Radiohead

The Bends

First released1994

The Bends was recorded between 1996 and 1997 across multiple studios including RAK Studios and Chadwick Studios in London, as well as locations in Bath and Oxfordshire. The album was produced by John Leckie, known for his work with XTC and Stone Roses, alongside the band themselves, with engineering contributions from Nigel Godrich, who would become a key collaborator on future Radiohead projects. The recording process saw the band experimenting with live instrumentation and fuller arrangements compared to their debut, moving away from the heavier grunge influences toward a more alternative rock sound. Released in March 1997, The Bends represented a transitional period for Radiohead between their commercial success with Pablo Honey and the experimental direction they would pursue on OK Computer later that same year. The album featured a more immediate, guitar-driven production style compared to the electronic and atmospheric elements that would define their subsequent work.