Editing The Bends (album) (section)

== Release ==
In September 1994, [[EMI]] released the ''[[My Iron Lung]]'' EP, comprising "My Iron Lung" plus ''Bends'' outtakes.<ref name="Randall-2015" /> "My Iron Lung" was also released as a single.{{sfn|Randall|2000|pp=98–99}} The A&R VP Perry Watts-Russel said EMI did not pursue radio play as "My Iron Lung" was intended for fans rather than as the [[lead single]] for ''The Bends''.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 25, 1995 |title=Radiohead creeps past early success |url=http://www.greenplastic.com/coldstorage/articles/billboard22595.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106134201/http://www.greenplastic.com/coldstorage/articles/billboard22595.html |archive-date=6 January 2022 |access-date=6 January 2022 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

''The Bends'' was released at the height of Britpop, when the British music charts were dominated by bands such as [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] and [[Blur (band)|Blur]], and initially made little impact.<ref name="Observer">{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Jude |author-link=Jude Rogers |date=2024-09-29 |title='It commemorates collective moments': Radiohead through the eyes of Colin Greenwood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/29/radiohead-colin-greenwood-photography-how-to-disappear#comments |access-date=2024-09-29 |work=[[The Observer]] |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> It was released in Japan on 8 March 1995 by EMI,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 1995 |title=ザ・ベンズ/レディオヘッド |trans-title=''The Bends'' / Radiohead |magazine=[[Rockin'On Japan|Rockin'On]] |language=ja |issue=276 |access-date=}}</ref> and in the UK on 13 March by [[Parlophone Records]].<ref name="mojo2">{{cite book |last=Anon. |title=[[The Mojo Collection]] |publisher=[[Canongate Books]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84767-643-6 |editor-last=Irvin |editor-first=Jim |editor-link=Jim Irvin |edition=4th |page=619 |chapter=Radiohead — ''The Bends'' |editor2-last=McLear |editor2-first=Colin}}</ref> It spent 16 weeks on the [[UK Albums Chart]], reaching number four.<ref>{{cite web |title=Radiohead charts |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/radiohead/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019225428/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/radiohead/ |archive-date=19 October 2013 |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> On the same day as the UK release, Radiohead's performance at the [[London Astoria]] in May 1994 was released on VHS as ''[[Live at the Astoria]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=2020-05-27 |title=Radiohead to stream classic ''Live at the Astoria'' show in full |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-to-stream-classic-live-at-the-astoria-show-in-full-2677066 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=[[NME]] |archive-date=6 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606082132/https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-to-stream-classic-live-at-the-astoria-show-in-full-2677066 |url-status=live }}</ref> including several ''Bends'' tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-28 |title=Radiohead streaming 1994 show Live at the Astoria on YouTube: Watch |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/05/radiohead-1994-show-live-at-the-astoria-youtube/ |access-date=2020-06-02 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |language=en-US |archive-date=14 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614144810/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/05/radiohead-1994-show-live-at-the-astoria-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In the US, ''The Bends'' was released on 4 April by EMI's North American subsidiary, [[Capitol Records]].<ref name="mojo2" /> According to the journalist [[Tim Footman]], Capitol almost refused to release it, feeling it lacked hit singles.<ref>{{cite book |last=Footman |first=Tim |title=Radiohead: A Visual Documentary |publisher=Chrome Dreams |year=2002 |isbn=9781842401798 |page=41}}</ref> It debuted at the bottom of the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] in the week of 13 May<ref>{{cite magazine |date=13 May 1995 |title=Billboard 200 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-05-13 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912080132/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-05-13 |archive-date=12 September 2015 |access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref> and reached number 147 in the week of 24 June.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=24 June 1995 |title=Billboard 200 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-06-24 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622011554/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-06-24 |archive-date=22 June 2015 |access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref> However, its US sales slowly improved.<ref name="Walters-2017">{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Barry |date=2017-03-21 |title=What it felt like to review ''OK Computer'' when it first came out |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10039-what-it-felt-like-to-review-ok-computer-when-it-first-came-out/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> It re-entered the chart in the week of 17 February 1996,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=17 February 1996 |title=Billboard 200 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1996-02-17 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003103412/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1996-02-17 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref> and reached number 88 on 20 April,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=20 April 1996 |title=Billboard 200 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1996-04-20 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003103303/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1996-04-20 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref> almost exactly a year after its release. On 4 April, ''The Bends'' was [[Certified Gold|certified gold]] in the US for sales of half a million copies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103185214/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |archive-date=3 January 2016 |access-date=23 April 2015 |website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref> Though it remains Radiohead's lowest-charting album in the US, it was certified platinum in January 1999 for sales of one million copies.<ref>{{cite web |title=RIAA Gold and Platinum Searchable Database |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103185214/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |archive-date=3 January 2016 |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}} Note: reader must define search parameter as "Radiohead".</ref>

Interest from influential musicians such as the [[R.E.M.]] vocalist [[Michael Stipe]], combined with several distinctive music videos, helped sustain Radiohead's popularity outside the UK.<ref name="Randall">Randall, p. 127</ref> The US critic Barry Walters wrote that the videos "confirmed that this was a band that was nailing the sweet spot between accessibility and mystery".<ref name="Walters-2017" /> "Fake Plastic Trees" was used in the 1995 film ''[[Clueless]]'' and is credited for introducing Radiohead to a larger American audience.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Al |first1=Horner |last2=Twells |first2=John |last3=Lobenfeld |first3=Claire |date=2016-04-13 |title=Radiohead on film: The 9 best uses of their songs on screen |url=https://www.factmag.com/2016/04/13/radiohead-best-tv-film-song-moments/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]] |language=en-US |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924002152/https://www.factmag.com/2016/04/13/radiohead-best-tv-film-song-moments/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the [[MTV]] host [[Matt Pinfield]], record companies would ask why MTV kept promoting ''The Bends'' when it was selling less than their albums; his reply was: "Because it's great!"<ref name="Dombal-2017">{{Cite web |last=Dombal |first=Ryan |date=21 March 2017 |title=This is what you get: an oral history of Radiohead's "Karma Police" video |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10036-this-is-what-you-get-an-oral-history-of-radioheads-karma-police-video/ |access-date=2021-07-05 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en |archive-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132655/https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10036-this-is-what-you-get-an-oral-history-of-radioheads-karma-police-video/?mbid=social_facebook |url-status=live }}</ref> Yorke thanked Pinfield by giving him a gold record of ''The Bends.<ref name="Dombal-2017" />''

''The Bends'' slowly found fans through word of mouth.<ref name="Observer" /> Selway credited the videos for helping ''The Bends'' "gradually seep into people's consciousness".<ref name="Stereogum-2015" /> Colin Greenwood wrote later: "I spoke to so many music writers who'd received ''The Bends'' as a promo, left it to gather dust on top of their PC tower, and hadn't bothered to play it until word of mouth nudged them."<ref name="Observer" /> By the end of 1996, ''The Bends'' had sold around two million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=22 February 1997 |title=UK Brits Around the World |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-02-22-OCR-Page-0048.pdf |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=50 |access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> In the UK, it was certified platinum in February 1996 for sales of over 300,000, and was certified quadruple platinum in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=BPI Certified Awards Search |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |archive-date=21 October 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181021092428/https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ |url-status=live }} Note: reader must define search parameter as "The Bends".</ref>

=== Singles ===
According to Hufford, American audiences were disappointed by the lack of a "Creep"-style song on ''The Bends''. In response, Capitol chose "Fake Plastic Trees" as the first US single, to further distance Radiohead from "Creep".<ref name="Gilbert-1996">{{Cite journal |last=Gilbert |first=Pat |date=November 1996 |title=Radiohead |journal=[[Record Collector]]}}</ref> It failed to enter the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], but reached number 20 on the [[UK singles chart]].{{sfn|Randall|2012}} "Just", released in the UK on August 21, reached number 19. It was not released as a single in the US, but its music video, directed by [[Jamie Thraves]], received attention there.{{sfn|Randall|2012}} The next US single, the [[Double A-Side|double A-side]] "High and Dry" and "Planet Telex", reached number 78.{{sfn|Randall|2012}} "Street Spirit (Fade Out)", released in January 1996, reached number five on the UK singles chart, surpassing "Creep" and demonstrating that Radiohead were not [[one-hit wonder]]s.{{sfn|Randall|2012}} "The Bends" was released as a single in Ireland and reached number 26 on the [[Irish Singles Chart]] in August 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Bends |url=http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=The+Bends |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=[[Irish Singles Chart]] |archive-date=9 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709132852/http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=The+Bends |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Tours ===
Radiohead toured extensively for ''The Bends'', with performances in North America, Europe and Japan.{{sfn|Randall|2012}} They first toured in support of [[Soul Asylum]], then R.E.M., one of their formative influences and one of the world's biggest rock bands at the time.<ref name="Randall" /> Yorke said about the tour with R.E.M: "Everything that we've come to expect was completely turned on its head. Like the idea that you get to a certain level and you lose it. Everything was amicable and there was no bitchiness or pettiness about it."<ref name="Gilbert-1996" /> The US tour included a performance at the [[KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas]] concert at the [[Universal Amphitheatre]] in Los Angeles, alongside [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Alanis Morissette]], [[No Doubt]] and [[Porno for Pyros]]. The Capitol employee Clark Staub described the performance as a "key stepping stone" for Radiohead in the US.{{sfn|Randall|2012}}

Before a performance in New York City, Yorke suffered a breakdown and begged Radiohead's tour manager to book him a flight home; he was persuaded to stay by his bandmates.<ref name="Dalton-2016" /> In November 1995, Yorke became sick and collapsed on stage at a show in Munich. ''NME'' covered the incident in a story titled "Thommy's Temper Tantrum". Yorke said it was the most hurtful thing anyone had written about him, and refused to give interviews to ''NME'' for five years.<ref name="Dalton-2016" /> Before a performance in Denver, Colorado, Radiohead's tour van was stolen and with it their musical equipment. Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed a stripped-down set with rented instruments and several shows were cancelled. Greenwood was reunited with his stolen [[Fender Telecaster Plus]] in 2015 after a fan recognised it as one they had purchased in Denver in the 1990s.<ref name="StolenEquipment2">{{cite news |last=Enriquez |first=Julio |date=23 February 2015 |title=Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood reunited with guitar stolen in Denver in 1995 |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2015/02/23/radioheads-jonny-greenwood-reunited-guitar-stolen-in-denver-in-1995/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923200713/https://www.denverpost.com/2015/02/23/radioheads-jonny-greenwood-reunited-guitar-stolen-in-denver-in-1995/ |archive-date=23 September 2018 |access-date=11 January 2019 |work=[[Denver Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In March 1996, Radiohead toured the US again and performed on ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' and ''[[120 Minutes]]''. In mid-1996, they played at European festivals including [[Pinkpop Festival|Pinkpop]] in Holland, [[Torhout-Werchter|Tourhout Werchter]] in Belgium and [[T in the Park]] in Scotland.{{sfn|Randall|2012}} That August, Radiohead toured as the opening act for Alanis Morissette,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Moran |first=Caitlin |author-link=Caitlin Moran |date=July 1997 |title=Everything was just fear. |journal=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |page=84}}</ref> performing early versions of songs from their next album, ''[[OK Computer]]''.<ref name="Rhapsody in Gloom">{{citation |last=Greene |first=Andy |title=Radiohead's rhapsody in gloom: ''OK Computer'' 20 years later |date=31 May 2017 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/exclusive-thom-yorke-and-radiohead-on-ok-computer-w484570 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531145331/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/exclusive-thom-yorke-and-radiohead-on-ok-computer-w484570 |url-status=live |archive-date=31 May 2017}}</ref> Morissette said later: "It was really grounding for me to be with such bona-fide-to-the-bone artists. It felt really validating because the industry was very wild and patriarchal, so to be on the road with such true savants was a gift for me."<ref name="Greene-2017" />