On the 15th August 2025, I met with OK Computer, a Radiohead cover band from the Isle of Man. They were setting up for one of the last rehearsals before their concert on the 22nd. One by one, the six members trickled in, carrying their many instruments into the relatively small studio while I picked their brains. I learned about their favourite songs to play, those they find most challenging, and gained insights into what it is like to cover one of the most renowned, prolific and varied bands of the 21st century. The gig the following week was top-notch and the audience of dedicated Radiohead fans loved it – it has been fascinating to delve into why Radiohead has such a draw for so many listeners.
First playing gigs in 2018, OK Computer was formed when Dave Brew, lead singer (‘Thom Yorke’), was tired of being rejected when he suggested to his other bands that they play Radiohead. He reached out to other musicians that he thought might be interested and pretty instantly had a group formed. They have since played many gigs around the Island, featuring a mix of Radiohead songs from various albums, once playing through the full OK Computer album, and have steadily amassed a strong and dedicated following.
With the opportunity to speak to the members, I wanted to gain some insight into the inner workings of the band, such as how they decide which songs to play. Unsurprisingly, owing to Radiohead’s vast output, they said choosing what to play requires about 20% compromise; even their band name was chosen via a referendum. There are certain songs that they have found particularly tricky to learn, including ‘2+2=5’ and ‘Pyramid Song’, due to their unusual metres, ‘The Tourist’, because of how slow it is and therefore difficult to stay in time, but they highlighted that it varies for each instrument. They have also picked up on which songs are the most popular amongst audiences, such as ‘Fake Plastic Trees’, ‘Bodysnatchers’, ‘Let Down’ and ‘Creep’. At the gig, I too noticed that ‘Karma Police’ and ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ were particularly well-received, really engaging the crowd. My personal favourites were ‘Myxomatosis’ and ‘Paranoid Android’; the atmosphere they created was electric.
The band learn the songs from live versions rather than studio ones; these would be impossible to replicate. You could therefore pick up on certain features that aren’t present in the studio recordings, for example, I especially enjoyed the extra syncopated bass idea in ‘Myxomatosis’.
Radiohead are notorious for being ‘depressing’, and I was curious as to whether playing so much of their music can get heavy. But no, they said,
“they’re too hard to play to be depressed!“
Even the ‘sad’ ones, such as ‘Let Down’, they acknowledged, are actually uplifting and often build. They captured this excellently in the gig, for example, the increase in intensity in ‘How to Disappear Completely’ was very impactful and really stood out to me.
At the gig, I was impressed by the sound they produced and the quality of their playing. They are superbly talented – the songs were played flawlessly and were so tight and well-rehearsed; every member knew exactly what they were doing. With Radiohead, this is crucial – with many layers, changing time signatures and unusual instruments/techniques used, their songs are complex and unpredictable. Demonstrating their versatility, the band members often switched instruments and added new instruments for certain songs, such as a drum machine for ‘Idioteque’, and their stamina is admirable – three straight hours of Radiohead must take some concentration, to say the least! They really captured the essence of Radiohead – from the clips of radio played between songs, to the pre-programmed keyboard sounds, to the tone of the guitars – and the audience loved it. People were dancing and singing the whole way through – there was even a mosh pit towards the end!
The band has had a great turnout since the beginning, with audiences spanning generations, from as young as teens. I wondered what it is about Radiohead that has made them so popular for so long and attract such a wide variety of listeners. Asking OK Computer what they thought, they suggested it might be because Radiohead are constantly evolving – each album is unique, with something for (nearly!) everyone, and they blur boundaries, making it difficult to assign them to a single genre – OK Computer couldn’t even decide between themselves. Another point they raised is that
“Radiohead haven’t sold out to record companies.”
For example, in their rebellion against the dominance and hegemony of major record labels and the imbalanced distribution of funds, meaning artists themselves profit marginally from singles and album sales, their 2007 album In Rainbows (my favourite album, as well as Dave’s) was self-released as a download. With no set price, fans were able to choose how much they paid for the album, which could be as little as nothing (plus an administration fee of 45p). This departure from conventions and widely accepted structures is part of the reason they are such a unique band. They experiment with their music; for example, OK Computer described them as using their instruments like toys. I love this idea – it captures how, like children, they are unconfined by traditional methods and sounds, resulting in much more creative results. It also has a lot to say about what people value in music: authenticity, personality and creativity.
OK Computer is a fantastic tribute to Radiohead, with a deep understanding and genuine appreciation of the band and their music. Individually, they are very talented, and they blend seamlessly into a band together. If you are a Radiohead fan on the Island, I would thoroughly recommend you catch them at one of their next concerts!
A Musician's Corner 