Oxford, the birthplace of Radiohead, invites you on a 60-minute self-guided audio tour that traces the band's journey from their school days to international fame. This tour takes you through the streets, venues, and hidden corners that played a pivotal role in shaping this iconic band.
Your adventure begins at the O2 Academy on Cowley Road, the filming location for the renowned Creep music video. From there, your route meanders through bohemian East Oxford and into the city centre. You'll visit landmarks such as the New Theatre and the Old Fire Station, where Radiohead performed their earliest gigs.
You'll also have the chance to see Thom Yorke's former residence on St John Street, stroll the streets where Thom and Jonny once busked R.E.M. covers, and uncover the Beat Café that inspired Creep's lyrics. The tour concludes at the Jericho Tavern in Jericho, the venue where Radiohead held their inaugural gig and signed their first record contract. Throughout your journey, you'll learn how Oxford's globally renowned university influenced the band's perspective, how they were discovered by EMI's Keith Wozencroft, and how the city's ambiance and streets seeped into songs like Subterranean Homesick Alien and A Punchup at a Wedding. Your guide for this tour is Albert Genower, a London and Oxford-based music writer who has a keen interest in the intersection of music and local history.
