10 Underrated Musicians In Legendary Bands
5. Ed O'Brien - Radiohead
Out of all the bands to emerge out of the '90s rock scene, Radiohead were probably the least likely act to become rockstars. Despite having one of the greatest grunge hits of all time with Creep, their journey into one of the most forward looking rock bands has been a road travelled without the help of the music press. Then again, when you're that reserved, you sometimes miss the raw talent that's right in front of your face.
As much as Jonny Greenwood gets the credit for his exquisite guitar playing and orchestral score, Ed O'Brien is one of the foundations for Radiohead's trademark weirdness. Being the main rock fan in the group, Ed has always stuck by his guitar no matter which genre of music they dabble into, taking in some of the greatest sonic textures on albums like OK Computer.
Even when the band decided to drop what they were doing and go in an electronic direction on Kid A, Ed proved to be one of the most forward looking people in the group, using his guitar less like an instrument and more like a sonic manipulation device, taking bits and pieces of feedback and noise and turning them into the most interesting parts of every song. At a time where rock seems to be on its deathbed, Ed O'Brien's unique approach to guitar is evidence that rock hasn't said its final words yet.