first gig at Jericho Tavern

While each member contributed songs in the band’s early period, Yorke emerged as the main songwriter. According to Colin, the band members picked their instruments because they wanted to play together, rather than through any particular interest: “It was more of a collective angle, and if you could contribute by having someone else play your instrument, then that was really cool.” They played few gigs and focused on rehearsing in village halls. Oxford had an active independent music scene in the late 1980s, but it centred on shoegazing bands such as Ride and Slowdive . On a Friday played their first gig in 1987 at Oxford’s Jericho Tavern .