Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien: People were pretty f**king vicious in the 90s

Ed O’Brien, 58, is an English musician, songwriter and founding member of Radiohead, the band he formed at school in Oxford alongside Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, Philip Selway and Jonny Greenwood. They went on to become one of the most admired and influential British bands of their generation. He and his wife Susan have two children: Salvador, 22 and Oona, 20, and divide their time between London and Wales. Radiohead released their last album in 2016, and last toured in 2025. Now O’Brien returns with his second solo album, Blue Morpho.

Here, he reflects on the experiences that shaped him, from a happy childhood tainted by his parent’s divorce, to giving up drinking, life advice from The Smith’s Johnny Marr, and only fully realising how cool Radiohead are through his kids.

I had moments of happiness and moments of deep unhappiness in my childhood – like lots of children in the 70s. I grew up in Oxford. When I was 10, my parents separated, and my younger sister, my mum and I moved to the countryside in West Oxfordshire. It’s a beautiful part of the world. I found it very formative – being in nature, amongst the rural working class, away from the shadow of the university.

I was bright at school and did well until my parents split up. It frazzled my brain a bit. The band met at Abingdon School, a private grammar school, with a lot of traditions rooted in the old empire. When you’re young, you don’t challenge that stuff. It’s absurd that children are made to wear suits and ties. I don’t wear one, so why should they? They’re pretending to be adults and it’s not natural. I never got in trouble because I always did stuff with a smile on my face. I could make people laugh, which was my way of subverting the system.

The band made us friends. Thom and Colin were in the same year, so they were sort of friends already. Thom and I were in a lot of school productions together, but we weren’t mates. Jonny was younger, and Phil was in the year above. Now, we fit together really well. We’re like a five-limbed organism, or a good football team. We know how blessed we are to do what we do.

When I had my first child, I remember thinking: “This is my purpose.” I was dismantling my wife’s home birthing pool the day after Sal was born. Radiohead had just finished touring, so there were no financial worries. I didn’t have to rush off to work so my wife and I could stay in that cocoon of parenthood. Babies are miraculous. There is something profoundly beautiful about being a parent. But the birth of my children brought back some unhappy memories of my own childhood that I’d locked away.

My kids have never thought their father is cool. My job seems normal to them because they came on tours from the year dot. What’s lovely now is they are both huge music fans, and really love Radiohead. But they don’t think I’m cool for a second. On the penultimate Radiohead tour, they took the piss out of my stage moves.

They probably understand the impact of our music better than I do. Oona told me that “Let Down” is having a moment on TikTok, long before the record company told us. Sal once said: “I don’t think you realise how big Radiohead are.” He’s right. I don’t walk around thinking: “I’m in Radiohead.” In a way, I’m deluded. I know how fortunate I’ve been, but most of the time you’re not on tour. You call into the rhythm of ordinary life, making music – sometimes it’s shit and sometimes it’s good – and that feels normal.

So much of life is guided by intuition – what feels right, and what doesn’t. There were many moments making my new record when something only made sense at a later stage. I always say: let your intuition or your heart be your guide, because the mind can only see what’s in front of it, shaped on past experience.

I’m a mongrel meditator. I taught myself to meditate 20 years ago, though I’m ready to upgrade and find a teacher. I meditate every morning. I do some breathing techniques, some Tai Chi, then weights, and I’ll walk or run once a day. Finding a spiritual practice has been essential. We are spiritual beings living in a physical body.

I wasn’t blessed with naturally good health – I’ve worked really f**king hard at it. I had a chronic back condition as a child, and a prolapsed disc at 21. My back is in an amazing place now, but I’ve had to go on my own journey. I’m in my fifties and have such a blessed life that I want to suck every moment from it.

I’m also a musician, and what comes out when you play is directly affected by how your body functions. I had years of poor posture. I was overwhelmed by depression, which meant I couldn’t function properly. Now it feels vital to find that balance between health, vitality and creativity. I’m a musician and an artist, but I also need to be a loving human being if I’m going to be the best version of myself.

I don’t like being pissed. I gave up drinking from 2002 until lockdown. I come from a family where drinking was quite prevalent. Back in 2002, I had to give up for three months for a medical thing. I realised I’d been leaning into alcohol to give me courage – all those clichés of being the life and soul of the party – it made my insecurities evaporate. I have never had a hangover with a child. I could get up early, clear-headed, laugh, smile. Now I might have a lovely glass of red with a meal at the weekend. I’m also partial to a margarita or two.

Johnny Marr gave me some great advice. He said: “You’re going to meet people who really like your music and you don’t like theirs. So be kind, and engage them.” There wasn’t much of that spirit around Britpop in the 90s. People were pretty f**king vicious to one another. Yet, one of the finest songwriters and guitarists, from one of the coolest bands ever, was telling me to be nice.

I don’t know what my role is in Radiohead anymore. I didn’t have one when we played last year. Maybe there isn’t a role anymore. It’s just what it is now – uncomplicated and lovely. My solo projects have given me more experience of writing lyrics, writing songs and bringing musicians together. It’s always nice to do something new. I couldn’t go forever being the one making funny noises in Radiohead.

‘Blue Morpho’ is out now. Ed plays live in October