View source for Thom Yorke

{{Short description|English musician (born 1968)}}
{{Distinguish|Tom Yorke|Tom York (disambiguation){{!}}Tom York}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Thom Yorke
| background        = solo_singer
| image             = RadioheadMontreal170718-70 (43600493681) (cropped).jpg
| alt               = Yorke on stage
| caption           = Yorke in 2018
| birth_name        = Thomas Edward Yorke
| alias             = {{flatlist|
*Sisi Bakbak
*Tchock
*The White Chocolate Farm
*Zachariah Wildwood
*Thmx
}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1968|10|7|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Wellingborough]], [[Northamptonshire]], England
| origin            = [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]], [[Oxfordshire]], England
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[electronica]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Review: ANIMA |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/anima-mw0003292927 |website=AllMusic |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref>|[[experimental rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Book reviews: Dead Children Playing: A Picture Book | author=Leahey, Andrew | magazine=[[CMJ]] | date=September 2007 | volume=64 | issue=151 | page=62}}</ref>|[[art rock]]<ref name="Rolling Stone-2011" />}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
*Singer
* songwriter
*composer
}}
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
<!-- Please don't add instruments to this list. It should only contain instruments Yorke is primarily known for using, per [[Template:Infobox_musical_artist/doc#instrument]]-->
*Vocals
*guitar
*keyboards
*bass
}}
| years_active      = 1985–present
| label             = [[XL Recordings|XL]]
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
*[[Radiohead]]
*[[The Smile (band)|The Smile]]
}}
| past_member_of    = [[Atoms for Peace (band)|Atoms for Peace]]
| spouse            = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Rachel Owen]]|May 2003|August 2015|reason={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}|{{marriage|Dajana Roncione|September 2020}}}}
<!--| children          = 2-->
| module          = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
 | signature       = Thom Yorke signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png
 }} 
}}

'''Thomas Edward Yorke''' (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band [[Radiohead]]. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments, and is noted for his [[falsetto]]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described Yorke as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation.

Yorke formed Radiohead with schoolmates at [[Abingdon School]] in [[Oxfordshire]]. They gained notice with their debut single, "[[Creep (Radiohead song)|Creep]]", and went on to achieve acclaim and sales of more than 30 million albums. Yorke's early influences included [[alternative rock]] acts such as the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]] and [[R.E.M.]] With Radiohead's fourth album, ''[[Kid A]]'' (2000), Yorke moved into [[electronic music]], influenced by artists such as [[Aphex Twin]]. For most of his career, he has worked with the producer [[Nigel Godrich]] and the cover artist [[Stanley Donwood]].

Yorke's solo work comprises mainly electronic music. His debut solo album, ''[[The Eraser]]'', was released in 2006. To perform it live, he formed a new band, [[Atoms for Peace (band)|Atoms for Peace]], with musicians including Godrich and the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] bassist [[Flea (musician)|Flea]]. They released an album, ''[[Amok (Atoms for Peace album)|Amok]]'', in 2013. Yorke's second solo album, ''[[Tomorrow's Modern Boxes]]'', was released in 2014, followed by ''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]'' in 2019. In 2021, Yorke debuted a new band, [[The Smile (band)|the Smile]], with the Radiohead guitarist [[Jonny Greenwood]] and the drummer [[Tom Skinner (drummer)|Tom Skinner]]; they have released three albums. Yorke has collaborated with artists including [[Mark Pritchard (musician)|Mark Pritchard]], [[PJ Harvey]], [[Björk]], [[Flying Lotus]], [[Modeselektor]] and [[Clark (musician)|Clark]], and has composed for film and theatre, including the films ''[[Suspiria (2018 soundtrack)|Suspiria]]'' (2018) and [[Confidenza (soundtrack)|''Confidenza'']] (2024).

Yorke is an activist on behalf of [[Environmentalism|environmental]], [[trade justice]] and [[anti-war]] causes, and his lyrics incorporate political themes. He has been critical of the music industry, particularly of [[major labels]] and [[Streaming media|streaming]] services such as [[Spotify]]. With Radiohead and his solo work, he has employed alternative release platforms such as [[Pay what you want|pay-what-you-want]] and [[BitTorrent]]. He was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Radiohead in 2019.

==Early life==
Yorke was born on 7 October 1968 in [[Wellingborough|Wellingborough, Northamptonshire]]. He was born with a paralysed left eye, and underwent five eye operations by the age of six.<ref>Randall, p. 19</ref> According to Yorke, the last surgery was "botched", giving him a [[Ptosis (eyelid)|drooping eyelid]].<ref name="MCLEAN">{{cite news |last=McLean |first=Craig |date=18 June 2006 |title=All messed up |work=[[The Observer]] |location=London |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1795948,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=26 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180139/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1795948,00.html |archive-date=23 July 2008}}</ref> He decided against further surgery: "I decided I liked the fact that it wasn't the same, and I've liked it ever since. And when people say stuff I kind of thought it was a badge of pride, and still do."<ref name="BBC">{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=Ten things we learned from Thom Yorke's Desert Island Discs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/b7zfNZjlKBK3r8s9t9ldhx/ten-things-we-learned-from-thom-yorkes-desert-island-discs |access-date=23 September 2019 |website= |publisher=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The family moved frequently. Shortly after Yorke's birth, his father, a nuclear physicist and later a chemical equipment salesman, was hired by a firm in Scotland. The family lived in [[Lundin Links]] in [[Fife]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 September 1997|title=Music Radiohead, Caird Hall, Dundee|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12292750.music-radiohead-caird-hall-dundee/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=[[HeraldScotland]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Michael|date=17 November 2017|title=Radiohead drummer Philip Selway bringing solo work to Fife|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/541957/radiohead-drummer-philip-selway-brings-solo-work-fife/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=The Courier|language=en-GB}}</ref> until Yorke was seven, and he moved from school to school.<ref name="Randall, p. 21">Randall, p. 21</ref> They settled in [[Oxfordshire]] in 1978,<ref name="Randall, p. 21" /> where Yorke attended primary school in [[Standlake]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jF_fCgAAQBAJ&q=thom+yorke+standlake&pg=PA68|title=Radiohead and the Global Movement for Change "Pragmatism Not Idealism"|last=Rose|first=Phil|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson University Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1-61147-861-7|location=Madison, New Jersey|pages=68}}</ref>

Yorke said he knew he would become a rock star after seeing the [[Queen (band)|Queen]] guitarist [[Brian May]] on television for the first time at the age of eight.<ref name="Fricke-2001">{{Cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |date=2 August 2001 |title=Radiohead: Making Music That Matters |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-making-music-that-matters-84574/ |access-date=6 January 2019 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He initially wanted to be a guitarist rather than a singer, but had no one else to sing the songs he was writing.<ref name="Gordon-2023">{{Cite magazine |last=Gordon |first=Jason Thomas |date=2023-09-08 |title=The songs that make Thom Yorke cry |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/thom-yorke-neil-young-bob-dylan-makes-him-cry-1234819196/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He received his first guitar as a child.<ref name="MCLEAN" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Thom Yorke reveals Brian May inspiration, Kraftwerk banned from China, Bieber blows out Frank Ocean&nbsp;... Music News Daily |publisher=Q Magazine |date=2 April 2013 |url=http://news.qthemusic.com/2013/04/thom_yorke_reveals_brian_may_i.html |access-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606044451/http://news.qthemusic.com/2013/04/thom_yorke_reveals_brian_may_i.html |archive-date=6 June 2013 }}</ref> At 10, he made his own guitar, inspired by May's homemade [[Red Special]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnyc.org/deprecated/story/278417-thom-yorke/transcript/ |title=Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin: interview with Thom Yorke |work=WNYC |access-date=22 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621023101/http://www.wnyc.org/deprecated/story/278417-thom-yorke/transcript/ |archive-date=21 June 2015}}</ref> By 11, he had joined his first band and written his first song.<ref>Randall, p. 23</ref> Seeing [[Siouxsie Sioux]] in concert at the [[New Theatre Oxford|Apollo]] in 1985 inspired him to become a performer; Yorke said he had never seen anyone "captivate an audience like she did".<ref>{{cite web|last=Everitt|first=Matt|date=11 June 2017|title=The First Time With... Thom Yorke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07gyff3|access-date=2 February 2021|publisher=[[BBC Sounds]]|quote=I didn't really think that until I saw Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Apollo [...] That one completely blew my mind [...] I'd never seen anyone manage to captivate an audience like she did. [...] They were amazing to watch. [...] It was an amazing show.|time=6:14}}</ref>

Yorke attended the boys' [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]] [[Abingdon School|Abingdon]] in Oxfordshire. He felt out of place,<ref name="The Guardian-2008" /> and got into physical fights with other students.<ref name="Fricke-2001" /> He found sanctuary in the music and art departments,<ref name="The Guardian-2008" /> and wrote music for a school production of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''.<ref name="postrockband">{{cite news|last=Marzorati|first=Gerald|date=1 October 2000|title=The post-rock band|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/magazine/the-post-rock-band.html|access-date=28 July 2008|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At school, he performed a vocal recital of a [[Franz Schubert|Schubert]] piece, which helped him find the confidence to become a singer.<ref name="Gordon-2023" /> He also had [[classical guitar]] lessons with his future bandmate [[Colin Greenwood]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Jane |date=2024-10-20 |title=Colin Greenwood: 'I never let Jonny forget it was me that got him into Radiohead' |url=https://www.bigissue.com/culture/music/colin-greenwood-interview-radiohead-jonny-music/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=[[The Big Issue]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Terence Gilmore-James, the Abingdon director of music, recalled Yorke as "forlorn and a little isolated" thanks to his unusual appearance, but talkative and opinionated. He said Yorke was "not a great musician", unlike his future bandmate [[Jonny Greenwood]], but a "thinker and experimenter".<ref name="The Guardian-2008">{{Cite news |date=13 September 2008 |title=What were today's celebrities like as children? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/sep/13/celebrity.television |access-date=14 April 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Yorke later credited the support of Gilmore-James and the head of the art department for his success.<ref name="BBC" />

=== 1985–1991: On a Friday ===
[[File:Abingdon school.JPG|thumb|Abingdon School, Oxfordshire, where Yorke formed Radiohead with classmates]]

In [[sixth form]] at Abingdon, Yorke played with a punk band, TNT, but left when he was dissatisfied with their progress.<ref name="Gilbert-1996">{{Cite journal |last=Gilbert |first=Pat |date=November 1996 |title=Radiohead |journal=[[Record Collector]]}}</ref> He began playing with Colin Greenwood, [[Ed O'Brien]] and [[Philip Selway]], joined later by Colin's younger brother, Jonny.<ref name="Gilbert-1996" /> In 1985, they formed a band, On a Friday, named after the only day they were allowed to practice.<ref name="MCLEAN" /><ref name="RANDALL" /> According to Selway, while each member contributed songs in the band's early period, Yorke emerged as the main songwriter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Randall |first=Mac |date=9 June 2023 |title=Philip Selway: Tidal Backstory |url=https://tidal.com/magazine/article/philip-selway-backstory/1-91629 |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=[[Tidal (service)|Tidal]]}}</ref> 

After leaving Abingdon, Yorke took a [[gap year]] and tried to become a professional musician.<ref name="BBC" /> He held several jobs, including a period selling suits and working in an architect's office, and made a [[Demo (music)|demo tape]].<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="Gilbert-1996" /> He was also involved in a serious car accident that influenced the lyrics of later songs, including the [[The Bends (album)|''Bends'']] B-side "Killer Cars" (1995) and "Airbag" from ''[[OK Computer]]'' (1997).<ref>Randall, p. 38–39</ref> In the late 1980s, Yorke made a solo album, ''Dearest'', which O'Brien described as similar to the [[The Jesus and Mary Chain|Jesus and Mary Chain]], with [[Delay (audio effect)|delay]] and [[Reverb effect|reverb]] effects.<ref name="Fricke-2001" />

On the strength of their first demo, On a Friday were offered a record deal by [[Island Records]], but the members decided they were not ready and wanted to go to university first.<ref name="BBC" /> Yorke had wanted to apply to [[St John's College, Oxford|St John's]] to read English at the [[University of Oxford]], but, he said, "I was told I couldn't even apply – I was too thick. Oxford University would have eaten me up and spat me out. It's too rigorous."<ref name="Dazed">{{cite web |last=Noakes |first=Tim |date=12 February 2013 |title=Splitting atoms with Thom Yorke |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/15601/1/splitting-atoms-thom-yorke |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[Dazed]]}}</ref> He also considered studying music, but could not read [[sheet music]].<ref name="Hunter-Tilney-2023" /> 

In late 1988,<ref name="Randall" /> Yorke left Oxford to attend the [[University of Exeter]], where he achieved a [[2:1]] in English and art.<ref name="Dalton-2016" /> On a Friday entered hiatus aside from rehearsals during breaks.<ref name="Randall">Randall, p. 43</ref> At Exeter, Yorke performed experimental music with a classical ensemble,<ref>{{cite web |date=15 July 2015 |title=Thom Yorke Performs Experimental Music in Rare 1990 Footage |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/60409-thom-yorke-performs-experimental-music-in-rare-1990-footage/ |access-date=16 July 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> played in a [[techno]] group called Flickernoise,<ref name="SMITH">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Andrew |date=1 October 2000 |title=Sound and fury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/01/life1.lifemagazine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110180556/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/01/life1.lifemagazine |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=19 May 2007 |website=[[The Observer]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and played with the band Headless Chickens, performing songs including future Radiohead material.<ref>{{cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=13 July 2015 |title=Rare footage surfaces of Thom Yorke performing "High and Dry" with pre-Radiohead band |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/60375-rare-footage-surfaces-of-thom-yorke-performing-high-and-dry-with-pre-radiohead-band/ |access-date=16 July 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> He also met [[Stanley Donwood]], who would become Radiohead's cover artist, and his future wife, [[Rachel Owen]].<ref>Randall, p. 52</ref><ref name="Narwan-2016">{{Cite news |last1=Narwan |first1=Gurpreet |last2=Karim |first2=Fariha |date=24 December 2016 |title=Marriage secret of Radiohead star and the woman he lost to cancer |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/marriage-secret-of-radiohead-star-and-the-woman-he-lost-to-cancer-97pt6lkql |access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> According to Yorke, his paintings at Exeter were "shit"; he was rejected by his classmates and "went AWOL for three months".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2024-01-19 |title=The Smile dismiss The Beatles' influence and share advice for struggling creatives |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-smile-interview-the-beatles-abbey-road-advice-creative-thom-yorke-jonny-greenwood-3573942 |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Yorke credited his art school education for preparing him creatively for his later work.<ref name="BBC" />

On a Friday resumed activity in 1991 as most of the members were finishing their degrees. Ronan Munro, the editor of the Oxford music magazine ''[[Curfew (magazine)|Curfew]]'', gave the band their first interview while they were sharing a house in Oxford. He recalled: "Thom wasn't like anyone I'd interviewed before ... He was like 'This is going to happen... Failure is not an option.' ... He wasn't some ranting diva or a megalomaniac, but he was so focused on what he wanted to do."<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2016 |title=Radiohead, Foals and 25 years of discovering Oxford music |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-33176717 |access-date=14 March 2016 |work= |publisher=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== 1991–1993: "Creep" and rise to fame ===
In 1991, when Yorke was 22,<ref name="Dazed" /> On a Friday signed to [[EMI]] and changed their name to [[Radiohead]]. They gained notice with their debut single, "[[Creep (Radiohead song)|Creep]]", which appeared on their 1993 debut album, ''[[Pablo Honey]]''.<ref name="BILL2">{{cite magazine |date= |title=Radiohead: Artist Chart History |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=radiohead|chart=all}} |access-date=9 November 2007 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> Yorke grew tired of "Creep" after it became a hit, and told ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in 1993: "It's like it's not our song any more ... It feels like we're doing a cover."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kenny |first=Glenn |date=16 September 1993 |title=Radiohead Arrive: Meet the English Rock Crew Behind 'Creep' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-arrive-meet-the-english-rock-crew-behind-creep-188776/ |access-date=15 October 2020 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Runtagh |first=Jordan |date=22 February 2018 |title=Radiohead's ''Pablo Honey'': 10 things you didn't know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/radioheads-pablo-honey-10-things-you-didnt-know-201729/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>

According to Yorke, around this time he "hit the self-destruct button pretty quickly". He tried to project himself as a rock star and drank heavily, often becoming too drunk to perform.<ref>Randall, p.87</ref> Yorke said: "When I got back to Oxford I was unbearable ... As soon as you get any success you disappear up your own arse."<ref>Randall, p. 120</ref> Years later, Yorke said he had found it difficult to cope with Radiohead's success: "I got angry ... I got more control-freakery. I put my hands on the steering wheel and I was white-knuckled, and I didn't care who I hurt or what I said." He later apologised to his bandmates for his behaviour.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mohdin |first=Aamna |date=2019-09-22 |title=Thom Yorke opens up about pain of ex-partner's death |language=en-GB |work=[[The Observer]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/22/thom-yorke-ex-partners-death-desert-island-discs-rachel-owen |access-date=2023-05-06 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref>

=== 1994–1997: ''The Bends'' ===
[[Paul Q. Kolderie|Paul Q Kolderie]], the co-producer of ''Pablo Honey'', observed that Yorke's songwriting improved dramatically after ''Pablo Honey.<ref>{{cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=13 March 2019 |title=Radiohead's ''The Bends'': inside the anti-capitalist, anti-cynicism classic |url=https://www.nme.com/features/radioheads-the-bends-at-20-the-story-of-an-anti-capitalist-anti-cynicism-classic-36 |access-date=20 September 2019 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref>'' O'Brien later said: "After all that touring on ''Pablo Honey'' ... the songs that Thom was writing were so much better. Over a period of a year and a half, suddenly, ''bang''."<ref>{{cite web |last=McLean |first=Craig |date=6 February 2020 |title=Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien steps up |url=https://theface.com/music/radiohead-guitarist-ed-obrien-album-shangri-la-interview-thom-yorke |access-date=2020-02-08 |website=[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]] |language=en-gb}}</ref> 

Recording Radiohead's second album, ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]]'' (1995), was stressful, as they felt pressured to release a follow-up to "Creep".<ref name="Irvin-1997">{{Cite magazine|last1=Irvin|first1=Jim|last2=Hoskyns|first2=Barney|date=July 1997|title=We Have Lift-Off!|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|issue=45}}</ref> Yorke in particular struggled. According to the band's co-manager, Chris Hufford, "Thom became totally confused about what he wanted to do, what he was doing in a band and in his life, and that turned into a mistrust of everybody else."<ref name="Irvin-1997" /> Yorke said he had a "profound fear of having so much to prove".<ref name="Irvin-1997" /> ''The Bends'' was engineered by [[Nigel Godrich]], who became one of Yorke's longest-running collaborators.<ref name="McKinnon-2006">{{Cite web |last=McKinnon |first=Matthew |date=24 July 2006 |title=Everything in its right place |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/everything-in-its-right-place-1.587693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717224907/http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/everything-in-its-right-place-1.587693 |archive-date=17 July 2017 |access-date=3 March 2018 |website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]}}</ref>

''The Bends'' received acclaim and brought Radiohead wider international attention.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|date=May 1997|title=Aching Heads|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=http://citizeninsane.eu/s1997-05-1xGuardian.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016233036/http://citizeninsane.eu/s1997-05-1xGuardian.htm|archive-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> It influenced a generation of British and Irish alternative rock acts;<ref name="Pitchfork2">{{cite web |date=29 March 2017 |title=The 50 Best Britpop Albums |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/10045-the-50-best-britpop-albums/?page=5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602164010/http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/10045-the-50-best-britpop-albums/?page=5 |archive-date=2 June 2017 |access-date=30 May 2017 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Power |first=Ed |date=12 March 2020 |title=Why Radiohead's ''The Bends'' is the worst great album of all time |language=en |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/why-radiohead-s-the-bends-is-the-worst-great-album-of-all-time-1.4199850 |access-date=2020-09-09}}</ref> ''[[The Observer]]'' wrote that it popularised an "angst-laden falsetto" which "eventually coalesced into an entire decade of sound".<ref>{{cite news |date=16 July 2006 |title=The 50 albums that changed music |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/16/popandrock.shopping |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008194254/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/16/popandrock.shopping |archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> The American rock band [[R.E.M.]], a major influence on Radiohead, picked them as their support act for their European tour.<ref>Randall, p. 177</ref> Yorke befriended the singer, [[Michael Stipe]], who gave him advice about how to deal with fame.<ref>Randall, p. 178</ref> Yorke joined R.E.M. to perform their song "[[E-Bow the Letter]]" on several occasions from 1998 to 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=27 September 2018 |title=Listen to R.E.M. and Thom Yorke's Version of "E-Bow the Letter" {{!}} Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-rem-and-thom-yorkes-version-of-e-bow-the-letter/ |access-date=27 September 2018 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== 1997–1998: ''OK Computer'' ===
[[File:Thom Yorke 1998.jpg|thumb|Yorke in 1998]]During the production of Radiohead's third album, ''[[OK Computer]]'' (1997), the members had differing opinions and equal production roles, with Yorke having "the loudest voice", according to O'Brien.<ref>Randall, p. 195</ref> ''OK Computer ''achieved acclaim and strong sales, establishing Radiohead as one of the leading rock acts of the 1990s.<ref name="ZORIC2">{{cite news |last=Zoric |first=Lauren |date=22 September 2000 |title=I think I'm meant to be dead&nbsp;... |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,371289,00.html |access-date=18 May 2007}}</ref> 

Yorke struggled with the attention the success brought him, and the stress of the ''OK Computer'' tour.<ref name="ZORIC2" /> Colin Greenwood described the "hundred-yard stare" in Yorke's eyes when performing, and said "he absolutely did not want to be there... You hate having to put your friend through that experience."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Klosterman |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Klosterman |date=July 2023 |title=No more knives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0HASap-qBoC&dq=no%20more%20knives&pg=PA64 |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> Yorke said later:

{{blockquote|When I was a kid, I always assumed that [fame] was going to answer something – fill a gap. And it does the absolute opposite. It happens with everybody. I was so driven for so long, like a fucking animal, and then I woke up one day and someone had given me a [[Music recording sales certification|little gold plate]] for ''OK Computer'' and I couldn't deal with it for ages.<ref name="Dazed" />}}

{{anchor|Collaborations}}In 1997, Yorke provided backing vocals for a cover of the 1975 [[Pink Floyd]] song "[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd song)|Wish You Were Here]]" with [[Sparklehorse]].<ref name="Scheim-2016">{{Cite web |last=Scheim |first=Benjamin |date=6 May 2016 |title=The history of Thom Yorke on other people's songs |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1139-the-history-of-thom-yorke-on-other-peoples-songs/ |access-date=19 July 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref> The following year, he duetted on "El President" with Isabel Monteiro of [[Drugstore (band)|Drugstore]],<ref name="Scheim-2016" /> and sang on the [[Unkle]] track "[[Rabbit in Your Headlights]]", a collaboration with [[DJ Shadow]]. ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' cited "Rabbit in Your Headlights" as a "turning point" for Yorke, foreshadowing his work in experimental electronic music.<ref name="Scheim-2016" /> 

For the soundtrack of the 1998 film ''[[Velvet Goldmine]]'', Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, [[Andy Mackay]] of [[Roxy Music]] and [[Bernard Butler]] of [[Suede (band)|Suede]] formed a band, the Venus in Furs, to cover Roxy Music songs. In 2016, ''Pitchfork'' wrote that Yorke "weirdly comes off as the weak link", with understated vocals that did not resemble the Roxy Music singer [[Bryan Ferry]].<ref name="Scheim-2016" />

=== 1999–2004: ''Kid A, Amnesiac'' and ''Hail to the Thief'' ===
[[File:Thom yorke radiohead2.jpg|thumb|upright|Yorke in 2001]]
Following the ''OK Computer'' tour, Yorke suffered a [[mental breakdown]]<ref name="ZORIC2" /> and found it impossible to write new music.<ref name="monsters2">{{cite journal |last=Cavanagh |first=David |author-link=David Cavanagh |date=October 2000 |title=I can see the monsters |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |pages=96–104}}</ref>  He experienced [[Impostor syndrome|imposter syndrome]], and became self-critical and over-analytical.<ref name="Marchese-2019">{{Cite news |last=Marchese |first=David |date=2019-10-28 |title=How Thom Yorke learned to stop worrying and (mostly) love rock stardom |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/28/magazine/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/28/magazine/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview.html |access-date=2023-07-19 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was approached to score the 1999 film ''[[Fight Club]]'', but declined as he was recovering from stress.<ref name="BBC Radio 6 Music-2018">{{Cite web |date=3 October 2018 |title=Thom Yorke on writing the score for ''Suspiria'' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/p06mtlwb |access-date=4 October 2018 |website=[[BBC Radio 6 Music]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Around this period, acts influenced by Radiohead emerged, such as [[Travis (band)|Travis]] and [[Coldplay]]. Yorke resented them, feeling they had copied him.<ref name="Greene-2017">{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2017-06-16 |title=Radiohead's ''OK Computer'': an oral history |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/radioheads-ok-computer-an-oral-history-196156/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |access-date=2022-07-25}}</ref> He said in 2006: "I was really, really upset about it, and I tried my absolute best not to be, but yeah, it was kind of like— that sort of thing of missing the point completely."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plagenhoef |first=Scott |date=16 August 2006 |title=Thom Yorke |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/6402-thom-yorke/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref> Godrich felt Yorke was oversensitive and told him he did not invent "guys singing in falsetto with an acoustic guitar".<ref name="Greene-2017"/> He saw Yorke's resentment as "a byproduct of being so focused on what he wanted to do that he figures he's the only person that's ever had that idea".<ref name="Greene-2017" /> 

To recuperate, Yorke moved to [[Cornwall]] and spent time walking the cliffs, writing and drawing. He restricted his songwriting to piano; the first song he wrote was "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]". During this period, Yorke listened almost exclusively to the [[electronic music]] of artists such as [[Aphex Twin]] and [[Autechre]], saying: "It was refreshing because the music was all structures and had no human voices in it. But I felt just as emotional about it as I'd ever felt about guitar music."<ref name="ZORIC2" /> Yorke gradually relaxed and came to enjoy his work again.<ref name="Marchese-2019" />

Radiohead took Yorke's electronic influences to their next albums ''[[Kid A]]'' (2000) and ''[[Amnesiac (album)|Amnesiac]]'' (2001), processing vocals, obscuring lyrics, and using electronic instruments such as synthesisers, drum machines and samplers. The albums divided listeners, but were commercially successful and later attracted acclaim. ''Kid A'' was named the best album of the decade by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' and ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''.<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{Cite magazine |date=18 July 2011 |title=100 Best Albums of the 2000s |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-153375/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 2000s - Page 2 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/?page=2 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]| date=2 October 2009 }}</ref>

In 2000, Yorke contributed vocals to three tracks on the [[PJ Harvey]] album ''[[Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea]],<ref name="Scheim-2016" />'' and duetted with [[Björk]] on her song "[[I've Seen It All]]" from her soundtrack album ''[[Selmasongs]]''.<ref name="Scheim-2016" /> In 2002, Yorke performed at the [[Bridge School Benefit]], a charity concert organised by the Canadian songwriter [[Neil Young]], one of Yorke's influences. His set included a cover of Young's 1970 song "[[After the Gold Rush (song)|After the Gold Rush]]", performed on the piano Young wrote it on.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2013-02-12 |title=Flashback: Thom Yorke unplugs in 2002 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-thom-yorke-unplugs-at-2002-bridge-school-benefit-46628/ |access-date=2022-01-15 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Radiohead released their sixth album, ''[[Hail to the Thief]]'', a blend of rock and electronic music, in 2003. Yorke wrote many of its lyrics in response to the [[war on terror]] and the resurgence of [[right-wing politics]] in the west after the turn of the millennium,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bitter-prophet-thom-yorke-on-hail-to-the-thief-87869/|title=Bitter Prophet: Thom Yorke on ''Hail to the Thief''|last=Fricke|first=David|date=26 July 2006|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=24 August 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> and his shifting worldview after becoming a father.<ref name="spininterview">{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2003/06/fitter-happier-radiohead-return/|title=Fitter Happier: Radiohead Return|author=Chuck Klosterman|date=29 June 2003|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|access-date=18 February 2012}}</ref> Yorke and Jonny Greenwood contributed to the 2004 [[Band Aid 20]] single "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]", produced by Godrich.<ref>{{cite web |last=Godrich |first=Nigel |author-link=Nigel Godrich |date=29 November 2009 |title=Flashback: making Band Aid 20 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/01/last-waltz-dylan-the-band |access-date=2 May 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

=== 2004–2008: ''The Eraser'' and ''In Rainbows'' ===
Yorke recorded his debut solo album, ''[[The Eraser]]'', during Radiohead's 2004 hiatus.<ref name="Plagenhoef, Scott-2006" /> It comprises electronics songs recorded and edited with computers.<ref name="McKinnon-2006" /> Yorke, who formed Radiohead while the members were in school, said he was curious to try working alone.<ref name="Plagenhoef, Scott-2006" /> He stressed that Radiohead were not splitting up and that the album was made "with their blessing".<ref name="Eraserhead-2006">{{cite web |last=Lapatine |first=Scott |date=13 May 2006 |title=Eraserhead: Thom Yorke Goes Solo |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2602/eraserhead_thom_yorke_goes_solo/news/ |access-date=3 May 2015 |website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> According to Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead were happy for Yorke to make the album.<ref name="Mojo">{{cite news |last=Paytress |first=Mark |date=February 2008 |title=CHASING RAIN_BOWS |pages=75–85 |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref> 

''The Eraser'' was released in 2006 on the independent label [[XL Recordings]],<ref name="Eraserhead-2006" /> backed by the singles "[[Harrowdown Hill]]", which reached number 23 in the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harrowdown Hill {{!}} Full Official Chart History |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/harrowdown-hill/ |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=[[UK Singles Chart]] |language=en}}</ref> and "[[Analyse (Thom Yorke song)|Analyse]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Harrowdown Hill |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/harrowdown-hill/ |access-date=15 March 2018 |publisher=[[UK Singles Chart]]}}</ref> It reached the top ten in the UK, Ireland, United States, Canada and Australia, and was nominated for the 2006 [[Mercury Prize]]<ref>{{cite web |date=5 September 2006 |title=Arctic Monkeys win 2006 Mercury Music Prize |url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme/24216 |access-date=10 June 2009 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref> and the 2007 [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album]].<ref name="Grammy1992">{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |date=9 January 1992 |title=Grammy Short List: Many For a Few |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/09/arts/grammy-short-list-many-for-a-few.html?pagewanted=1 |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> It was followed by a B-sides compilation, ''[[Spitting Feathers]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spitting Feathers - Thom Yorke {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/spitting-feathers-mw0000457704 |access-date=3 May 2015 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> and a remix album by various artists, ''[[The Eraser Rmxs]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dombal |first=Ryan |date=23 January 2009 |title=Thom Yorke: ''The Eraser Rmxs'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12612-the-eraser-rmxs/ |access-date=2 May 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> In 2005, Yorke performed on the pilot episode of the music television program ''[[From the Basement]]'', created by Godrich.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Eric |date=2021-04-14 |title=Radiohead unearth Thom Yorke's 2005 ''From the Basement'' concert |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-unearth-thom-yorkes-2005-from-the-basement-concert-watch/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2007, Radiohead independently released their seventh album, ''[[In Rainbows]]'', as a [[pay-what-you-want]] download, the first for a major act. The release made headlines worldwide and sparked debate about the implications for the music industry.<ref name="nytimespay2">{{cite news |author=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=9 December 2007 |title=Pay What You Want for This Article |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/arts/music/09pare.html?ex=1354856400&en=ec2f1c29937292be&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all |access-date=30 December 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Yorke described it as a statement of Radiohead's belief in the value of music and a "contract of faith" between musicians and audiences.<ref name="Marchese-2019" /> In the same year, Yorke sang on the [[Modeselektor]] track "The White Flash" from the album ''[[Happy Birthday!]]''. ''Pitchfork'' likened it to ''The'' ''Eraser'' and wrote that Yorke's vocals "work so perfectly that it feels like this is ''his'' band".<ref name="Scheim-2016" /> Yorke also sang backing vocals on Björk's 2008 charity single "[[Náttúra]]".<ref name="Scheim-2016" />
=== 2009–2010: Atoms for Peace ===
[[File:Thom Yorke Glastonbury Festival 2010.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Yorke performing at [[Glastonbury Festival 2010]]]]In 2009, Yorke released a cover of the [[Miracle Legion]] song "All for the Best" with his brother, [[Andy Yorke|Andy]], for the compilation ''[[Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2009-09-18 |title=Video debut: Thom Yorke covers Mark Mulcahy's 'All for the Best' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/video-debut-thom-yorke-covers-mark-mulcahys-all-for-the-best-2-255273/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In July, he performed solo at the [[Latitude Festival]] in Suffolk<ref>{{cite web |date=19 July 2009 |title=Thom Yorke debuts new song at Latitude festival – video |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-411-1312210 |access-date=25 January 2022 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> and released a double-A-side single, "[[FeelingPulledApartByHorses/TheHollowEarth]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Andrew |title=Thom Yorke confirms new single |url=http://stereokill.net/2009/09/04/thom-yorke-confirms-new-single/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212014815/http://stereokill.net/2009/09/04/thom-yorke-confirms-new-single/ |archive-date=12 December 2009 |access-date=17 October 2011 |publisher=Stereokill.net}}</ref> He also contributed the track "Hearing Damage" to the [[The Twilight Saga: New Moon (soundtrack)|''Twilight Saga: New Moon'' film soundtrack]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Kelly |first=Zach |title=Listen to 'Hearing Damage' by Thom Yorke |date=16 October 2009 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11565-hearing-damage/ |access-date=27 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

That year, Yorke formed a new band, [[Atoms for Peace (band)|Atoms for Peace]], to perform songs from ''The Eraser''.<ref name="A New Career in a New Town-2013">{{cite web |last=Lea |first=Tom |date=28 January 2013 |title=A New Career in a New Town: Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich open Pandora's Box and run Amok as Atoms for Peace |url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/28/atoms-for-peace-thom-yorke-interview/ |access-date=2 May 2015 |website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]}}</ref> Alongside Yorke, the band comprises Godrich on keyboards and guitar, the bassist [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] of the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], the drummer [[Joey Waronker]] and the percussionist [[Mauro Refosco]] of [[Forro in the Dark]].<ref name="Singh-2010" /> Yorke said: "God love 'em but I've been playing with [Radiohead] since I was 16, and to do this was quite a trip&nbsp;... It felt like we'd knocked a hole in a wall, and we should just fucking go through it."<ref name="A New Career in a New Town-2013" /> 

Atoms for Peace performed eight North American shows in 2010.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=5 November 2012 |title=Q&A: Thom Yorke on Atoms for Peace's 'Mechanistic' New Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/q-a-thom-yorke-on-atoms-for-peaces-mechanistic-new-album-20121105 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107122735/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/q-a-thom-yorke-on-atoms-for-peaces-mechanistic-new-album-20121105 |archive-date=7 November 2012 |access-date=18 February 2013}}</ref> They went unnamed for early performances, billed as "Thom Yorke" or "??????".<ref name="Singh-2010">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Amrit |date=25 February 2010 |title=Thom Yorke names his ???? band Atoms for Peace, announces tour dates |url=https://www.stereogum.com/278731/thom-yorke-names-his-band-announces-tour-dates/news/ |access-date=12 April 2016 |website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> In February, Yorke performed a benefit concert at the [[Cambridge Corn Exchange]] for the British [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].<ref name="Scott-2010" /> In June, he performed a surprise set at [[Glastonbury Festival 2010]] with Jonny Greenwood, performing ''Eraser ''and Radiohead songs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |date=25 June 2010 |title=Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood play surprise Glastonbury set |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/39283-thom-yorke-and-jonny-greenwood-play-surprise-glastonbury-set/ |access-date=3 January 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> 

Yorke created two remixes of the 2010 single "[[Gazzillion Ear]]" by the rapper [[MF Doom]]. The second remix went unreleased until 2021, after MF Doom's death.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruiz |first=Matthew Ismael |date=2021-08-12 |title=Thom Yorke remixes MF Doom's 'Gazzillion Ear': Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-remixes-mf-dooms-gazzillion-ear-listen/ |access-date=2021-08-12 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Patrin |first=Nate |date=7 January 2010 |title=Doom: ''Gazzillion Ear EP'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13800-gazzillion-ear-ep/#:~:text=It's%20also%20split%20up,%20giving,a%20moment%20sabotages%20the%20momentum. |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Yorke provided vocals for "...And the World Laughs with You" from the [[Flying Lotus]] album ''[[Cosmogramma]],<ref name="Scheim-2016" />'' and for "Shipwreck" and "This" on the Modeselektor album ''[[Monkeytown (album)|Monkeytown]]'', both released in 2010.<ref name="Pitchfork-2">{{cite web |last=Patrin |first=Nate |date=3 October 2011 |title=Modeselektor: Monkeytown |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15867-modeselektor-monkeytown/ |access-date=28 April 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> He joined Modeselektor to perform "Shipwreck" at [[Coachella]] in April 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Jenny |date=2012-04-23 |title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke joins Modeselektor onstage at Coachella |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-37-1276194 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Along with [[Damien Rice]] and [[Philip Glass]], he contributed to the soundtrack for the 2010 documentary ''When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Rachel |date=11 January 2010 |title=Thom Yorke Contributes to Documentary Soundtrack, Remixes Liars as Radiohead Returns to Studio |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/01/thom-yorke-contributes-to-documentary-soundtrack-n.html |access-date=15 March 2018 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |archive-date=15 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315133956/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/01/thom-yorke-contributes-to-documentary-soundtrack-n.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 2011–2013: ''The King of Limbs'' and ''Amok'' ===
[[File:Melt Festival 2013 - Atoms For Peace-6.jpg|thumb|Yorke performing with [[Atoms for Peace (band)|Atoms for Peace]] in 2013|alt=]]In 2011, Radiohead released their eighth album, ''[[The King of Limbs]]'', which Yorke described as "an expression of physical movements and wildness".<ref name="outtake22">{{Cite episode|title='Everything In Its Right Place' interview outtake: "Another outtake from my @Radiohead interview on @npratc with Thom and Ed. What's The King of Limbs about?"|url=http://tvider.com/view/66328|access-date=7 October 2011|series=All Things Considered|network=[[NPR]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010004818/http://tvider.com/view/66328|archive-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> Yorke sought to move further from conventional recording methods.<ref name="Fricke-2012">{{Cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |date=26 April 2012 |title=Radiohead reconnect |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-reconnect-20120426 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317233858/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-reconnect-20120426 |archive-date=17 March 2016 |access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref> The music video for "[[Lotus Flower (song)|Lotus Flower]]", featuring Yorke's erratic dancing, became an [[internet meme]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/wd4z|title=Review of Radiohead&nbsp;— The King of Limbs|date=18 February 2011|author=Mike Diver|work=[[BBC]]|access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums.<ref name="BBC Worldwide takes exclusive 20112">{{Cite web |last=Jonathan |first=Emma |date=3 May 2011 |title=BBC Worldwide takes exclusive Radiohead performance to the world |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2011/05_may/radiohead.shtml |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

In the same year, Yorke collaborated with the electronic artists [[Burial (musician)|Burial]] and [[Four Tet]] on "Ego" and "Mirror",<ref name="Monroe-20202">{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=2 December 2020 |title=Thom Yorke, Burial, and Four Tet Reportedly Release New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-burial-and-four-tet-reportedly-release-new-song/ |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-us}}</ref> and he and Greenwood collaborated with MF Doom on "Retarded Fren".<ref>{{cite web |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |date=November 2011 |title=Hear Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Doom: 'Retarded Fren' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/44495-hear-thom-yorke-jonny-greenwood-and-doom-retarded-fren/ |access-date=28 April 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> In 2012, Yorke contributed music to a show by the fashion label [[Rag & Bone]],<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Nika |first=Colleen |title=Thom Yorke's Rag and Bone Soundtrack Emerges Online |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/thread-count/thom-yorkes-rag-and-bone-soundtrack-emerges-online-20120106 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108221802/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/thread-count/thom-yorkes-rag-and-bone-soundtrack-emerges-online-20120106 |archive-date=8 January 2012 |access-date=16 September 2012 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> and sang on "Electric Candyman" on the Flying Lotus album ''[[Until the Quiet Comes]].<ref name="Scheim-2016" />'' He also remixed the single "[[Hold On (Sbtrkt song)|Hold On]]" by the electronic musician [[Sbtrkt]], under the name Sisi BakBak. His identity was not confirmed until September 2014.<ref name="sisi">{{cite web |last=Pelly |first=John |date=2 September 2014 |title=Thom Yorke Confirms That He Was Sisi BakBak, Mysterious SBTRKT Remixer |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56534-thom-yorke-confirms-that-he-was-sisi-bakbak-mysterious-sbtrkt-remixer/ |access-date=9 September 2014 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |publisher=}}</ref>

In February 2013, Atoms for Peace released an album, ''[[Amok (Atoms for Peace album)|Amok]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=21 February 2013 |title=Atoms for Peace: Amok – review |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/21/atoms-for-peace-amok-review |access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref> followed by a tour of Europe, the US and Japan.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 March 2013 |title=Atoms for Peace Announce U.S. and Japanese Dates |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/49991-atoms-for-peace-announce-us-and-japanese-dates/ |access-date=13 November 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Amok'' received generally positive reviews,<ref name="mc">{{cite web |title=Reviews for Amok by Atoms for Peace |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/amok/atoms-for-peace |access-date=February 22, 2013 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> though some critics felt it was too similar to Yorke's solo work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liedel |first=Kevin |date=22 February 2013 |title=Review: Atoms for Peace, ''Amok'' |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/atoms-for-peace-amok/ |access-date=2021-06-02 |website=[[Slant Magazine|Slant]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Sputnik">{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Irving |date=Feb 21, 2013 |title=Album Review - Atoms for Peace: Amok |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/55208/Atoms-for-Peace-Amok/ |access-date=22 February 2013 |publisher=Sputnikmusic}}</ref><ref name="p4k-review">{{cite web |last=Berman |first=Stuart |date=February 25, 2013 |title=Atoms for Peace: AMOK |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17632-atoms-for-peace-amok/ |access-date=February 25, 2013 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> That year, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood contributed music to ''The UK Gold'', a documentary about [[tax avoidance]]. The soundtrack, described by ''Rolling Stone'' as a series of "minimalist soundscapes", was released free in February 2015 through the online music platform [[SoundCloud]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=25 February 2015 |title=Listen to Thom Yorke's Minimalist 'UK Gold' Score Contributions |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/listen-to-thom-yorkes-minimalist-uk-gold-score-contributions-20150225 |access-date=25 February 2015 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

=== 2014–2017: ''Tomorrow's Modern Boxes'' and ''A Moon Shaped Pool'' ===
Yorke released his second solo album, ''[[Tomorrow's Modern Boxes]]'', via [[BitTorrent (company)|BitTorrent]] on 26 September 2014. It became the most torrented album of 2014 (excluding [[Internet piracy|piracy]]),<ref>{{cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |date=27 December 2014 |title=Thom Yorke tops list of most legally downloaded artists on BitTorrent in 2014 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/thom-yorke/81927 |access-date=27 December 2014 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> with more than a million downloads in its first six days.<ref>{{cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=3 October 2014 |title=Thom Yorke's new solo album receives one million downloads in six days |url=https://consequence.net/2014/10/thom-yorkes-new-solo-album-sells-one-million-copies-in-six-days/ |access-date=3 October 2014 |publisher=[[Consequence of Sound]]}}</ref> Yorke and Godrich hoped to use the BitTorrent release to hand "some control of internet commerce back to people who are creating the work".<ref name="Gordon-2014">{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Jeremy |date=26 September 2014 |title=Thom Yorke announces new album ''Tomorrow's Modern Boxes'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56876-thom-yorke-announces-new-album-tomorrows-modern-boxes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926232956/http://pitchfork.com/news/56876-thom-yorke-announces-new-album-tomorrows-modern-boxes/ |archive-date=26 September 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> In December 2014, Yorke released the album on the online music platform [[Bandcamp]] along with a new track, "Youwouldn'tlikemewhenI'mangry".<ref>{{cite web |date=26 December 2014 |title=Thom Yorke – "Youwouldn'tlikemewhenI'mangry" - Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1726529/thom-yorke-you-wouldnt-like-me-when-im-angry/mp3s/ |access-date=29 December 2014 |work=Stereogum}}</ref>

In 2015, Yorke contributed a soundtrack, ''Subterranea'', to an installation of Radiohead artwork, ''The'' ''Panic Office'', in Sydney, Australia. The soundtrack was composed of [[field recording]]s made in the English countryside and played on speakers at different heights with different [[frequency]] ranges. The radio station [[Triple J]] described it as similar to the ambient sections of ''Tomorrow's Modern Boxes'', with some digitally spoken sections similar to "Fitter Happier" from ''OK Computer''. The music was not released.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thom Yorke produces new music for Australian exhibition of Radiohead artwork |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s4240562.htm |access-date=22 May 2015 |website=[[Triple J]]}}</ref> In July 2015, Yorke joined the band [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]] at the Latitude Festival to perform their song "[[The Rip (song)|The Rip]]".<ref>{{cite web |date=18 July 2015 |title=Thom Yorke Joins Portishead On Stage at Latitude Festival |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/60435-thom-yorke-joins-portishead-on-stage-at-latitude-festival/ |access-date=21 July 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

Yorke composed music for a 2015 production of [[Harold Pinter]]'s 1971 play ''[[Old Times]]'' by the [[Roundabout Theater Company]] in New York City. The director described the music as "primeval, unusual&nbsp;... The sort of neurosis within [Yorke's] music certainly has elucidated elements of the compulsive repetition of the play."<ref>{{cite web |last=Chow |first=Andrew R. |date=12 August 2015 |title=Thom Yorke Is Set to Compose Music for a Pinter Play on Broadway |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/thom-yorke-is-set-to-compose-music-for-a-pinter-play-on-broadway/?smid=nytimesarts&_r=2 |access-date=12 August 2015 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> That year, Yorke performed with Godrich and the audiovisual artist [[Tarik Barri]] at the Latitude Festival in the UK and Summer Sonic in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Camp |first=Zoe |date=8 June 2015 |title=Thom Yorke announces ''Tomorrow's Modern Boxes'' concert in Japan |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/59863-thom-yorke-announces-tomorrows-modern-boxes-concert-in-japan/ |access-date=8 June 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

Radiohead released their ninth album, ''[[A Moon Shaped Pool]]'', on 8 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 May 2016 |title=Radiohead Release New Album A Moon Shaped Pool |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/65334-radiohead-release-new-album-a-moon-shaped-pool/ |access-date=9 May 2016 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Several critics felt its lyrics were coloured by Yorke's separation from his partner, [[Rachel Owen]].<ref name="Pitchfork 5 Things" /><ref name="NY Times review" /><ref name="Observer review" /><ref name="MTV review" />  Spencer Kornhaber of the ''[[The Atlantic|Atlantic]]'' wrote that ''A Moon Shaped Pool'' "makes the most sense when heard as a document of a wrenching chapter for one human being".<ref name="Kornhaber">{{Cite news |last=Kornhaber |first=Spencer |date=11 May 2016 |title=''A Moon Shaped Pool'' is Radiohead's breakup with pop |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/05/radiohead-moon-shaped-pool-review-sculpture-strange-leap/482076/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214183620/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/05/radiohead-moon-shaped-pool-review-sculpture-strange-leap/482076/ |archive-date=14 February 2017 |access-date=14 February 2017 |newspaper=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Yorke contributed vocals and appeared in the video for "Beautiful People" from [[Mark Pritchard (music producer)|Mark Pritchard]]'s 2016 album ''Under the Sun''.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 March 2016 |title=Mark Pritchard Enlists Thom Yorke, Linda Perhacs, More for New Album, Shares 'Sad Alron' Video |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63897-mark-pritchard-enlists-thom-yorke-linda-perhacs-more-for-new-album-shares-sad-alron-video/ |access-date=2 March 2016 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=}}</ref><ref name="Gibsone-2016">{{Cite news |last=Gibsone |first=Harriet |date=1 September 2016 |title=Watch Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke's Beautiful People |language=en-GB |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep/01/watch-mark-pritchard-thom-yorke-beautiful-people-video-guardian-exclusive |access-date=1 September 2016 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In August 2017, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed a benefit concert in the [[Marche]], Italy, to help restoration efforts following the [[August 2016 Central Italy earthquake]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=20 June 2017 |title=Radiohead announce Italian earthquake benefit show |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-announce-italian-earthquake-benefit-show/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822182651/http://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-announce-italian-earthquake-benefit-show/ |archive-date=22 August 2017 |access-date=22 August 2017 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

=== 2018–2019: ''Suspiria'' ===
Yorke's first feature film soundtrack, ''[[Suspiria (2018 soundtrack)|Suspiria]]'', composed for the [[Suspiria (2018 film)|2018 horror film]], was released on 26 October 2018 by XL.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=3 October 2018 |title=Listen: Thom Yorke - 'Has Ended' |language=en |work=[[Clash Magazine]] |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/listen-thom-yorke-has-ended |access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref> It was Yorke's first project since ''The Bends'' not to feature production from his longtime collaborator Nigel Godrich;<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2023-11-13 |title=Radiohead Side Project the Smile Return With New Album 'Wall of Eyes' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-smile-new-album-wall-of-eyes-paul-thomas-anderson-video-1234875865/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> instead, he produced it with Sam Petts-Davies. It features the [[London Contemporary Orchestra|London Contemporary Orchestra and Choir]], and Yorke's son, Noah, on drums.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Alex |date=4 September 2018 |title=Thom Yorke details Suspiria soundtrack, shares "Suspirium": Stream |language=en-US |work=[[Consequence of Sound]] |url=https://consequence.net/2018/09/thom-yorke-suspiria-details/ |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref> Yorke cited inspiration from the 1982 [[Blade Runner (soundtrack)|''Blade Runner'' soundtrack]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=3 September 2018 |title=Thom Yorke Details New Suspiria Soundtrack, Shares New Song: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-details-new-suspiria-soundtrack-shares-new-song-listen/ |access-date=3 September 2018 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref> and music from ''Suspiria''<nowiki/>'s 1977 Berlin setting, such as [[krautrock]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=1 September 2018 |title=Thom Yorke Talks 'Suspiria' Score at Venice Film Festival |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/thom-yorke-talks-suspiria-score-at-venice-film-festival-718444/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=3 September 2018}}</ref> The lyrics do not follow the film narrative and were influenced by discourse surrounding [[Donald Trump|President Donald Trump]] and [[Brexit]].<ref name="BBC Radio 6 Music-2018" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 October 2018 |title=Thom Yorke says Tory government are treating UK 'like lemmings running off a cliff' |language=en-US |work=[[NME]] |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-says-tory-government-treating-uk-like-lemmings-running-off-cliff-2386203 |access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref> "Suspirium" was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written for Visual Media]] at the [[2020 Grammy Awards]].<ref name="Pitchfork-2019">{{Cite web |date=20 November 2019 |title=Grammy Nominations 2020: See the Full List of Nominees Here |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2020-see-full-list-of-nominees-here/ |access-date=20 November 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref>

Yorke performed two shows in 2017, and toured Europe and the US in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2018 |title=Thom Yorke Announces Tour {{!}} Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-announces-tour/ |access-date=23 March 2018 |website=pitchfork.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thom Yorke Announces USA Tour |url=http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/08/thom-yorke-announces-usa-tour.html |access-date=14 August 2018 |website=Music News Net |archive-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814001630/http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/08/thom-yorke-announces-usa-tour.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> That year, he and the artist Tarik Barri created an audiovisual exhibition, "City Rats", commissioned by the Institute for Sound and Music in Berlin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=Luke Morgan |date=19 April 2018 |title=Thom Yorke previews atmospheric new music from art installation |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-previews-new-music-city-rats-art-installation-2296918 |access-date=26 June 2019 |website=NME |language=en-US}}</ref> ''I See You'', a limited-edition [[zine]] edited by Yorke with ''[[Crack Magazine]]'', was published in September 2018, with profits donated to [[Greenpeace]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=I See You: A zine by Crack Magazine curated by Thom Yorke |url=https://crackmagazine.net/product/news/i-see-you-a-zine-by-crack-magazine-curated-by-thom-yorke/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822173501/https://crackmagazine.net/product/news/i-see-you-a-zine-by-crack-magazine-curated-by-thom-yorke/ |archive-date=22 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=[[Crack (magazine)|Crack]]}}</ref> Yorke contributed music to the 2018 short film "Why Can't We Get Along?" for Rag & Bone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2018 |title=Thom Yorke Soundtracks Short Film With New Music |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-soundtracks-short-film-with-new-music-watch/ |access-date=3 February 2018 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=}}</ref>

On 29 March 2019, Yorke was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Radiohead.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-janet-jackson-stevie-nicks-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2019-class-767917/|title=Radiohead, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks Lead Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2019 Class|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=13 December 2018|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref> He did not attend the induction ceremony, citing cultural differences between the UK and the US and his negative experience of the [[Brit Awards]], "which is like this sort of drunken car crash that you don't want to get involved with".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2019-01-09 |title=Thom Yorke says he won't attend Radiohead's Rock Hall induction |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/thom-yorke-radiohead-rock-hall-induction-776808/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2019–2020: ''Anima'' ===
Yorke's third solo album, ''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]'', was released on 27 June 2019.<ref name="Bloom-2019">{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |date=20 June 2019 |title=Thom Yorke announces new album ''Anima'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-announces-new-album-anima/ |access-date=20 June 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> It became Yorke's first number-one album on the [[Dance/Electronic Albums|''Billboard'' Dance/Electronic Albums]] chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8525755/thom-yorke-first-no-1-top-dance-electronic-albums-chart|title=Thom Yorke Earns First No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart with 'Anima'|last=Murray|first=Gordon|date=1 August 2019|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|language=en|access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> At the [[2020 Grammy Awards]], it was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]] and [[Best boxed or special limited edition package|Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package]].<ref name="Pitchfork-2019"/> [[Philip Sherburne]] of ''Pitchfork'' wrote that it was Yorke's most ambitious and assured solo album and the first that felt complete without Radiohead.<ref name="pitchfork Anima review">{{cite web |last=Sherburne |first=Philip |author-link=Philip Sherburne |date=27 June 2019 |title=Thom Yorke: ''Anima'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/thom-yorke-anima/ |access-date=27 June 2019 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> The album was accompanied by a short film directed by [[Paul Thomas Anderson]], which was nominated for the Grammy for [[Best Music Film]].<ref name="Bloom-2019" /><ref name="Pitchfork-2019" /> In August, Yorke released ''Not the News Rmx EP'', comprising an extended version of the ''Anima'' track "Not the News" plus remixes by various artists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matozzo |first=Marissa |date=August 2019 |title=Thom Yorke Announces Remix EP Not the News |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/08/thom-yorke-announces-remixed-ep-release.html |access-date=2 August 2019 |website=[[Paste Magazine]] |language=en}}</ref> A solo tour set to begin in March 2020 was canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=4 February 2021 |title=Thom Yorke cancels US tour |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-cancels-us-tour/ |access-date=2021-03-25 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-us}}</ref>

For the 2019 film [[Motherless Brooklyn (film)|''Motherless Brooklyn'']], Yorke wrote "Daily Battles", with horns by his Atoms for Peace bandmate [[Flea (musician)|Flea]]. The director, [[Edward Norton]], enlisted the jazz musician [[Wynton Marsalis]] to rearrange the song as a ballad reminiscent of 1950s [[Miles Davis]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=29 July 2019 |title=Edward Norton on How Thom Yorke Helped Shape New Film 'Motherless Brooklyn' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/edward-norton-thom-yorke-motherless-brooklyn-daily-battles-863783/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> It was shortlisted for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] at the [[92nd Academy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Madison |date=16 December 2019 |title=Oscars 2020: Beyoncé, Thom Yorke, Randy Newman Make Best Original Song Nominees Shortlist |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/oscars-2020-beyonce-thom-yorke-randy-newman-make-best-original-song-nominees-shortlist/ |access-date=16 December 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref> Yorke's first classical composition, "Don't Fear the Light", written for the piano duo [[Katia and Marielle Labèque|Katia and Marielle Labeque]], debuted in April 2019.<ref name="Monroe-2019">{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=8 April 2019 |title=Thom Yorke's contemporary classical debut is a daring triumph: live review |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/thom-yorkes-contemporary-classical-debut-is-a-daring-triumph-live-review/ |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en}}</ref> 

In April 2020, Yorke performed a new song from his home, "Plasticine Figures", for ''[[The Tonight Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=30 April 2020 |title=Watch Thom Yorke debut new song 'Plasticine Figures' on ''The Tonight Show'' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-to-debut-new-song-plasticine-figures-on-fallon-tonight-2656517 |access-date=30 April 2020 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the same year, he collaborated with Four Tet and Burial again on "Her Revolution" and "His Rope",<ref name="Monroe-20202"/> and remixed "Isolation Theme" by the electronic musician [[Clark (musician)|Clark]].<ref name="Monroe-2020-2">{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=2020-09-16 |title=Thom Yorke Remixes Clark's "Isolation Theme" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-remixes-clarks-isolation-theme-listen/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Yorke said his remix mirrored the [[COVID-19 lockdowns]], "entering a new type of silence".<ref name="Monroe-2020-2" />

=== 2021–2022: the Smile ===
[[File:The_Smile_Deep_Ellum.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Yorke performing with the Smile in 2022]]
In March 2021, Yorke contributed music to shows by the Japanese fashion designer [[Jun Takahashi]], including a remixed version of "Creep".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=20 March 2021 |title=Thom Yorke Remixes "Creep" for Japanese Fashion Show: Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-remixes-creep-for-japanese-fashion-show-watch/ |access-date=2021-03-20 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-us}}</ref> In May, Yorke debuted a new band, [[The Smile (band)|the Smile]], with Jonny Greenwood and the jazz drummer [[Tom Skinner (drummer)|Tom Skinner]], produced by Godrich.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-22|title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood form new project, the Smile|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/22/radioheads-thom-yorke-and-jonny-greenwood-form-new-project-the-smile|access-date=2021-05-22|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Greenwood said the project was a way for him and Yorke to work together during the COVID-19 lockdowns.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-03|title=Jonny Greenwood on writing the soundtrack for new Princess Diana biopic ''Spencer''|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/jonny-greenwood-spencer-soundtrack-interview-radiohead-new-album-the-smile-3036092|access-date=2021-09-03|website=[[NME]]|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Smile made their surprise debut in a performance streamed by [[Glastonbury Festival]] on May 22, with Yorke singing and playing guitar, bass, [[Moog Music|Moog]] synthesiser and [[Rhodes piano]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussey |first=Allison |title=A Look at Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's Debut as the Smile at Glastonbury 2021 Livestream |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/a-look-at-thom-yorke-and-jonny-greenwoods-debut-as-the-smile-at-glastonbury-2021-livestream/ |access-date=2021-05-23 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=23 May 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> The ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' critic [[Alexis Petridis]] said the Smile "sound like a simultaneously more skeletal and knottier version of Radiohead", exploring more [[progressive rock]] influences with unusual [[time signature]]s, complex riffs and "hard-driving" [[motorik]] psychedelia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=2021-05-23|title=Live at Worthy Farm review – beautiful music marred by technical meltdown|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/23/live-at-worthy-farm-review-glastonburys-dodgy-pyramid-scheme-has-stunning-music|access-date=2021-05-23|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref>

In October 2021, Yorke performed a Smile song, "Free in the Knowledge", at the Letters Live event at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=2021-12-20 |title=Watch Thom Yorke play the Smile's 'Free in the Knowledge' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-thom-yorke-play-the-smile-free-in-the-knowledge/ |access-date=2021-12-20 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In the same month, Yorke and the Radiohead cover artist, [[Stanley Donwood]], curated an exhibition of ''Kid A'' artwork and lyrics at [[Christie's]] headquarters in London, ahead of a reissued package of the ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesia'' albums, ''[[Kid A Mnesia]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke is co-curating a ''Kid A'' artwork exhibition |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radioheads-thom-yorke-is-co-curating-a-kid-a-artwork-exhibition-3051877 |access-date=2021-10-16 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> The pair also contributed lyrics and artwork to ''[[Kid A Mnesia Exhibition]]'', a free digital experience for [[PlayStation 5]], [[macOS]] and [[Windows]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=2021-11-18 |title=Radiohead's freaky-looking ''Kid A Mnesiac'' exhibition-game-thing is out (and free!) |language=en |work=[[PC Gamer]] |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/radioheads-freaky-looking-kid-a-mnesiac-exhibition-game-thing-is-out-and-free/ |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref>

On 9 April 2022, Yorke performed a solo concert at the Zeltbühne festival in [[Zermatt]], Switzerland, playing songs from across his career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brodsky |first=Rachel |date=2022-04-09 |title=Watch Thom Yorke perform Radiohead's "Bodysnatchers" acoustic for the first time |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2182915/thom-yorke-radiohead-bodysnatchers-acoustic-switzerland/news/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=[[Stereogum]] |language=en}}</ref> In May, the Smile released their debut album, ''[[A Light for Attracting Attention]]'', and began a European tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavin, Will |date=April 20, 2022 |title=The Smile announce debut album ''A Light for Attracting Attention'' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-smile-announce-debut-album-a-light-for-attracting-attention-3208653 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=NME}}</ref> Yorke wrote two songs, "5.17" and "That's How Horses Are", for the sixth series of the television drama ''[[Peaky Blinders (TV series)|Peaky Blinders]]'', broadcast in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2022-03-13 |title=Thom Yorke releases new solo song '5.17': Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-releases-new-solo-song-517-listen/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He executive-produced ''[[Sus Dog]]'' (2023), the tenth album by Clark, contributing vocals and bass and acting as a mentor for Clark's vocals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Dan |date=2023-01-24 |title=Thom Yorke is the 'backseat driver' on the new LP from UK producer Clark |url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/music-news/clark-thom-yorke-sus-dog/101886930 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=[[Double J (radio station)|Double J]] |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== 2023–present: further Smile records, ''Confidenza'' and ''Tall Tales'' ===
In September 2023, Yorke and Donwood exhibited a selection of artwork, ''The Crow Flies'', in London. The paintings, based on Islamic pirate maps and 1960s US military topographic charts, began as work for ''A Light For Attracting Attention''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindert |first=Hattie |date=2023-08-02 |title=Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood Announce Art Exhibition The Crow Flies Part One |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-and-stanley-donwood-announce-art-exhibition-the-crow-flies-part-one/ |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The Smile toured internationally between 2022 and 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=2022-05-18 |title=The Smile debut new song 'Friend Of A Friend' as they kick off European tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-smile-debut-new-song-friend-of-a-friend-as-they-kick-off-european-tour-3228250 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2024, they released the albums ''[[Wall of Eyes]]'' and ''[[Cutouts]]'', recorded simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vito |first=Jo |date=2024-08-28 |title=The Smile announce new album ''Cutouts'', release two songs |url=https://consequence.net/2024/08/the-smile-new-album-cutouts-zero-foreign-spies-zero-sumsum-stream/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Yorke composed [[Confidenza (soundtrack)|the score]] for the 2024 film ''[[Confidenza]]'' by the Italian filmmaker [[Daniele Luchetti]]. It features the London Contemporary Orchestra and a jazz ensemble including Yorke's Smile bandmate Tom Skinner. On 22 April, Yorke released two tracks from the soundtrack, "Knife Edge" and "Prize Giving". The soundtrack was released on 26 April.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Scoop |date=2024-04-22 |title=Thom Yorke previews ''Confidenza'' film score with two tracks |url=https://consequence.net/2024/04/thom-yorke-confidenza-score-knife-edge-prize-giving/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Yorke produced "Stepdaughter", a song written and performed by his wife, Dajana Roncione, and released in November 2024. It was written for the Italian film ''Eterno Visionario'', directed by [[Michele Placido]] and starring Roncione.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LaPierre |first=Megan |date=7 November 2024 |title=Thom Yorke's Wife Dajana Roncione Just Released a Song |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/thom-yorke-s-wife-dajana-roncione-just-released-a-song |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Exclaim! |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=Alex Infascelli torna ai video musicali con il singolo di Dajana Roncione prodotto da Thom Yorke: l'anteprima |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/2024/11/07/video/alex_infascelli_torna_ai_video_musicali_con_il_singolo_di_dajana_roncione_prodotto_da_thom_yorke_lanteprima-423602151/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=[[la Repubblica]] |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roncione |first=Dajana |date=2024-11-07 |title=Dajana Roncione: con Pirandello e Thom Yorke «ho smesso di avere paura» |url=https://www.rollingstone.it/cinema-tv/anteprime-cinema-tv/dajana-roncione-con-pirandello-e-thom-yorke-ho-smesso-di-avere-paura/950041/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2MSblCDXFIesgb-yFHsArWczo8A9Yd1b7mVpFX5d0is3OhG0obrQUcDAU_aem_B08HVinOst4skY0HteI99A |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=[[Rolling Stone Italia]] |language=it-IT}}</ref> In October, Yorke began the [[Everything (tour)|Everything]] tour of New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Japan, performing songs from across his career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Scoop |date=2024-06-02 |title=Thom Yorke announces rare solo tour in 2024 |url=https://consequence.net/2024/06/thom-yorke-solo-tour-2024/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ragusa |first=Paolo |date=2024-10-23 |title=Thom Yorke debuts new song at solo tour kick-off: setlist |url=https://consequence.net/2024/10/thom-yorke-solo-tour-kickoff-new-zealand-video-setlist/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Yorke reworked ''Hail to the Thief'' for ''Hamlet Hail to the Thief,'' a stage production of ''[[Hamlet]]'' that opened at [[Aviva Studios]], Manchester, in April 2025.<ref name="Wiegand-2024">{{Cite news |last=Wiegand |first=Chris |date=2024-09-25 |title=''Hamlet Hail to the Thief'': Thom Yorke revisits Radiohead album for Shakespeare show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/sep/26/hamlet-hail-to-the-thief-thom-yorke-radiohead-shakespeare-manchester |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> It is directed by [[Christine Jones (scenic designer)|Christine Jones]] and [[Steven Hoggett]] and scheduled to run at [[Aviva Studios]], Manchester, from April to May 2025, followed by the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]] in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] in June. Yorke said ''Hail to the Thief'' "chimes with the underlying grief and paranoia" of ''Hamlet''.<ref name="Wiegand-2024"/> 

Yorke collaborated again with the electronic musician [[Mark Pritchard (music producer)|Mark Pritchard]] to create the album ''[[Tall Tales (Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke album)|Tall Tales]]'', released through [[Warp Records]] on 9 May, 2025. The project began during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with Pritchard and Yorke exchanging recordings online.<ref name="Breihan-2025">{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=2025-03-11 |title=Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke announce new album ''Tall Tales'': hear 'This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2299870/mark-pritchard-thom-yorke-announce-new-album-tall-tales-hear-this-conversation-is-missing-your-voice/music/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=[[Stereogum]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="pritchardinterview">{{cite magazine |last1=Hiatt |first1=Brian |date=11 March 2025 |title=Inside Thom Yorke's amazing new album with producer Mark Pritchard |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/thom-yorke-new-album-mark-pritchard-interview-1235293063/ |access-date=11 March 2025 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> In May, Yorke contributed the song "Dialing In" to the [[Apple TV+]] series ''[[Smoke (TV series)|Smoke]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Madison |date=2025-05-28 |title=Listen to Thom Yorke's new song 'Dialing In' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-and-the-smile-thom-yorke-releases-new-song-dialing-in-for-apple-tv-series-smoke-listen/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> It was formerly titled "Gawpers" and performed by Yorke with [[Katia and Marielle Labèque|Katia and Marielle Labeque]] in 2019.<ref name="Monroe-2019" /> This Is What You Get, an exhibition of Yorke and Donwood's Radiohead artwork, is due to run from August 2025 to January 2026 at the [[Ashmolean Museum]] in Oxford.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=Radiohead album covers to go on show at Oxford museum |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k8y54442xo |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

==Artistry==
[[File:Thom Yorke 2013.jpg|thumb|Yorke performing with Atoms for Peace in 2013|240x240px]]
Yorke writes the first versions of most Radiohead songs, after which they are developed harmonically by Jonny Greenwood before the other band members develop their parts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2001/08/20/010820fa_FACT1|title=The Searchers: Radiohead's unquiet revolution|last=Ross|first=Alex|date=20 August 2001|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=22 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214053947/http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html|archive-date=14 February 2008}}</ref> According to Yorke, Greenwood is "more impatient" and eager to move to the next idea, whereas he enjoys editing and perfecting songs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newstead |first=Al |date=2024-10-21 |title=Thom Yorke loves working with the Smile and doesn't care if you want Radiohead to reform |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-21/thom-yorke-the-smile-interview-cutouts-australian-solo-tour/104490320 |access-date=2024-10-21 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |language=en-AU}}</ref> 

Yorke's solo work comprises mainly electronic music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cush |first=Andy |date=2 July 2019 |title=Thom Yorke Fully Realizes His Electronic Vision on the Bleak, Beautiful ANIMA |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/07/thom-yorke-anima-review/ |access-date=6 July 2019 |website=Spin}}</ref> ''[[Stereogum]]'' characterised it as "largely interior", "frigid" and "beat-driven", unlike the "wide-open horizons" of Radiohead songs,<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=3 October 2019 |title=Thom Yorke's live show might change your perspective on his solo work |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2060195/thom-yorke-concert-review/franchises/sounding-board/ |access-date=5 October 2019 |website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> while ''Rolling Stone'' wrote: "Radiohead's music sounds like it's written to bring people in, while Yorke's electronic-leaning solo work ... is prone to keep the listener at an icy distance."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=James |date=3 November 2024 |title=Thom Yorke: solo tour proves that Radiohead is his best work |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/thom-yorke-sydney-australia-tour-live-review-68614/ |access-date=25 February 2025 |work=[[Rolling Stone Australia]] |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Yorke has worked with the producer [[Nigel Godrich]] on most of his projects, including Radiohead, Atoms for Peace, the first Smile record and most of his solo work.<ref name="YorkeGodrichRS">{{cite magazine |last=Vozick-Levinson |first=Simon |date=23 April 2013 |title=Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich on Atoms for Peace, the state of dance music and what's next for Radiohead |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-thom-yorke-and-nigel-godrich-on-atoms-for-peace-the-state-of-dance-music-and-whats-next-for-radiohead-20130423?page=2 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> He credits Godrich with helping edit his work, identifying which parts need improvement and which have potential.<ref name="YorkeGodrichRS" /> He said they sometimes had arguments that last for days, but that they always resolve their differences, and likened him to a brother.<ref name="Dazed" /> Godrich said the pair were "very productive together and that's a really precious and important thing and it changes within the context of whatever we're doing".<ref name=":Lost In Music: Nigel Godrich">{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Niall |date=2022-07-27 |title=Lost in music: Nigel Godrich |url=https://thenewcue.substack.com/p/the-new-cue-191-july-27-lost-in-music |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=The New Cue |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Yorke said the nature of being a creative person was "to retain a beginner's mind. The search is the point. The flailing around is the point. The process is the point."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Donwood |first1=Stanley |author-link=Stanley Donwood |last2=Yorke |first2=Thom |date=2021-11-04 |title='We had a fierce anger and suspicion': Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood on Radiohead's ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac'' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/04/thom-yorke-and-stanley-donwood-kid-a-amnesiac-art |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> He said he used to be more controlling in the studio, but learnt to be more relaxed and open to new ideas.<ref name="Adams-2013" /> He likened the creative process to surfing: "You can sit out there on a board for ages waiting for the right wave to come along. You can't get angry about it. You know it will happen eventually and you start to understand the waiting itself might be part of it."<ref name="Adams-2013" />

=== Instruments ===
Yorke is a [[multi-instrumentalist]], and plays instruments including guitar,<ref name="XFM-2008" /> piano,<ref name="McLean-2007" /> bass<ref name="Michael-2022" /> and drums.<ref name="MusicRadar-2008" /> He played drums for performances of the 2007 Radiohead song "Bangers and Mash".<ref name="MusicRadar-2008">{{cite web |date=9 April 2008 |title=Radiohead video: Thom Yorke playing drums |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/radiohead-video-thom-yorke-playing-drums-147218 |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[MusicRadar]]}}</ref> With the Smile, Yorke has used a [[Fender Mustang Bass|Fender Mustang bass]] with a [[Fingerstyle guitar|fingerstyle]] technique.<ref name="Michael-2022">{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Astley-Brown |date=2022-01-31 |title=The Smile just played their first-ever public gigs – here are six things we learned about the Radiohead offshoot |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-smile-first-public-gigs |access-date=2022-02-02 |website=[[Guitar World]] |language=en}}</ref> Yorke uses [[Electronic musical instrument|electronic instruments]] such as synthesisers, drum machines and sequencers, and electronic techniques including [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[Sampling (music)|sampling]] and [[Loop (music)|looping]]. In 2015, he said: "Really I just enjoy writing words sitting at a piano. I tend to lose interest in the drum machine."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yin-Wong|first=Flora|date=22 January 2013|title=Uni of Yorke Class 2: Pearson Sound, Caribou, RYAT|language=en|work=Dazed|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/15462/1/uni-of-yorke-class-2-pearson-sound-caribou-ryat|access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> According to Godrich, "Thom will sit down and make some crazy, fractured cheese-grater-on-head mayhem on a computer, but at some point he always gets his guitar out to check he can actually play it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2020 |title='Our reference was 'Saturday Night' by Whigfield!' Ultraísta interviewed |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/our-reference-was-saturday-night-by-whigfield-ultra%C3%ADsta-interviewed |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=[[Clash Magazine]] |language=en |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513114538/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/our-reference-was-saturday-night-by-whigfield-ultra%C3%ADsta-interviewed |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Unlike Greenwood, Yorke does not read sheet music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2001&cutting=121|title=Happy now?|date=June 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206154836/https://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2001&cutting=121|archive-date=6 February 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> He said: "You can't express the rhythms properly like that. It's a very ineffective way of doing it, so I've never really bothered picking it up."<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/arts/music/02pare.html|title=With Radiohead, and Alone, the Sweet Malaise of Thom Yorke|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=2 July 2006|access-date=27 September 2008|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Explaining why he declined an invitation to play piano on the song "Mr. Bellamy" on [[Paul McCartney|Paul McCartney's]] album ''[[Memory Almost Full]]'' (2007), Yorke said: "The piano playing involved two hands doing things separately. I don't have that skill available. I said to him, 'I strum piano, that's it.'"<ref name="McLean-2007">{{Cite web|last=McLean|first=Craig|date=2007-12-09|title=Radiohead: Caught in the flash, part 3|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/dec/09/popandrock.radiohead4|access-date=2022-01-16|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref>

=== Vocals ===

Yorke has one of the widest [[vocal range]]s in popular music.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10848713/Axl-Rose-has-a-larger-vocal-range-than-Mariah-Carey.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10848713/Axl-Rose-has-a-larger-vocal-range-than-Mariah-Carey.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Axl Rose has a larger vocal range than Mariah Carey|last=Vincent|first=Alice|date=22 May 2015|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|access-date=24 August 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He is known for his [[falsetto]]'', ''which ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' described as "sweet", "cautious" and "haunting".<ref>{{cite web |last=Larsen |first=Luke |date=22 September 2011 |title=11 Amazing Falsetto Vocalists |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/11-amazing-falsetto-vocalists |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone ''described his voice as a "broad, emotive sweep" with a "high, keening sound".<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine |date=3 December 2010 |title=100 Greatest Singers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/thom-yorke-20101202 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> The ''Guardian'' described it as "instrument-like" and "spectral", and wrote that it "transcends the egocentric posturing of the indie rock singer stereotype".<ref name="Gibsone-2016" /> The music journalist [[Robert Christgau]] wrote that Yorke's voice has "a pained, transported intensity, pure up top with hints of hysterical grit below ... Fraught and self-involved with no time for jokes, not asexual but otherwise occupied, and never ever common, this is the idealised voice of a pretentious college boy ... Like it or not the voice is remarkable."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=8 July 2003|title=No Hope Radio: Radiohead's ''Hail to the Thief''|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/radiohead-03.php|access-date=2021-10-05}}</ref> 

Yorke often manipulates his voice with software and [[Effects unit|effects]], transforming it into a "disembodied instrument".<ref name="rollingstone" /> For example, on "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]" (2000), his vocals are treated to create a "glitching, stuttering collage".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/09/whats-that-sound-kaoss-pad|title=Hey, what's that sound: Kaoss Pad|last=McNamee|first=David|date=9 March 2011|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref> ''Pitchfork'' wrote in 2016 that, over the decades, Yorke's voice had evolved from "semi-interesting alt-rocker" to "left-field art-rock demigod" to "electronic grand wizard".<ref name="Scheim-2016" /> In 2006, Yorke said: "It annoys me how pretty my voice is. That sounds incredibly immodest, but it annoys me how polite it can sound when perhaps what I'm singing is deeply acidic."<ref name="New York Times" /> He said he keeps vocals in mind whenever he builds music, no matter the genre, and that he found it difficult to listen to dance music without imagining a voice.<ref name="A New Career in a New Town-2013" /> In 2023, Yorke said that his vocal range had dropped with age and that he now found "Creep" difficult to sing.<ref name="Gordon-2023"/>

In 2005, readers of ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' and [[MTV2]] voted Yorke the 18th-greatest singer of all time. In 2010, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked him the 66th-greatest and wrote that he was one of the most influential singers of his generation, influencing bands such as [[Muse (band)|Muse]], [[Coldplay]], [[Travis (band)|Travis]] and [[Elbow (band)|Elbow]].<ref name="rollingstone" /> In their updated 2023 list, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked Yorke the 34th-greatest singer, praising his "genuine edge of alienation".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-01-01 |title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Lyrics ===
Yorke's early lyrics were personal, but he found that "tortured" lyrics became tired.<ref name="Adams-2013" /> He said his lyrics were not "some deep heartfelt thing"; instead, he likened them to a collage assembled from images and external sources such as television.<ref name="Hunter-Tilney-2023">{{Cite news |last=Hunter-Tilney |first=Ludovic |date=2023-08-30 |title=A Thom Yorke painting: yours for a song |work=[[Financial Times]] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/353d0eb7-db21-4741-9fef-0232efaa369a |access-date=2023-09-01}}</ref> From ''Kid A'', he experimented with [[Cut-up technique|cutting up]] words and phrases and assembling them at random.<ref name="monsters2"/> He sometimes chooses words for their sounds rather than meanings, such as the title phrase of "Myxomatosis" or the repeated phrase "the rain drops" on "Sit Down. Stand Up".<ref name="Klosterman-2023" /> A 2021 study found that Yorke had among the largest vocabularies of pop singers, based on the number of different words used in each song.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kent-Smith |first=Jasmine |date=2021-08-03 |title=Thom Yorke and Björk among singers with biggest vocabularies, new study finds |url=https://crackmagazine.net/2021/08/thom-yorke-and-bjork-among-singers-with-biggest-vocabularies-new-study-finds/ |access-date=2021-08-04 |website=[[Crack (magazine)|Crack]]}}</ref>

Yorke deliberately uses [[Cliché|cliches]], [[idiom]]s and other common expressions,<ref name="Kearney-2016">{{Cite magazine|last=Kearney|first=Ryan|date=2016-05-31|title=The Radiohead Racket|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/133773/radiohead-racket|access-date=2021-08-04|issn=0028-6583}}</ref> inspired by the American artist [[Barbara Kruger]].<ref name="Hunter-Tilney-2023" /> For example, according to the ''Pitchfork'' writer Rob Mitchum, the ''Kid A'' lyrics feature "hum-drum observations twisted into panic attacks".<ref>{{cite web |last=Rob |first=Mitchum |date=25 August 2009 |title=Radiohead: ''Kid A: Special Collectors Edition'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13385-kid-a-special-collectors-edition/ |access-date=4 June 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Another ''Pitchfork'' writer, Jayson Greene, said the approach suggested "a mind consumed by meaningless data".<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |last=Greene |first=Jayson |date=11 May 2016 |title=Radiohead: ''A Moon Shaped Pool'' album review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21907-a-moon-shaped-pool/ |access-date=11 May 2016 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Yorke said he hoped to capture the everyday experience of trying to make emotional sense of words and images,<ref name="Adams-2013">{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=23 February 2013 |title=Thom Yorke: 'If I can't enjoy this now, when do I start?' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/23/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and that "lyrics should be a series of windows opening rather than shutting, which is incredibly hard to do".<ref name="Marchese-2019" /> Colin Greenwood described Yorke's lyrics as "a running commentary on what's happening in the world ... like a shutter snapping in succession".<ref name="Klosterman-2023">{{Cite journal |last=Klosterman |first=Chuck |date=July 2023 |title=No more knives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0HASap-qBoC&dq=no%20more%20knives&pg=PA64 |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> 

The ''[[The New Republic|New Republic]]'' writer Ryan Kearney speculated that Yorke's use of common expressions, which he described as "Radioheadisms", was an attempt "to sap our common tongue of meaning and expose the vapidity of everyday discourse".<ref name="Kearney-2016" /> Kearney felt the approach had become a crutch for Yorke, creating a "senseless mush". He wrote in 2016 that he was "the most overrated lyricist in music today", and that fans, critics and academics had "taken the bait and delivered one overwrought interpretation after another".<ref name="Kearney-2016" />  

Yorke said his lyrics were motivated by anger, expressing his political and environmental concerns<ref name="outtake22" /> and written as "a constant response to [[doublethink]]".<ref>{{cite web|date=15 August 2006|title=Thom Yorke|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2006/08/thom-yorke.html|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref> The lyrics of the 2003 Radiohead album ''Hail to the Thief ''dealt with what Yorke called the "ignorance and intolerance and panic and stupidity" following the 2000 election of US President [[George W. Bush]] and the unfolding [[war on terror]].<ref name="XFM">{{cite web|title=Recording 'Hail to the Thief' in Los Angeles|url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=3561|access-date=22 February 2012|publisher=[[Xfm London]]}}</ref> Yorke wrote his 2006 single "[[Harrowdown Hill]]" about [[David Kelly (weapons expert)|David Kelly]], the British weapons expert and [[whistleblower]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Powers|first=Ann|date=28 June 2006|title=Thom Yorke, free agent|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-28-et-yorke28-story.html|access-date=3 May 2015|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> In a 2008 television performance of "[[House of Cards (Radiohead song)|House of Cards]]", Yorke dedicated the "denial, denial" refrain to Bush for rejecting the [[Kyoto Protocol]], an international treaty to reduce [[greenhouse gases]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gregory|first=Jason|title=Thom Yorke Criticises George Bush In Special TV Appearance {{!}} Gigwise|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/42650/thom-yorke-criticises-george-bush-in-special-tv-appearance|access-date=25 August 2015|website=gigwise.com}}</ref> The 2011 single "[[The Daily Mail / Staircase|The Daily Mail]]" attacks the right-wing ''[[Daily Mail]]'' newspaper.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2011 |title=Radiohead take festive pop at the ''Daily Mail'' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/radiohead-take-festive-pop-at-the-daily-mail-6276644.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/radiohead-take-festive-pop-at-the-daily-mail-6276644.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |access-date=19 April 2018 |work=[[The Independent]] |language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Many of Yorke's lyrics express paranoia. The ''Guardian'' critic [[Alexis Petridis]] described "what you might call the Yorke worldview: that life is a waking nightmare and everything is completely and perhaps irreparably screwed".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexis |first=Petridis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=2019-06-27 |title=Thom Yorke: ''Anima'' review – angst, anguish, paranoia and … jokes? |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/27/thom-yorke-amina-review |access-date=2021-12-31 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> In a 2015 interview with the activist and writer [[George Monbiot]], Yorke said: "In the 60s, you could write songs that were like calls to arms, and it would work ... It's much harder to do that now. If I was going to write a protest song about climate change in 2015, it would be shit. It's not like one song or one piece of art or one book is going to change someone's mind."<ref name="Hillyard-2015">{{Cite web |last=Hillyard |first=Kim |date=2015-11-24 |title=Thom Yorke: 'If I was going to write a protest song about climate change in 2015, it would be shit' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-8-1192226 |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Working on Radiohead's ninth album, ''[[A Moon Shaped Pool]]'', Yorke worried that political songs alienated some listeners, but decided it was better than writing "another lovey-dovey song about nothing".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Everitt|first=Matt|author-link=Matt Everitt|date=11 March 2017|title=The First Time with Thom Yorke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tvyt5|access-date=1 September 2018|website=[[BBC Radio 6 Music]]|language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Greene wrote that Yorke's lyrics on ''A Moon Shaped Pool'' were less cynical, conveying wonder and amazement.<ref name="Pitchfork" /> Many critics felt the lyrics might address Yorke's separation from [[Rachel Owen]], his partner of more than 20 years.<ref name="Pitchfork 5 Things">{{cite web |last=Larson |first=Jeremy D. |date=9 May 2016 |title=Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool: The 5 Most Important Things To Know |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1140-radioheads-a-moon-shaped-pool-the-5-most-important-things-to-know |access-date=9 May 2016 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="NY Times review">{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=8 May 2016 |title=In Radiohead's 'A Moon Shaped Pool', Patient Perfectionism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/09/arts/music/radiohead-a-moon-shaped-pool-review.html |access-date=8 May 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Observer review">{{cite web |last=Joffe |first=Justin |date=9 May 2016 |title=Radiohead Swims in Gorgeous Despondency on 'A Moon Shaped Pool' |url=http://observer.com/2016/05/radiohead-swim-in-gorgeous-despondency-on-a-moon-shaped-pool/ |access-date=9 May 2016 |work=[[New York Observer]]}}</ref><ref name="MTV review">{{cite web |last=Vozick-Levinson |first=Simon |date=10 May 2016 |title=Dancing in the Moonlight with Radiohead |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2879149/radiohead-moon-shaped-pool-review/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160603171412/http://www.mtv.com/news/2879149/radiohead-moon-shaped-pool-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 June 2016 |access-date=10 May 2016 |publisher=MTV}}</ref> Yorke denied writing biographically, saying he instead writes "spasmodic" lyrics based on imagery.<ref name="Dean-2019">{{Cite news |last=Dean |first=Jonathan |date=7 July 2019 |title=Thom Yorke interview: the Radiohead frontman on his new solo album, Anima, why he struggles if he can't make music, and Billie Eilish |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/thom-yorke-interview-radiohead-anima-billie-eilish-2wnwqmxdw |access-date=8 July 2019 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

=== Dance ===
Yorke often incorporates [[dance]] into his performances, described by the [[Sunday Times|''Sunday'' ''Times'']] as his "on-stage signature".<ref name="Dean-2019" /> He began dancing on stage after Radiohead released ''Kid A'' in 2000, as many songs did not require him to play guitar.<ref name="Dean-2019" /> The ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' contrasted Yorke's "tortured" 1990s appearance with his later "looser", more comfortable performances.<ref name="Marchese-2019" /> Yorke said he enjoyed "messing around with the idea of being the rock star or the uptight [1990s] guy. I can ''choose'' to do something completely different and be stupid or jump around."<ref name="Marchese-2019" /> 

Yorke's dancing features in music videos for songs such as "[[Lotus Flower (song)|Lotus Flower]]"<ref name="Young-2011">{{Cite web|last=Young|first=Alex|date=18 February 2011|title=Watch: Radiohead – "Lotus Flower"|url=https://consequence.net/2011/02/watch-radiohead-lotus-flower/|access-date=19 December 2018|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|language=en}}</ref> and "Ingenue",<ref>{{cite web |author=Snapes, Laura |date=28 February 2013 |title=Watch Thom Yorke Dance in Atoms for Peace's Video for 'Ingenue' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/49731-watch-thom-yorke-dance-in-atoms-for-peaces-video-for-ingenue/ |access-date=28 February 2013 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |publisher=}}</ref> and the short film ''Anima''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 June 2019|title=Thom Yorke's 'ANIMA' Short Film With Paul Thomas Anderson: Stream on Netflix|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/06/thom-yorke-anima-short-film-paul-thomas-anderson-netflix-watch/|access-date=8 July 2019|website=Spin}}</ref> Critics have described it as "erratic",<ref name="Young-2011" /> "flailing"<ref>{{Cite web|author=Kevin Jagernauth|date=18 February 2011|title=Watch: Video For Radiohead's 'Lotus Flower' Turns Thom Yorke's Spastic Dancing Into Art|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch_video_for_radioheads_lotus_flower_turns_thom_yorkes_spastic_dancing_i|access-date=20 March 2012|publisher=[[Indiewire]]}}</ref> and unconventional.<ref name="Rolling Stone-2011">{{Cite magazine|date=2011-07-14|title=Readers Poll: The Best Dancing Musicians|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-their-10-favorite-dancing-musicians-18885/|access-date=2020-12-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2011, ''Rolling Stone'' readers voted Yorke their 10th-favourite dancing musician.<ref name="Rolling Stone-2011" />
=== Influences ===
As a child, Yorke's favourite artists included [[Queen (band)|Queen]],<ref name="Gordon-2023" /> [[R.E.M.]], [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], [[Joy Division]] and [[Bob Dylan]].<ref>{{cite web |date=22 July 2013 |title=WTF with Marc Maron - Thom Yorke Interview [from 35 minutes] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGcnpP6JNXs&t=2120s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/SGcnpP6JNXs |archive-date=2021-12-12 |access-date=26 April 2015 |publisher=Marc Maron via youtube}}{{cbignore}}<br />{{cite web |last=Solomon |first=Dan |date=22 July 2013 |title=12 Things We Learned From Thom Yorke's 'WTF With Marc Maron' Podcast |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2699162/thom-yorke-marc-maron-wtf/ |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=MTV |archive-date=22 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222173015/http://www.mtv.com/news/2699162/thom-yorke-marc-maron-wtf/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He initially attempted to emulate singers including [[Michael Stipe]], [[Morrissey]] and [[David Sylvian]].<ref name="Gordon-2023" /> He also wrote that [[Mark Mulcahy]] of [[Miracle Legion]] had affected him "a great deal" at this time: "It was the voice of someone who was only truly happy when he was singing&nbsp;... It changed the way I thought about songs and singing."<ref>{{cite web|last=Yorke|first=Thom|year=2000|title=Questions and Answers|url=http://www.spinwithagrin.com/answer.asp?show=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421220719/http://www.spinwithagrin.com/answer.asp?show=all|archive-date=21 April 2008|access-date=16 September 2012|work=Spin With a Grin|publisher=Radiohead, SpinWithaGrin.com}}</ref>

When he was 16, Yorke sent a [[Demo (music)|demo]] to a music magazine, who wrote that he sounded like [[Neil Young]]. Unfamiliar with Young, Yorke purchased his 1970 album ''[[After the Gold Rush]]'',<ref name="Greene-2016" /> which gave him the confidence to reveal "softness and naiveté" in vocals.<ref name="Gordon-2023" /> Yorke also credited Young as a lyrical influence.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 February 2013 |title=Positively Charged: Thom Yorke's 20 Biggest Influences |url=http://www.spin.com/2013/02/thom-yorke-radiohead-amok-atoms-for-peace-influences/ |access-date=26 April 2015 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> He said: "It was his attitude toward the way he laid songs down. It's always about laying down whatever is in your head at the time and staying completely true to that, no matter what it is."<ref name="Greene-2016">{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2 August 2016 |title=Flashback: Radiohead Cover Neil Young's 'On the Beach' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-radiohead-cover-neil-youngs-on-the-beach-250240/ |access-date=20 August 2018 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Yorke said [[Jeff Buckley]] gave him the confidence to use falsetto and be vulnerable in his singing,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |date=September 1997 |title=The dour and the glory |magazine=[[Vox (magazine)|Vox]]  |issue=}}</ref><ref name="Gordon-2023" /> while the 1986 album ''[[Blood & Chocolate]]'' by [[Elvis Costello and the Attractions]] changed how he approached recording and writing music and lyrics.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Paphides |first=Peter |date=5 November 1997 |title=Radio daze |magazine=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |location=London}}</ref>

Yorke cited the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Pixies dust Coachella music fest with magic|date=4 May 2004|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/music/article/Pixies-dust-Coachella-music-fest-with-magic-1143820.php|access-date=17 July 2008|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> [[Björk]] and [[PJ Harvey]] as artists who "changed his life",<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=February 2013|title=Splitting Atoms|magazine=Dazed}}</ref> and in 2006 he told ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'' that Radiohead had "ripped off R.E.M. blind for years".<ref name="Plagenhoef, Scott-2006" /> He cited Stipe as his favourite lyricist: "I loved the way he would take an emotion and then take a step back from it and in doing so make it so much more powerful."<ref name="Adams-2013" /> The chorus of "[[How to Disappear Completely]]" from ''Kid A'' was inspired by Stipe, who advised Yorke to relieve tour stress by repeating to himself: "I'm not here, this isn't happening."<ref>{{cite magazine|date=12 October 2011|title='How To Disappear Completely' - Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Radiohead Songs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-radiohead-songs-20111012/10-how-to-disappear-completely-0823981|access-date=8 March 2015|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Yorke cited the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] guitarist [[John Frusciante]] as an influence on his guitar playing on ''In Rainbows'',<ref name="XFM-2008">{{Cite web |date=28 January 2008 |title=Radiohead on ''In Rainbows'' |url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/radiohead/interviews/in-rainbows/ |access-date=30 January 2015 |website=[[XFM]] |archive-date=21 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621102640/http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/radiohead/interviews/in-rainbows/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker]] as an influence on his vocals and lyrics.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=25 March 2019|title=Scott Walker, experimental pop hero, dies aged 76|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/25/scott-walker-experimental-pop-hero-dies-aged-76|access-date=25 March 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Yorke admired how the [[Beastie Boys]] worked independently despite being signed to a major record label, and was influenced by their activism, such as their [[Tibetan Freedom Concert|Tibetan Freedom Concerts]].<ref name="Oremiatzki-2015">{{Cite web |last=Oremiatzki |first=Yohav |date=2015-11-21 |title=Thom Yorke and George Monbiot : "We have to prepare for the inevitable failure of COP21" |url=https://www.telerama.fr/monde/thom-yorke-and-george-monbiot-we-have-to-prepare-for-the-inevitable-failure-of-cop21,134497.php |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=[[Télérama]] |language=}}</ref>

Beginning with ''Kid A'', Radiohead incorporated influences from electronic artists such as [[Aphex Twin]] and [[Autechre]].<ref name="ZORIC2" /> In 2013, Yorke cited Aphex Twin as his biggest influence, saying: "Aphex opened up another world that didn't involve my fucking electric guitar&nbsp;... I hated all the music that was around Radiohead at the time, it was completely fucking meaningless. I hated the [[Britpop]] thing and what was happening in America, but Aphex was totally beautiful."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-01-21 |title=Uni of Yorke Class 1: FlyLo, the Gaslamp Killer & FaltyDL |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/15435/1/uni-of-yorke-class-1-flylo-the-gaslamp-killer-faltydl |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=[[Dazed]] |language=en}}</ref> He cited the 1962 live album ''[[The Complete Town Hall Concert]]'' by the jazz musician [[Charles Mingus]] as another formative influence during this period.<ref name="JUICE">{{cite web |last=Zoric |first=Lauren |date=1 October 2000 |title=Fitter, Happier, More Productive |url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=91 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309014557/http://followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?cutting=91&year=2000 |archivedate=9 March 2016 |access-date=19 May 2007 |website=Juice}}</ref>

=== Artwork ===
[[File:Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood The Universal Sigh 2011.jpg|thumb|The Radiohead cover artist [[Stanley Donwood]] (left) and Yorke promoting ''The King of Limbs'' in 2011]]Since the EP ''[[My Iron Lung]]'' (1994), Yorke has created artwork for Radiohead and his other projects with [[Stanley Donwood]]. The pair met as art students at the [[University of Exeter]]. Donwood said his first impression of Yorke was that he was "mouthy", "pissed off" and "someone I could work with".<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=Craig |date=2006-06-18 |title=Interview with Radiohead's Thom Yorke |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jun/18/9 |access-date=2022-01-17 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> Whereas Donwood described himself as having a tendency towards "detailing and perfectionism", he said Yorke is "completely opposed, fucking everything up ... I do something, then he fucks it up, then I fuck up what he's done ... and we keep doing that until we're happy with the result. It's a competition to see who 'wins' the painting, which one of us takes possession of it in an artistic way."<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 January 2017 |title=Stanley Donwood on creating album art for Radiohead |language=en-GB |newspaper=Creative Review |url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/stanley-donwood-radiohead/ |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> Yorke is credited for artwork alongside Donwood as the White Chocolate Farm, Tchock, Dr. Tchock and similar abbreviations.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 October 2010 |title=42 Things You Didn't Know About Thom Yorke (And 10 Things You Didn't Know About Kid A) |url=http://flavorwire.com/122738/42-things-you-didnt-know-about-thom-yorke-and-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-kid-a |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref> The artist [[Tarik Barri]] provides live visuals for Yorke's solo and multimedia projects and shows with Atoms for Peace.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 February 2018 |title=Thom Yorke to Be Featured in "Immersive" Audiovisual Sound Installation in Berlin |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/02/thom-yorke-installation-berlin-hexadome/ |access-date=9 February 2018}}</ref>

== Politics and activism ==
=== Music industry ===
Yorke has been critical of the [[music industry]]. Following Radiohead's tour of America in 1993, he became disenchanted with being "right at the sharp end of the sexy, sassy, [[MTV]] eye-candy lifestyle" he felt he was helping sell.<ref name="REYNOLDS2">{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |date=July 2001 |title=Walking on thin ice |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/radiohead-walking-on-thin-ice |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]}}</ref> After a 1995 ''[[Melody Maker]]'' article suggested that Yorke would kill himself like the [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] singer [[Kurt Cobain]], Yorke developed an aversion to the British music press.<ref name="ROSS2">{{cite magazine|last=Ross|first=Alex|author-link=Alex Rossi (journalist)|date=21 August 2001|title=The Searchers: Radiohead's unquiet revolution|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|url=https://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html|url-status=dead|access-date=14 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525102645/http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html|archive-date=25 May 2007}}</ref> In November 1995, ''[[NME]]'' covered an incident in which Yorke became sick and collapsed on stage at a show in Munich, and titled the story "Thommy's temper tantrum". Yorke said it was the most hurtful thing anyone had written about him, and refused to give interviews to ''NME'' for five years.<ref name="Dalton-2016">{{Cite web |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |date=2016-03-18 |title=Radiohead: 'We were spitting and fighting and crying…' |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/radiohead-we-were-spitting-and-fighting-and-crying-73254/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The 1998 documentary ''[[Meeting People Is Easy]]'' portrays Yorke's disaffection with the music industry and press during Radiohead's ''OK Computer'' tour.<ref name="RANDALL">{{Citation |last=Randall |first=Mac |title=The Golden Age of Radiohead |date=1 April 1998 |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/radiohead-interview-golden-age-radiohead |magazine=[[Guitar World]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903205835/http://www.guitarworld.com/radiohead-interview-golden-age-radiohead |archive-date=3 September 2017}}</ref> After Radiohead's fourth album, ''Kid A'' (2000), was leaked via the [[Peer-to-peer file sharing|peer-to-peer filesharing]] software [[Napster]] weeks before release, Yorke told ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' he felt Napster "encourages enthusiasm for music in a way that the music industry has long forgotten to do. I think anybody sticking two fingers up at the whole fucking thing is wonderful as far as I'm concerned."<ref>{{cite news|work = Time Europe|last = Farley|first = Christopher John|date = 23 October 2000|url = http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1023/radiohead.html|title = Radioactive|volume = 156|issue = 17|access-date = 22 March 2007|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110311074531/http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1023/radiohead.html|archive-date = 11 March 2011}}</ref> In 2001, Yorke criticised the American live music industry, describing it as a [[monopoly]] controlled by [[Clear Channel Entertainment]] and [[Ticketmaster]].<ref name="Tribune">{{cite web |last=Kot |first=Greg |date=31 July 2001 |title=It's difficult justifying being a rock band |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-07-31-0107310006-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212061753/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-07-31/features/0107310006_1_pink-floyd-amnesiac-thom-yorke |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=27 March 2012 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

With Radiohead and his solo work, Yorke has pioneered alternative release platforms. After Radiohead's record contract with EMI ended with the release of ''Hail to the Thief'' (2003), Yorke told ''Time'': "I like the people at our record company, but the time is at hand when you have to ask why anyone needs one. And, yes, it probably would give us some perverse pleasure to say 'Fuck you' to this decaying business model."<ref name="Tyrangiel, Josh">{{cite magazine |url = http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071004205009/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 4 October 2007|title = Radiohead Says: Pay What You Want|access-date = 16 October 2007|author = Tyrangiel, Josh|date = 1 October 2007|magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> In 2006, he called major record labels "stupid little boys' games ''–'' especially really high up".<ref name="Plagenhoef, Scott-2006">{{cite web |url = https://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/6402-thom-yorke/|title = Interview: Thom Yorke|access-date = 6 April 2007|author = Plagenhoef, Scott|date = 16 August 2006|work = [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

Radiohead independently released their 2007 album ''[[In Rainbows]] ''as a download for which listeners could [[pay what you want|choose their price]].<ref name="nytimespay2" /> Yorke said the "most exciting" part of the release was the removal of the barrier between artist and audience.<ref name="Stuart Dredge-2013">{{cite news |author=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=7 October 2013 |title=Thom Yorke calls Spotify 'the last desperate fart of a dying corpse' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/07/spotify-thom-yorke-dying-corpse |access-date=7 October 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> However, in 2013, Yorke told the ''Guardian'' he feared the ''In Rainbows'' release had instead played into the hands of content providers such as [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and [[Google]]: "They have to keep commodifying things to keep the share price up, but in doing so they have made all content, including music and newspapers, worthless, in order to make their billions. And this is what we want?"<ref name="Adams-2013" /> In 2015, he criticised [[YouTube]] for "seizing control" of contributor content, likening it to [[Nazi plunder|Nazis looting art during World War II]].<ref name="Young, Alex-2015" />

==== Spotify ====
In 2013, Yorke and Godrich made statements criticising the music [[Streaming media|streaming]] service [[Spotify]], and removed Atoms for Peace and Yorke's solo music from the service.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 July 2013 |title=Thom Yorke pulls albums from Spotify |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23313445 |access-date=5 December 2013 |newspaper=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> In a series of [[Twitter|tweets]], Yorke wrote: "Make no mistake, new artists you discover on Spotify will not get paid. Meanwhile, shareholders will shortly be rolling in it&nbsp;... New artists get paid fuck-all with this model." Yorke called Spotify "the last gasp of the old industry", accusing it of only benefiting major record labels with large back catalogues, and encouraged artists to build their own "direct connections" with audiences instead.<ref name="Stuart Dredge-2013" />

Brian Message, a partner at Radiohead's management company,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Alex |date=15 April 2016 |title=Radiohead have not yet decided whether to stream new album, says man from their management firm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/15/radiohead-new-album-spotify-brian-message-thom-yorke |access-date=18 January 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> disagreed with Yorke, noting that Spotify pays 70 percent of its revenue back to the music industry. He said that "Thom's issue was that the pipe has become so jammed ... We encourage all of our artists to take a long-term approach ... Plan for the long term, understand that it's a tough game."<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGoogan |first=Cara |date=16 October 2015 |title=Brian Message: Apple Music won't be bigger than YouTube |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/brian-message-spotify-radiohead-wired-2015 |access-date=18 January 2017 |website=[[Wired (website)|Wired]] }}</ref> Yorke and Atoms for Peace's music was re-added to Spotify in December 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |date=8 December 2017 |title=Thom Yorke's solo albums are finally streaming on Spotify, which he famously hates |url=http://uproxx.com/music/thom-yorke-spotify-streaming/ |access-date=10 December 2017 |website=[[Uproxx]] |publisher=[[Uproxx Media Group]]}}</ref>

For Yorke's second solo album, ''[[Tomorrow's Modern Boxes]]'' (2014), released via [[BitTorrent]], he and Godrich expressed their hope to "hand some control of internet back to people who are creating the work&nbsp;... bypassing the self-elected gatekeepers".<ref name="Gordon-2014" /> Asked if the release had been a success, Yorke said: "No, not exactly ... I wanted to show that, in theory, today one could follow the entire chain of record production, from start to finish, on his own. But in practice it is very different. We cannot be burdened with all of the responsibilities of the record label."<ref name="Young, Alex-2015">{{cite web |author=Young, Alex |date=30 November 2015 |title=Thom Yorke likens YouTube to Nazi Germany: "They steal art" |url=https://consequence.net/2015/11/thom-yorke-likens-youtube-to-nazi-germany-they-steal-art/ |access-date=28 December 2015 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |publisher=}}</ref>

=== Climate change ===
In 2000, during the recording of ''Kid A'', Yorke became "obsessed" with the [[Worldwatch Institute]] website, "which was full of scary statistics about icecaps melting and weather patterns changing".<ref name="optimist">{{cite web |last=Yorke |first=Thom |date=23 March 2008 |title=Thom Yorke: why I'm a climate optimist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2008/mar/20/thomyorke |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=}}</ref> He said he became involved in the [[Climate movement|movement to halt climate change]] after having children and "waking up every night just terrified".<ref name="Thom Yorke on board the Rainbow Warrior 3">{{cite web |last=Grey |first=Louise |date=11 November 2011 |title=Thom Yorke on board the Rainbow Warrior 3 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/8885069/Thom-Yorke-on-board-the-Rainbow-Warrior-3.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/8885069/Thom-Yorke-on-board-the-Rainbow-Warrior-3.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |access-date=27 April 2015 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2003, Yorke became a spokesperson for the environmental organisation [[Friends of the Earth]] and their [[Big Ask Campaign]].<ref name="MCLEAN"/> He said this was a difficult decision, as it would expose him to personal attacks, and that journalists had harassed his friends and family for personal details.<ref name="Oremiatzki-2015" /> In an article for the ''Guardian'', Yorke wrote that he initially felt he would be a poor match as his touring consumed a large amount of energy. However, Friends of the Earth persuaded him that this was ideal as they did not want to "present a holier-than-thou message". He accepted that he would be criticised for his support.<ref name="optimist" />

In 2006, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed at the Big Ask Live, a 2006 benefit concert to persuade the British government to enact a new law on climate change.<ref name="MCLEAN"/> That year, Yorke refused an invitation from Friends of the Earth to meet the prime minister, [[Tony Blair]]. Yorke said that Blair had "no environmental credentials" and that his [[spin doctors]] would manipulate the meeting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Adam |first=David |date=22 March 2006 |title=Radiohead singer snubs Blair climate talks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/mar/22/greenpolitics.politicsandthearts |access-date=17 July 2008 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref> He told the ''Guardian'' that Blair's advisers had wanted to vet him and that Friends of the Earth would lose access if he said "the wrong thing", which he equated to [[blackmail]].<ref name="MCLEAN"/> Yorke also found it unacceptable to be photographed with Blair because of his involvement in the [[Iraq War]].<ref name="Oremiatzki-2015" />

In 2008, Radiohead commissioned a study to reduce the carbon expended on tour. Based on the findings, they chose to play at venues supported by public transport, made deals with trucking companies to reduce emissions, used new low-energy [[LED]] lighting and encouraged festivals to offer reusable plastics.<ref name="optimist" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/radiohead-daydream-festival-led-lighting.php|title=Radiohead Pushes Festivals Like Daydream to Go Green|last=Scholtus|first=Petz|date=18 June 2008|access-date=21 February 2009|publisher=Treehugger|archive-date=4 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204040009/http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/radiohead-daydream-festival-led-lighting.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> That year, Yorke guest-edited a special climate change edition of ''[[Observer Magazine]]'' and wrote: "Unlike pessimists such as [[James Lovelock]], I don't believe we are all doomed&nbsp;... You should never give up hope."<ref name="optimist" />

In 2009, Yorke performed via [[Skype]] at the premier of the environmentalist documentary ''[[The Age of Stupid]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Singh |first=Amrit |date=18 December 2009 |title=Thom Yorke Crashes Copenhagen Climate Summit |url=https://www.stereogum.com/106511/thom_yorke_crashes_copenhagen_climate_summit/video/ |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[Stereogum]] |publisher=}}</ref> and gained access to the [[2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP 15]] climate change talks in Copenhagen by posing as a journalist.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 December 2009 |title=Radiohead's Yorke sneaks into Copenhagen climate talks |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8419641.stm |access-date=11 January 2010 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> In 2010, he performed a benefit concert at the [[Cambridge Corn Exchange]] for the British [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]<ref name="Scott-2010">{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Colothan |date=26 February 2010 |title=Thom yorke mesmerises cambridge corn exchange |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/54902/thom-yorke-mesmerises-cambridge-corn-exchange |access-date=3 January 2015 |website=[[Gigwise]] |publisher=}}</ref> and supported the [[10:10]] campaign for [[climate change mitigation]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Ian |date=31 December 2009 |title=Why the 10:10 campaign is even more important after Copenhagen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/dec/31/10-10-copenhagen |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The following year, he joined the maiden voyage of ''[[Rainbow Warrior (2011)|Rainbow Warrior III]], ''a yacht used by [[Greenpeace]] to monitor damage to the environment.<ref name="Thom Yorke on board the Rainbow Warrior 3" />

Yorke endorsed the Green Party candidate [[Caroline Lucas]] at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 UK general election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/24/celebrities-sign-statement-support-caroline-lucas-not-green-party|title=Celebrities sign statement of support for Caroline Lucas – but not the Greens|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|date=24 April 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 July 2015|location=London}}</ref> That December, he performed at the [[2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference|United Nations Climate Change Conference]] in Paris at a benefit concert in aid of [[350.org]], an environmental organisation raising [[Climate change education|awareness about climate change]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://350.org/were-rocking-with-thom-yorke-patti-smith-more-in-paris/|title=We're Rocking with Thom Yorke, Patti Smith (& more) in Paris|date=13 July 2015|access-date=19 July 2015}}</ref> His performance was included on the live album ''Pathway to Paris'', released in July 2016.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 July 2016 |title=Watch Thom Yorke's "Bloom" Performance From New Pathway to Paris Live Album |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/66998-watch-thom-yorkes-bloom-performance-from-new-pathway-to-paris-live-album/ |access-date=23 July 2016 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Yorke contributed an electronic track, "Hands Off the Antarctic", to a 2018 Greenpeace campaign.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=16 October 2018 |title=Hear Thom Yorke's chilly new song for Greenpeace |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-thom-yorkes-chilly-new-song-for-greenpeace-738750/ |access-date=17 October 2018 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Trade and finance ===
In 1999, Yorke travelled to the [[25th G8 summit|G8 summit]] to support the [[Jubilee 2000]] movement calling for cancellation of [[debt of developing countries|third-world debt]].<ref>{{cite web |title=U2, Radiohead, Perry Farrell Ask World Leaders To Wipe Out Third World Debt |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1428868/u2-radiohead-perry-farrell-ask-world-leaders-to-wipe-out-third-world-debt/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518110719/http://www.mtv.com/news/1428868/u2-radiohead-perry-farrell-ask-world-leaders-to-wipe-out-third-world-debt/ |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[MTV News]]}}</ref> In a 2003 ''Guardian'' article criticising the [[World Trade Organization]], he wrote: "The west is creating an extremely dangerous economic, environmental and humanitarian time bomb. We are living beyond our means."<ref>{{cite web |last=Yorke |first=Thom |date=8 September 2003 |title=Opinion: Thom Yorke on fair trade |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2003/sep/08/fairtrade.wto6 |access-date=2 May 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In 2005, he performed at an all-night vigil for the [[Trade Justice Movement]], calling for a [[Trade justice|better trade deal]] for poor countries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-04-18 |title=U.K. artists take part in all-night trade protest |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/uk-artists-take-part-in-all-night-trade-protest/article978996/ |access-date=2022-01-15 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |language=en-CA}}</ref> 

The music video for the 2007 Radiohead song "[[All I Need (Radiohead song)|All I Need]]" was produced with [[MTV EXIT]], an initiative to raise awareness of [[human trafficking]] and [[modern slavery]].<ref name="MTV">{{cite web |author=Montgomery |first=James |date=30 April 2008 |title=Radiohead join forces with MTV's campaign against human trafficking for 'All I Need' video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1586579/radiohead-join-forces-with-mtvs-campaign-against-human-trafficking-for-all-i-need-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212123827/http://www.mtv.com/news/1586579/radiohead-join-forces-with-mtvs-campaign-against-human-trafficking-for-all-i-need-video/ |archive-date=12 February 2015 |access-date=25 July 2014 |work=[[MTV]] |publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]]}}</ref> Yorke said he saw slavery as a "political stability issue", and that it was important for people in the west to "understand the consequences of our economic activity".<ref name="MTV" />

In 2011, alongside [[Robert Del Naja]] of [[Massive Attack]] and [[Tim Goldsworthy]] of [[Unkle]], Yorke played a secret DJ set for a group of [[Occupy movement|Occupy]] activists in the abandoned offices of the investment bank [[UBS]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 February 2012 |title=Occupy 2012 |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/12575/1/occupy-2012 |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=[[Dazed]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, Yorke released a statement accusing the British government of "siphoning money through our [[Tax haven|tax havens]] for the global super rich, while now preaching that we the people must pay our taxes and suffer [[United Kingdom government austerity programme|austerity]]".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-11 |title=Thom Yorke asks: 'Who does our government work for?' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/11/thom-yorke-asks-who-does-our-government-work-for#:~:text=He%20adds:%20%E2%80%9CNow%20is%20the,does%20our%20government%20work%20for?%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Israel ===
In April 2017, more than 50 prominent figures, including the musicians [[Roger Waters]] and [[Thurston Moore]], the rights activist [[Desmond Tutu]] and the filmmaker [[Ken Loach]], signed a petition urging Radiohead to cancel a performance in [[Tel Aviv]] as part of [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]], a [[Boycotts of Israel|cultural boycott of Israel]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=5 June 2017 |title=Read Roger Waters' response to Thom Yorke over Israel controversy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/roger-waters-responds-to-thom-yorke-over-israel-controversy-w485780 |access-date=7 June 2017 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> A week before the Tel Aviv performance, a Radiohead concert in Glasgow was attended by [[pro-Palestine]] protestors waving flags and signs. Yorke responded with anger on stage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=2017-07-08 |title=Palestinian activists disrupt Radiohead concert in Scotland |url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/palestinian-activists-disrupt-radiohead-concert-in-scotland/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In a ''Rolling Stone'' interview, Yorke said of the criticism: "I just can't understand why going to play a rock show or going to lecture at a university [is a problem to them] ... It's really upsetting that artists I respect think we are not capable of making a moral decision ourselves after all these years. They talk down to us and I just find it mind-boggling that they think they have the right to do that."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2017-06-02 |title=Thom Yorke breaks silence on Israel controversy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/thom-yorke-breaks-silence-on-israel-controversy-126675/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Yorke said that the petitioners had not contacted him. This was disputed by Waters, who wrote in an open letter in ''Rolling Stone'' that he had attempted to contact Yorke several times.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2017-06-05 |title=Read Roger Waters' response to Thom Yorke over Israel controversy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/read-roger-waters-response-to-thom-yorke-over-radiohead-israel-controversy-198319/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In a statement, Yorke responded: "We don't endorse [[Netanyahu]] any more than Trump, but we still play in America. Playing in a country isn't the same as endorsing the government. Music, art and academia is about crossing borders not building them, about open minds not closed ones, about shared humanity, dialogue and freedom of expression."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=12 July 2017 |title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke responds as Ken Loach criticises Israel gig |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/12/thom-yorke-radiohead-ken-loach-criticises-israel-gig |access-date=15 July 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]] |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

At a solo concert in Melbourne in October 2024, Yorke was heckled by a pro-Palestinian protester for his lack of condemnation for [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip|Israel's attacks on Gaza]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunworth |first=Liberty |date=2024-10-30 |title=Watch Thom Yorke clash on stage with Pro-Palestinian protester at solo Melbourne show |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-clash-onstage-pro-palestinian-protester-melbourne-show-3808026 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Yorke challenged him to make a statement onstage and left the stage when he continued to heckle. He returned to perform the final song, "Karma Police".<ref name="Jefferson-2024">{{Cite news |last=Jefferson |first=Dee |date=2024-10-31 |title=Thom Yorke walks off stage after being heckled by pro-Palestine protester at Melbourne concert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/31/thom-yorke-walks-off-stage-after-being-heckled-by-pro-palestine-heckler-at-melbourne-concert |access-date=2024-10-31 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Hannah |date=2024-10-31 |title=Radiohead singer Thom Yorke walks off stage as fan shouts Gaza protests |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yrv2zyd22o |access-date=2024-11-01 |website= |publisher=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Yorke wrote later that it "didn't really seem like the best moment to discuss the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza".<ref name="Strauss-2025" /> 

In May 2025, Yorke released a statement condemning the Israeli government and [[Hamas]]'s attacks. He wrote that he was "in shock that my supposed silence was somehow being taken as complicity" and that he did not support "any form of extremism or dehumanisation". He also condemned the calls for artists to release statements on the subject, saying it was "a dangerous illusion to believe reposting, or one or two line messages are meaningful, especially if it is to condemn your fellow human beings".<ref name="Strauss-2025">{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=2025-05-30 |title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke releases statement on Israel and Gaza |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-thom-yorke-releases-statement-on-israel-and-gaza/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The American comedian and musician [[Reggie Watts]] criticised Yorke's statement, writing that it "centres his hurt feelings and frames his fans' demands for him to speak up as a 'social media witch hunt{{' "}}, and hoped that Yorke would "reflect and decentre himself" from public outcry against the [[Gaza genocide]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molley |first1=Laura |title=Reggie Watts hits back at Thom Yorke's comments on Palestine and "social media witch-hunts" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/reggie-watts-hits-back-at-thom-yorkes-comments-on-palestine-and-social-media-witch-hunts-3866317 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=31 May 2025 |date=31 May 2025}}</ref>

===Other issues===
In September 2004, Yorke was a key speaker at a [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] rally outside the [[RAF Fylingdales]] air base in [[Yorkshire]], protesting Blair's support of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]]'s plans for the [[Strategic Defense Initiative|"''Star Wars''" missile defence system]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-09-27 |title=Thom Yorke leads "Star Wars" protest |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-687-1368226 |access-date=2021-06-01 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Yorke and musicians including [[Plan B (musician)|Plan B]], [[Bryan Ferry]] and [[Mark Ronson]] appeared in the music video for the 2010 charity single "2 Minute Silence", which comprises [[Two-minute silence|two minutes of silence]]. The single commemorates [[Remembrance Day]], with all proceeds to the [[Royal British Legion]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michaels |first=Sean |date=2010-11-11 |title=Remembrance Day single brings two-minute silence to charts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/11/remembrance-day-single-silence |access-date=2025-01-24 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> 

To celebrate the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 election]] of US president [[Barack Obama]], Yorke released a remixed version of his single "[[Harrowdown Hill]]" as a free download.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/thom-yorke-celebrates-obama-victory-with-free-track-110856/|title=Thom Yorke Celebrates Obama Victory With Free Track|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=6 November 2008|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=21 July 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2016, following the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]] in Florida, Yorke was one of nearly 200 music industry figures to sign an open letter published in ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' urging the [[United States Congress]] to impose stricter [[Gun control in the United States|gun control]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Maine |first=Samantha |date=23 June 2016 |title=Thom Yorke, Paul McCartney and more lobby congress on gun control {{!}} NME.COM |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-190-1197393 |access-date=30 June 2016 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=An Open Letter to Congress from the Music Industry |url=https://www.billboard.com/open-letter/ |access-date=30 June 2016 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

After the election of [[Donald Trump]] in 2016, Yorke tweeted lyrics from Radiohead's single "[[Burn the Witch (Radiohead song)|Burn the Witch]]", interpreted as a criticism of [[Political positions of Donald Trump|Trump's policies]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7573278/radiohead-thom-yorke-reaction-to-donald-trump-election-burn-the-witch|title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke Had The Perfect Reaction To Donald Trump's Election Victory|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2016/11/thom-yorke-uses-radioheads-burn-the-witch-to-comment-on-the-ill-fated-2016-election/|title=Thom Yorke uses Radiohead's "Burn the Witch" to comment on the ill-fated 2016 election|date=9 November 2016|newspaper=Consequence of Sound|access-date=22 January 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> He opposed [[Brexit]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=8 February 2019 |title=Thom Yorke on Brexit: 'Stop the bus... now' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/thom-yorke-on-brexit-stop-the-bus-now |access-date=8 February 2019 |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |language=en}}</ref> and in March 2019 joined the [[People's Vote]] march calling for a [[Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement|second referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=23 March 2019 |title=Thom Yorke, Years & Years, Fatboy Slim and more take part in Brexit People's Vote March |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/thom-yorke-years-years-fatboy-slim-and-more-take-part-in-brexit-peoples-vote-march-2465950 |access-date=23 March 2019 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, Yorke was one of 10,500 creative professionals who signed a statement warning against the [[Artificial intelligence and copyright|unlicensed use of copyrighted work in AI training]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=2024-10-22 |title=Thom Yorke and Julianne Moore join thousands of creatives in AI warning |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/22/thom-yorke-and-julianne-moore-join-thousands-of-creatives-in-ai-warning |access-date=2024-10-22 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Yorke is a vegetarian.<ref name="Hillyard-2015" /> In a 2005 film for the animal rights foundation [[Animal Aid]], he said: "Society deems it necessary to create this level of suffering in order for [people] to eat food that they don't need&nbsp;... You should at least be aware of what you're doing rather than assuming that that's your right as a human being to do it."<ref>{{cite web |date=1 May 2005 |title=Thom Yorke of Radiohead on why veggie is best |url=http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/news_veggie/ALL/791// |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523170219/http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/news_veggie/ALL/791// |archive-date=23 May 2015 |access-date=23 May 2015 |website=[[Animal Aid]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
For 23 years, Yorke was in a relationship with the artist and lecturer [[Rachel Owen]], whom he met while studying at the [[University of Exeter]].<ref name="MCLEAN"/> In 2012, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reported that Owen and Yorke were unmarried.<ref name="Fricke-2012" /> However, ''[[The Times]]'' later found that they had married in a secret ceremony in [[Oxfordshire]] in May 2003.<ref name="Narwan-2016" /> Their son, Noah, was born in 2001, and their daughter, Agnes, in 2004.<ref name="MCLEAN"/>

In August 2015, Yorke and Owen announced that they had separated amicably.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 August 2015 |title=Thom Yorke and Rachel Owen announce separation |url=https://www.nme.com/news/thom-yorke/87598 |access-date=18 August 2015 |website=[[NME]] }}</ref> Owen died from cancer on 18 December 2016, aged 48.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vincent |first=Alice |date=20 December 2016 |title=Thom Yorke's ex-partner, Rachel Owen, dies aged 48 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/thom-yorkes-ex-partner-rachel-owen-dies-aged-48/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/thom-yorkes-ex-partner-rachel-owen-dies-aged-48/ |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In September 2020, Yorke married the Italian actress Dajana Roncione in [[Bagheria]], Sicily.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=23 September 2020 |title=Thom Yorke and Dajana Roncione are married |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/thom-yorke-and-dajana-roncione-are-married/ |access-date=23 September 2020 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Roncione appears in the video for the Radiohead song "[[Lift (Radiohead song)|Lift]]" and the [[Anima (2019 film)|''Anima'']] film.<ref name="Pitchfork 5">{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=26 June 2019 |title=Five takeaways from Thom Yorke's new album, ''Anima'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/5-takeaways-from-thom-yorkes-new-album-anima/ |access-date=27 June 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> They live in Oxford.<ref name="Hunter-Tilney-2023" />

On Yorke's 2018 soundtrack album ''[[Suspiria (2018 soundtrack)|Suspiria]]'', his son, Noah, played drums on two tracks and his daughter, Agnes, collaborated on the artwork.<ref name="BBC Radio 6 Music-2018" /> In September 2021, Noah released a song, "Trying Too Hard (Lullaby)". ''NME'' likened its "ghostly" arrangement to Radiohead's album ''In Rainbows''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-25 |title=Listen to Thom Yorke's son Noah's ghostly new song 'Trying Too Hard (Lullaby)' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-thom-yorkes-son-noahs-ghostly-new-song-trying-too-hard-lullaby-3054840 |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Noah has since released several more songs,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-01 |title=Thom Yorke's Son Noah Yorke Shares New Song "Cerebral Key": Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2023/08/thom-yorke-son-noah-yorke-cerebral-key-stream/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and performs with James Knott as the noise duo Hex Girlfriend.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=2024-02-26 |title=Meet Hex Girlfriend, the industrial duo combining grit with theatrics |url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/features/meet-hex-girlfriend-the-industrial-duo-noah-yorke-interview-37051/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=[[Rolling Stone UK]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Yorke's younger brother and only sibling, [[Andy Yorke|Andy]], is the singer of the band [[Unbelievable Truth]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Andy Yorke biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andy-yorke-mn0000038658/biography |access-date=2 July 2014 |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> 

Yorke practises meditation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thom Yorke - Here's The Thing - WNYC Studios |url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/278417-thom-yorke |access-date=3 January 2018 |website=Wnycstudios.org |language=en}}</ref> In 2004, he said he had "dabbled" in [[Buddhism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Draper |first=Brian |date=October 2004 |title=In-depth interview with Thom Yorke |url=https://highprofiles.info/interview/thom-yorke/ |access-date=2022-01-21 |website=High Profiles |language=en-GB}}</ref> He has suffered from anxiety and depression, which he treats with exercise, yoga and reading.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tucker |first=Grant |title=Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke goes on the record: Yes, I get anxious |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/radiohead-star-thom-yorke-goes-on-the-record-yes-i-get-anxious-0lbdk6t3r |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-01-21 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> While recording in California with Atoms for Peace, Yorke took up surfing, which he said taught him patience in creativity.<ref name="Adams-2013" /> In 2023, an extinct [[stingray]] species was named ''[[Dasyomyliobatis thomyorkei]]'' in his honour.<ref name="wiley">{{Cite journal |last1=Marramà |first1=G. |last2=Villalobos-Segura |first2=E. |last3=Zorzin |first3=R. |last4=Kriwet |first4=J. |last5=Carnevale |first5=G. |year=2023 |title=The evolutionary origin of the durophagous pelagic stingray ecomorph |journal=Palaeontology |volume=66 |issue=4 |at=e12669 |bibcode=2023Palgy..6612669M |doi=10.1111/pala.12669 |pmc=7614867 |pmid=37533696}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Radiohead}}
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Award !! Year !! Work !! Category !! Result !! Ref. 
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[American Association of Independent Music|A2IM Libera Awards]]
| rowspan=2|[[2020 Libera Awards|2020]]
| Himself
|  Marketing Genius
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://liberaawards.com/2020-nominees__trashed/2020-nominees/|title=2020 - Libera Awards|work=libera awards|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622125423/https://liberaawards.com/2020-nominees__trashed/2020-nominees/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]'' 
| Best Dance/Electronic Album
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[Brit Awards]]
| [[2007 Brit Awards|2007]]
| Himself
| [[BRIT Award for British Male Solo Artist|British Male Solo Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-355-1348711|title=Lily Allen, Muse head list of BRIT Award nominations|work=NME|date=16 January 2007|access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award]]
| 2018
| ''[[Suspiria (2018 film)|Suspiria]]''
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2018/12/chicago-film-critics-association-2018-nominees/|title=Chicago Film Critics Association announces 2018 nominees|last1=Suzanne-Mayer|first1=Dominick|last2=Roffman|first2=Michael|date=7 December 2018|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[David di Donatello]]
| 2020
| ''[[Suspiria (2018 film)|Suspiria]]''
| [[David di Donatello for Best Score|Best Score]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5| [[Gaffa (magazine)|Denmark GAFFA Awards]]
| 1998
| rowspan=4|Himself
| Best Foreign Songwriter
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=5|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/8752|title=GAFFA-prisen 1991-2006 – se vinderne|access-date=8 May 2021|archive-date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712164346/http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/8752|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2001
| rowspan=3|Best Foreign Male Act
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2004
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|2006
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''[[The Eraser]]''
| Best Foreign Album
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5|[[Grammy Awards]]
| [[2007 Grammy Awards|2007]]
| ''[[The Eraser]]''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]] 
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=4|[[2020 Grammy Awards|2020]]
| rowspan=3|''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]'' 
| [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]] 
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package|Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Music Film|Best Music Film]] 
| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Suspirium]]" 
| [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written for Visual Media]] 
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"|[[Libera Awards]]
| rowspan="2"|2020
| rowspan="2"|''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]''
| [[Libera Award for Best Dance/Electronic Record|Best Dance/Electronic Record]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9349158/chance-the-rapper-fka-twigs-courtney-nominees-2020-a2im-libera-awards|title=Chance the Rapper, FKA Twigs, Courtney Barnett & More Shortlisted For 2020 A2IM Libera Awards|magazine=Billboard|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 8, 2020|first=Lars|last=Brandle}}</ref>
|-
| [[Libera Award for Marketing Genius|Marketing Genius]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[Mercury Prize]]
| 2006
| ''[[The Eraser]]''
| Album of the Year
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Arctic Monkeys win 2006 Mercury Music Prize {{!}} NME |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/arctic-monkeys-523-1356678 |website=NME |date=5 September 2006}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[NME Awards]]
| 2008
| Himself
| Hero of the Year
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-awards-42-1333415|title = Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 - all the nominations|website = [[NME]]|date = 30 January 2008}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association]]
| 2018
| ''[[Suspiria (2018 film)|Suspiria]]''
| [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Score|Best Score]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=4|[[UK Music Video Awards]]
| rowspan=3|[[2019 UK Music Video Awards|2019]]
| rowspan=3|''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]'' 
| Best Special Video Project
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shots.net/news/view/nominations-for-uk-music-video-awards-2019-revealed|title = Nominations for UK Music Video Awards 2019 revealed|website=Shots.net}}</ref>
|-
|  Best Production Design in a Video
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Choreography in a Video
| {{win}}
|-
| [[2020 UK Music Video Awards|2020]]
| "Last I Heard (...He Was Circling the Drain)"
| Best Alternative Video - UK
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.promonews.tv/news/2020/09/29/uk-music-video-awards-2020-all-nominations/66913|title = UK Music Video Awards 2020: All the nominations! |website=Promonews.tv}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=4|Žebřík Music Awards
| 2000
| rowspan=4|Himself
| rowspan=4|Best International Male
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anketazebrik.cz/historie/2003-1997/|title = 2003-1997 – Anketa Žebřík|website=Anketazebrik.cz}}</ref>
|-
| 2001
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2003
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2005
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anketazebrik.cz/historie/2010-2004/|title = 2010-2004 – Anketa Žebřík|website=Anketazebrik.cz}}</ref>
{{end}}

==Solo discography==
{{main|Thom Yorke discography}}
{{see also|Radiohead discography|Atoms for Peace discography|The Smile discography}}

===Studio albums===
*''[[The Eraser]]'' (2006)
*''[[Tomorrow's Modern Boxes]]'' (2014)
*''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)|Anima]]'' (2019)

=== Collaborative albums ===
* ''[[Tall Tales (Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke album)|Tall Tales]]'' (2025; with [[Mark Pritchard (musician)|Mark Pritchard]])

===Film soundtracks===
*''When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun'' (2010; additional music only)
*''The UK Gold'' (2013; with [[Robert Del Naja]])
*''Why Can't We Get Along'' (2018; [[Rag & Bone]] short film)
*''Time of Day'' (2018; Rag & Bone short film)
*''[[Suspiria (2018 soundtrack)|Suspiria]]'' (2018)
*[[Confidenza (soundtrack)|''Confidenza'']] (2024)

===Albums produced===
*''[[Suspiria (2018 soundtrack)|Suspiria]]'' (2018)
*''[[Sus Dog]]'' by [[Clark (musician)|Clark]] (2023; executive produced)

==See also==
* [[List of Old Abingdonians]]
* [[List of British Grammy winners and nominees]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* Randall, Mac. ''Exit Music: The Radiohead Story''. Delta, 2000. {{ISBN|0-385-33393-5}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{commons category inline}}
* {{wikiquote-inline}}
* {{discogs artist}}

{{Thom Yorke}}
{{Radiohead}}
{{The Smile}}
{{2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yorke, Thom}}
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[[Category:20th-century English singers]]
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[[Category:British alternative rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Alternative rock pianists]]
[[Category:British alternative rock singers]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter]]
[[Category:Anti-consumerists]]
[[Category:Anti-globalization activists]]
[[Category:English alternative rock musicians]]
[[Category:Art rock musicians]]
[[Category:English activists]]
[[Category:English electronic musicians]]
[[Category:English environmentalists]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:English tenors]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male pianists]]
[[Category:Music in Oxford]]
[[Category:People with ptosis (eyelid)]]
[[Category:People educated at Abingdon School]]
[[Category:People from Wellingborough]]
[[Category:Radiohead members]]
[[Category:British rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:Atoms for Peace (band) members]]
[[Category:English male guitarists]]
[[Category:The Smile (band) members]]
[[Category:British political music artists]]
[[Category:XL Recordings artists]]
[[Category:Love Da Records artists]]
[[Category:BT Digital Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:Warp (record label) artists]]