b. Thomas Edward Yorke, 7 October 1968, Wellinborough, Northamptonshire, England. Thom Yorke is best known as the lead vocalist with UK band Radiohead, who established themselves as one of the leading alternative rock bands of their generation with a series of powerful albums in the late 90s and early 00s. Yorke was instrumental in the development of Radiohead's art during this period, with his lyrics limning a very contemporary and at times infuriatingly oblique vision of personal and political entropy only occasionally brightened by flashes of hope.
Following a tour to promote Radiohead's highly political 2003 album Hail To The Thief, the members took a break from their normal recording schedule to work on solo projects. For Yorke this entailed entering the studio with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and completing a new batch of songs that recalled the parent band's Kid A in the heavy use of electronics and beats in the recording process. Yorke's oft stated preference for music-based computer programs such as Pro Tools over conventional instruments was given full credence by The Eraser. This edgy, low-key album saw Yorke giving full rein to his musical and lyrical obsessions, freed of the restraints of the group format, and while not altogether successful the album offered many glimpses of his songwriting genius. Most notable was the penultimate track "Harrowdown Hill", which took its title from the location where UK government scientist and weapons inspector David Kelly was found dead in 2003. The political intrigue surrounding the affair provided the perfect inspiration for Yorke to write a song at once notable for its honesty, directness and righteous anger. Released in July 2006, The Eraser reached both the US and UK Top 5, and was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize barely a week after its release.
