MAX Masters is a locally produced documentary series delving deep into the history of significant musical talents, taking a retrospective look from the beginning of their career to the present day. This August, our featured artist is the ever innovative UK rock band, Radiohead.

Premiere
Premiere 8:30pm August 5*

Repeats
*Repeat screenings will be posted after premiere

UK alternative rock band Radiohead first came to light as the flames of the Britpop movement became dying embers. Their majestic yet moody sound struck a serious chord and with the release of their stunning, Grammy Award-winning 1997 third LP, OK Computer, solidified their reputation as one of the world's finest rock bands – a box they discarded with their 2000 release, Kid A, which explored innovative, emotionally-charged electronica. They further shook up the industry side of the music world with their groundbreaking #1 record, 2007's In Rainbows.

On A Friday was formed by school friends Thom Yorke (who picked up a guitar aged seven after seeing Queen's Brian May on TV), guitarists Jonny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals) and bassist Colin Greenwood back in 1987, though when university beckoned the group dissolved, reforming four years later as Radiohead ( the name taken from a Talking Heads song).

Creep, the band's first single wasn't initially successful – Radio 1 called Yorke's ballad of self-hatred "too depressing." A year later, it was propelled from Israeli radio to US radio and became their biggest hit – a fact Yorke resisted later on. It was taken from the band's debut LP, Pablo Honey – which was followed by the darker The Bends record in 1995. It was the band's haunting 1997 release, OK Computer that confirmed their musical voice unique. It also earned the band the Best Alternative Album Grammy.

Radiohead could have rested on their laurels as guitar gods who followed in their footsteps cleaned up. But that wasn't their style - in typically defiant fashion, three years later released Kid A. The LP was a groundbreaking collection of electronic music, still as emotionally charged as their earlier works and earning their second Grammy. it was the first of three releases over 18 months – the second, Amnesiac featuring other songs from the sessions and the third a live album. It was followed by 2003's Hail To The Thief – a sonic balance between electronic and organic elements and still intense "uneasy listening" that regardless, built a devoted cult following that also spelled the end of their relationship with EMI.

Free of their label, the band made some adventurous decisions outside of the studio. Frustrated with iTunes refusal to bundle their songs into full albums, they announced they would only be sold through 7digital. As this decision gathered attention, with little fanfare, Yorke released his solo album, The Eraser.

In October 2007, the band announced they had a record ready to be released (In Rainbows) that they would sell exclusively through their website at a price set by the fan, sending shockwaves through the record industry. In June 2008, despite their earlier protests, their Best Of and back catalogue became available on iTunes, propelling their first single back into the charts.

Radiohead have made consistently innovative, emotional music and approached the business the same way. They're undoubtedly one of the most significant UK artists of the latter 20th and early 21st century and are responsible for instigating major shifts in the music world without even trying.