10 Bands That Have Musical Alter Egos

There comes a point in every rock band’s tenure when you need to have a bit of a hiatus. Even if these are your best friends that you’ve been playing music with for over a decade, there comes a point when you need some sort of break from the madness and see what else is out there. Though Radiohead have managed to keep themselves fairly level headed throughout their tenure, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood already have a good second outing going for them with the Smile.

As much as this feels more like a side project than a proper alter ego, you can hear the seeds of many different Radiohead songs in the Smile’s debut record. Combing through some of the ballads of the record, Skrting on the Surface has the same sullen quality as the most heart wrenching moments of a Moon Shaped Pool. This isn’t just Thom making another solo project though, with Jonny’s guitar work and attention to detail in the arrangements giving the music a world of its own.

Considering his history making scores, Jonny is practically a veteran of the classical world by rock standards, and has used most of his expertise to create a slightly chaotic sound to every one of these tracks, making you feel like you’re on the verge of a panic attack in some of the more intense moments. There are even some heavy moments here like You’ll Never Work In Television Again that are much more reminiscent of something from the In Rainbows side of the band. After years of breaking down barriers with Radiohead, Thom and Jonny have the perfect outlet for getting their ideas out separated from the main machine.