Editing Pablo Honey (section)

==Background==
[[File:Abingdon School, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England-23April2011.jpg|thumb|[[Abingdon School]], Oxfordshire, where Radiohead formed]]
The members of [[Radiohead]] met while attending [[Abingdon School]] in [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon, Oxfordshire]].<ref name="MCLEAN">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/13/1055220766407.html|title=Don't worry, be happy|last=McLean|first=Craig|date=14 July 2003|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=25 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612185044/https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/13/1055220766407.html|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1985, they formed {{nat|On a Friday}}, the name referring to their usual rehearsal day in the school's music room.<ref name="RANDALL3">{{cite journal |author=Mac Randall |date=1 April 1998 |title=The golden age of Radiohead |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/radiohead-interview-golden-age-radiohead |url-status=dead |journal=[[Guitar World]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903205835/http://www.guitarworld.com/radiohead-interview-golden-age-radiohead |archive-date=3 September 2017 |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> They recorded demo tapes, including a cassette unofficially titled ''Manic Hedgehog'', which featured versions of the future ''Pablo Honey'' tracks "You", "I Can't" and "Thinking About You".<ref name="Runtagh-2018" />

One demo attracted the attention of a local producer, Chris Hufford.<ref name="Doyle-2008">{{Cite journal |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=April 2008 |title=The complete Radiohead |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |volume=261 |pages=65–69 |issn=0955-4955}}</ref> He and his business partner, Bryce Edge, became the band's managers after attending a concert at the [[Jericho Tavern]], Oxford.<ref name="Doyle-2008" /> In late 1991, On a Friday signed a six-album recording contract with [[EMI]] and changed their name at EMI's request.{{sfn|Randall|2011|loc=Chapters 3 and 4}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Forde |first=Eamonn |date=18 February 2019 |title=Chasing rainbows: inside the battle between Radiohead and EMI's Guy Hands |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/chasing-rainbows-radiohead-emi-guy-hands-terra-firma |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201073504/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/chasing-rainbows-radiohead-emi-guy-hands-terra-firma |archive-date=1 February 2023 |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Their name was taken from the [[Talking Heads]] song "Radio Head" from the 1986 album ''[[True Stories (Talking Heads album)|True Stories]]''.<ref name="ROSS">{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Alex |date=20 August 2001 |title=The Searchers |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2001/08/20/010820fa_FACT1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214053947/http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html |archive-date=14 February 2008 |access-date=16 March 2011 |newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref>

Radiohead released their debut EP, ''[[Drill (EP)|Drill]]'', in 1992. It was produced by Hufford in his studio, Courtyard Studios, in Oxfordshire.<ref name="Irvin-1997" /> It reached number 101 on the [[UK singles chart]]; the ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' later described it as an "inauspicious start" that drew little attention.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nestruck |first=Kelly |date=9 October 2007 |title=15 years of Radiohead |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2007/oct/09/radiohead |access-date=21 October 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Hufford said producing the EP himself was a mistake, as it created a conflict of interest and generated friction in the studio.<ref name="Irvin-1997" />

Hufford and Edge resolved to find different producers for Radiohead's next recording.<ref name="Irvin-1997" /> [[Independent record label|Independent labels]] dominated the [[indie charts]] in the UK, but EMI was a [[major labels|major label]]. Hufford and Edge therefore planned to have Radiohead use American producers and tour aggressively in America, then return to build a following in the UK.{{sfn|Randall|2011|p=59}} They considered hiring [[Steve Albini]], but he had not yet worked with major acts and EMI felt it was too risky.{{sfn|Randall|2011|p=59}}

Around this time, the American producers [[Paul Q. Kolderie|Paul Kolderie]] and [[Sean Slade]], who had worked with bands including the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]] and [[Dinosaur Jr]],<ref name="RANDALL3" /> were in the UK looking for work.{{sfn|Randall|2011|p=58}} The EMI [[A&R]] director, [[Nick Gatfield]], gave them a selection of acts to consider.{{sfn|Randall|2011|p=59}} They agreed to produce Radiohead after he played them "[[Stop Whispering]]".{{sfn|Randall|2011|p=59}} Kolderie was particularly impressed by [[Thom Yorke]]'s vocals.<ref name="MTV-20">{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=James |date=21 February 2013 |title=Radiohead's ''Pablo Honey'' Turns 20: From 'Creep' To Conquering The World |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3r6mfa/radiohead-pablo-honey-20th-anniversary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003234712/https://www.mtv.com/news/3r6mfa/radiohead-pablo-honey-20th-anniversary |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 October 2022 |access-date=12 June 2024 |publisher=[[MTV]] |language=en}}</ref> Upon meeting the band, Kolderie was struck by their youth, but also their unity and closeness.<ref name="MTV-20" /> He described "a seriousness of purpose and a seriousness of trying to create music that was a little different".<ref name="MTV-20" /> He was initially more impressed by Hufford and Edge than by Radiohead, calling them "crafty mothers ... I don't think I've ever met two guys who had more of a plan."{{sfn|Randall|2011|loc=Chapter 4}}