On Thursday, the 13th March, Classic Album Sundays will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Radiohead’s classic album The Bends with the album’s producer John Leckie.
Radiohead’s second album The Bends was released on the 13th March, thirty years ago. It is generally considered to show the remarkable evolution of their sound, which soon made them one of the most acclaimed bands in the world. With a healthy dose of the guitar rock and melancholic pop that characterised breakthrough single “Creep”, it also features beautiful ballads, a new range to Thom Yorke’s voice, blistering riffs and solos from Jonny Greenwood and multiple acoustic treats.
It was produced by John Leckie, one of the most important and distinctive producers in British music. For this special event, John joins Classic Album Sundays founder, radio host and DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy in conversation about the creation of The Bends, followed by an uninterrupted vinyl playback of the full album on British audio brand Bowers & Wilkins’ iconic 800 Series loudspeakers, which were used in the mixing of The Bends at Abbey Road Studios. The evening will wrap up with a Q&A with the audience.
John Leckie has had an extraordinary career. His early career at Abbey Road Studios, saw him working with John Lennon and George Harrison and then as an engineer for Pink Floyd’s Meddle and Wish You Were Here and Paul McCartney and Wings’ Red Rose Speedway. Among much else he then produced Public Image Ltd debut single, a brilliant early sweep of albums by Simple Minds, The Stone Roses stratospheric first LP in 1991 and their classic “Fool’s Gold” as well as Muse and many others.
This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre Pigott Theatre and is also available to watch online. Tickets may be booked to attend in person, or to watch on our platform either live or during the next 7 days on catch up. Viewing links for the online version will be sent out in the confirmation email you receive after booking.
Doors and bar open at 18.00 and the event starts at 7pm and finishes at 9pm. If you’re attending in person please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
