280 3:12 2024-04-22
An Audition
An Audition
463,545 0:34 2018-10-26
Voiceless Terror
Voiceless Terror
443,436 2:30 2018-10-26
The Room of Compartments
The Room of Compartments
442,626 1:15 2018-10-26
Cymbal Rush - The Field Late Night Essen Und Trinken Remix
Cymbal Rush - The Field Late Night Essen Und Trinken Remix
427,000 8:06 2008-02-10
Synthesizer Speaks
Synthesizer Speaks
414,457 0:59 2018-10-26
The Drunkk Machine
The Drunkk Machine
413,532 4:06 2006-08-21
Gangsters
Gangsters
406,081 3:29 2025-04-09
The Epilogue
The Epilogue
401,893 2:46 2018-10-26
Cortical Songs - Neuron Trigger Mx
Cortical Songs - Neuron Trigger Mx
391,848 2:54 2008-07-21
The Clock - Surgeon Remix
The Clock - Surgeon Remix
378,050 6:24 2008-02-10
The Big City
The Big City
374,709 7:50 2024-04-26
Black Swan - Cristian Vogel Spare Parts Remix
Black Swan - Cristian Vogel Spare Parts Remix
374,370 6:02 2008-02-10
Harrowdown Hill - The Bug Remix
Harrowdown Hill - The Bug Remix
346,714 5:16 2008-02-10
Letting Down Gently
Letting Down Gently
327,435 1:19 2024-04-26
Jetstream
Jetstream
318,441 3:44 2006-08-21
Not The News - Mark Pritchard Remix
Not The News - Mark Pritchard Remix
315,146 5:06 2019-08-02
Four Ways In Time
Four Ways In Time
313,016 4:56 2024-04-26
Unmade Overtones
Unmade Overtones
310,130 1:30 2019-02-22
Iluvya
Iluvya
289,464 2:60 2006-08-21
Secret Clarinet
Secret Clarinet
265,184 1:23 2024-04-26
Analyse - Various Remix
Analyse - Various Remix
246,685 4:10 2008-02-10
Harrowdown Hill - Extended Mix
Harrowdown Hill - Extended Mix
239,864 7:11 2006-08-21
Black Swan - Vogel Bonus Beat Eraser Remix
Black Swan - Vogel Bonus Beat Eraser Remix
237,793 7:50 2008-02-10
In The Trees
In The Trees
236,987 1:20 2024-04-26
A Conversation With Just Your Eyes
A Conversation With Just Your Eyes
203,704 5:17 2019-02-22
Not The News - Extendo Mix
Not The News - Extendo Mix
195,567 6:12 2019-08-02
Bloom - Live at Le Trianon
Bloom - Live at Le Trianon
189,491 5:42 2024-06-26
Unused Spell
Unused Spell
183,402 0:50 2019-02-22
Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Arr. Metcalfe, Ryan)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Arr. Metcalfe, Ryan)
181,198 2:46 2019-09-13
Isolation Theme - Thom Yorke Remix
Isolation Theme - Thom Yorke Remix
167,436 4:09 2020-09-16
Confidenza
Confidenza
160,824 3:48 2024-04-26
Volk Spin Off v3
Volk Spin Off v3
152,441 1:46 2019-02-22
Gazillion Ear - Thom Yorke Man on Fire Remix Instrumental
Gazillion Ear - Thom Yorke Man on Fire Remix Instrumental
140,733 3:18 2021-08-12
Nosebleed Nuptials
Nosebleed Nuptials
140,266 3:37 2024-04-26
The7th7th7th7thson
The7th7th7th7thson
135,476 1:08 2019-02-22
Volk Spin Off v2
Volk Spin Off v2
122,215 0:53 2019-02-22
Bunch Of Flowers
Bunch Of Flowers
117,821 2:11 2024-04-26
A Silent Scream
A Silent Scream
115,604 0:38 2024-04-26
On The Ledge
On The Ledge
107,949 2:31 2024-04-26
Not The News - Equiknoxx Remix Feat. Time Cow & Gavsborg
Not The News - Equiknoxx Remix Feat. Time Cow & Gavsborg
102,583 6:51 2019-08-02
Not The News - Clark Remix
Not The News - Clark Remix
99,954 6:12 2019-08-02
Volk Spin Off v1
Volk Spin Off v1
87,723 2:24 2019-02-22
Myxomatosis, "Judge, Jury and Executioner" (Arr. K. Saulnier)
Myxomatosis, "Judge, Jury and Executioner" (Arr. K. Saulnier)
64,462 6:44 2014-05-06
Karma Police: Warm Up
Karma Police: Warm Up
56,761 4:08 2019-11-08
Proud Evolution - Thom Yorke 500qd Remix
Proud Evolution - Thom Yorke 500qd Remix
55,775 6:00 2010-01-01
Stepdaughter
Stepdaughter
44,502 3:15 2024-11-07
People Have The Power - Live at Le Trianon
People Have The Power - Live at Le Trianon
22,057 6:36 2024-06-26
Paranoid Android - Live
Paranoid Android - Live
21,308 2:18 2008-10-01
Street Spirit
Street Spirit
16,857 4:19 2006-01-01
Daydreaming (Arr. R. Boyd & L. Metcalf for Guitar & Cello)
Daydreaming (Arr. R. Boyd & L. Metcalf for Guitar & Cello)
11,354 5:15 2022-03-25
Exit Music (For a Film)
Exit Music (For a Film)
10,533 4:45 2019-05-17
Karma Police - Arr. for Saxophone and Piano
Karma Police - Arr. for Saxophone and Piano
7,958 4:29 2020-11-01
Medley: Weird Fishes/Pyramid Song/15-Step (Arr. A. Venet)
Medley: Weird Fishes/Pyramid Song/15-Step (Arr. A. Venet)
5,716 7:24 2020-07-24
Cough Syrup / Creep Mashup (Arr. by Lance Gerard Loiselle)
Cough Syrup / Creep Mashup (Arr. by Lance Gerard Loiselle)
4,477 2:48 2019-04-26
Let Down - Arr. for Saxophone and Piano
Let Down - Arr. for Saxophone and Piano
4,393 5:36 2020-11-01
Creep
Creep
< 1000 4:60 2023-06-27

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