Drill (EP)
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Drill is the debut EP by the English rock band Radiohead, released in May 1992. It was Radiohead's first commercial release, and attracted little attention, reaching 101 on the UK singles chart. Radiohead rerecorded three Drill songs for their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).
Background
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The members of Radiohead met while attending Abingdon School, an independent school for boys in Abingdon, England.<ref name="MCLEAN">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1985, they formed Template:Nat, the name referring to their usual rehearsal day in the school's music room.<ref name="RANDALL3">Template:Cite journal</ref> They recorded demos including the Manic Hedgehog tape, named after a record shop in Oxford.<ref name="Gilbert-1996">Template:Cite journal</ref>
In late 1991, Radiohead signed a six-album recording contract with EMI<ref name="ROSS">Template:Cite news</ref> and changed their name at EMI's request. "Radiohead" was taken from the song "Radio Head" on the Talking Heads album True Stories (1986).<ref name="ROSS" />
Recording
Radiohead recorded Drill at Courtyard Studios in Oxon, England.<ref name="Randall-2011">Template:Cite book</ref> It was produced by Radiohead's co-manager, Chris Hufford. Hufford said this was a mistake, as it created a conflict of interest and generated friction in the studio.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Drill featured two new recordings, "Prove Yourself" and "Stupid Car"; the other songs were taken from Radiohead's Manic Hedgehog demo.<ref name="Randall-2011" />
Release
Drill was released on 5 May 1992.<ref name="Randall-2011" /> It reached number 101 on the UK singles chart. The Guardian described it as an "inauspicious start" that was "largely ignored".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Radiohead toured with Catherine Wheel and the Sultans of Ping in support of Drill.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> "Prove Yourself" was played on BBC Radio 1 by Gary Davies, Radiohead's first national radio exposure in the UK.<ref name="Randall-2011" />
In 1995, Record Collector described Drill as "abrasive and melancholic by turns", with "the first in a long history of nihilistic one-liners that suggested Thom's worldview was one of genuine self-loathing rather than bathetic self-pity".<ref name="Gilbert-1996" /> The music journalist Mac Randall wrote later: "Even as early as 1992, Thom Yorke's graceful, arrestingly plaintive vocal style was well developed, far more so than the band's songwriting or overall sound."<ref name="Randall-2011" />
Radiohead rerecorded "You", "Prove Yourself" and "Thinking About You" for their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).<ref name="Randall-2011" /> Capitol reissued Drill on vinyl in April 2009.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was added to streaming services in January 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Track listing
Personnel
Credits taken from the Drill credits.
- Thom Yorke – vocals, guitar
- Jonny Greenwood – guitar
- Ed O'Brien – guitar, backing vocals
- Colin Greenwood – bass guitar
- Philip Selway – drums
- Chris Hufford — production and engineering
- Timm Baldwin — mixing