Thom Yorke

Thom Yorke
Yorke in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Edward Yorke
Also known as	Sisi Bakbak[1] Tchock[2] The White Chocolate Farm Zachariah Wildwood Thmx
Born	(1968-10-07) 7 October 1968 (age 55) Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England
Genres	Alternative rock electronica[3] experimental rock[4]
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter composer
Instrument(s)	Vocals guitar keyboards bass
Years active	1985–present
Labels	XL
Member of	Radiohead The Smile
Formerly of	Atoms for Peace
Spouse(s)	Rachel Owen ​ ​ (m. 2003; sep. 2015)​ Dajana Roncione ​ (m. 2020)​

Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the main vocalist and 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. Their 1992 debut single, "Creep", made Yorke a celebrity, and Radiohead went on to achieve acclaim and sales of more than 30 million albums. Yorke's early influences included alternative rock acts such as Pixies and R.E.M. With Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A (2000), Yorke moved into electronic music, influenced by Warp acts 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, with musicians including Godrich and the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. They released an album, Amok, in 2013. Yorke's second solo album, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, was released in 2014, followed by Anima in 2019. In 2021, Yorke debuted a new band, the Smile, with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and the drummer Tom Skinner. Yorke has collaborated with artists including PJ Harvey, Björk, Flying Lotus and Modeselektor, and has composed for film and theatre, including the films Suspiria (2018) and Confidenza (2024).

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