Radiohead: Hysterical and Useless [Paperback]

Martin Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

With their third album, OK Computer, Radiohead are emerging as one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1990s. The distinctive sound of lead singer Thom Yorke's folky voice and dark lyrics set against heavy guitars has gained them fans around the world and already spawned a host of imitators and cover versions. Radiohead is the first book to delve deeply into the history of the band - its origins in Oxford where the band were childhood friends, the breakthrough single 'Creep', the second multi-platinum album The Bends, and the unusual recording sessions for OK Computer. It also examines the psyche and personal demons of the enigmatic Thom Yorke.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... this 'Head tale is still the most substantial book yet on the band of the decade." -- Select January 2000

"...gripping reading from the Radiohead story ... Martin Clarke's ... biography hurtles from school to stadium success ... Clarke's assessment of Radiohead's back catalogue is clear-eyed ... " -- Q January 2000

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Plexus Publishing (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0859652661
• ISBN-13: 978-0859652667
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,704,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars ho hum..., February 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Radiohead: Hysterical and Useless (Paperback)

It is obviously a bit premature to be writing a biography on a band while they're at the height of their career, but you would expect the story to date to be a little more consistent...
The only interesting information the book offers is in the beginning, which describes a little bit of back history and childhood info on Thom Yorke. From this point on its a slapdash of misquoted interviews and half-truths... The book is overladen with mispellings and mistakes (he says at one point that the fan club is called Wasted... ugggg).
What is perhaps most disheartening is how the details seem to peter off towards the middle of the book... He goes into exhaustive detail talking about the making of Ok Computer (all the while offering his own assinine interpretations of the songs) and then almost immediately transforms his writing style into a quick summaration of events. He also blatantly LIES to try to make his point at times... For instance, he tries to claim that KID A was rated poorly by both the American and English press, using a quote from the Rolling Stone review to prove his point, while failing to mention that the very review he was quoting from gave the album 4 Stars... Indeed, the book is entirely composed of half-truths and selective interpretations of events... I think I've met fans who seem to have a better understanding of the band and their songs than this author does...
The book also seems to focus almost entirely around Thom Yorke, as though he were the only reason the band were interesting at all... I'm rather glad that this book is not the only source from which I had gathered information about the band, otherwise I probably would have walked away feeling unimpressed with their story. He fails to capture on every level just why this band is such a phenomenon, missing every point or example that would solidify their brilliance. I would suggest hunting down a copy of the NME collection of interviews (even though that magazine is pathetic) instead of this book, as it shows a much clearer portrait of how the band progressed and got to where they are today. Sad to say, but the interviews seem to be the only glimpse we have at the moment as to what is going through the band member's minds... I think we'll have to wait until their music making carreer is over and the the totality of their work has made its impact before a book such as this one can be complete and worthwhile. Don't waste your time or money on this reader's digest summary of this great band.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars could be better, April 2, 2002

By 

"indiarto" (id) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radiohead: Hysterical and Useless (Paperback)

this book is "good looking". it has many interesting pictures of the band and it has good cover. it's lovely. but this is not for the die hard fan. most of what mr clarke wrote is what we know already, almost nothing new. and a lot of mistake. a lot of misquoted sentences and stuff. spend your money on better book. but if you're still new to radiohead, this book can give you basic information about the band just fine.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Million Dollar Band, March 9, 2000

By 

A. Patel "J.D." (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Radiohead: Hysterical and Useless (Paperback)

This book is one of the few books available on Radiohead, and although I have not had the pleasure of reading the other books, this Radiohead book is great. If you are fan of the eccentric group, you will enjoy reading about the band from the beginning to their current worldwide success. This book will definitely interest you if you love the brilliance that is Radiohead.