# Radiohead Guitarist Ed O’Brien Shares Personal Music Influences

**Published:** 2026-05-31T08:00:00.000Z  
**Topic:** Music  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/0fb2eb1b-6d96-409e-98f3-7bddd181b0e9

Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien discusses the songs that shaped his life, his evolving taste in music, and his decision to step away from the indie genre.

Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien recently reflected on the music that has defined his life, revealing a diverse range of influences that span from 1970s football anthems to classical compositions [1]. While his career is rooted in the alternative rock scene, O’Brien admits his personal listening habits have shifted significantly over time [1].

**Key takeaways**
* O’Brien’s first music purchase was the 1978 Scottish World Cup song "Ally’s Tartan Army" [1].
* He cites The Police’s "Walking on the Moon" as the song that inspired him to pick up the guitar [1].
* O’Brien states he no longer listens to indie music, noting he has "had his fill" of the genre [1].
* His 2020 solo album, *Earth*, was described as an eclectic project featuring contributions from artists like Laura Marling and Portishead’s Adrian Utley [3].

## A Shift Away From Indie Roots
O’Brien’s relationship with music has evolved from his early days as a fan of The Smiths to his current preference for different soundscapes [1]. He notes that he is "done with guitar music in a way" and specifically avoids listening to indie music, even expressing relief that he no longer has to revisit certain tracks from his own band’s catalog, such as "How Do You?" [1]. Instead, he finds himself drawn to pieces like Bach’s *Mass in B minor* to start his day and appreciates the pop genius of George Michael [1].

Despite his departure from the indie sound, O’Brien’s own creative output has been noted for its ambition [3]. His debut solo album, *Earth*, released in 2020, was the result of years of work and featured a blend of folky ambience and electronic elements [3]. Critics described the project as a departure from his role as a "dedicated team-player" in Radiohead, allowing him to explore his own creative direction with the help of producer Flood [3].

## Emotional Connections to Sound
For O’Brien, music remains deeply tied to personal memory and emotion. He identifies his own track, "Blue Morpho," as a song that makes him cry because it evokes memories of his children’s childhoods spent on a farm in Brazil [1]. He also maintains a pragmatic view of music in intimate settings, suggesting he prefers the natural sounds of wind and water over recorded tracks during those moments [1]. Looking toward the future, O’Brien has selected the final movement of Gabriel Fauré’s *Requiem*, "In Paradisum," as the piece he would like played at his funeral [1].

## Why it matters
O’Brien’s reflections highlight the common trajectory of long-term musicians who eventually seek to move beyond the genres that defined their early success. By stepping into solo work with *Earth*, O’Brien demonstrated a desire to experiment with new textures and collaborations outside of his primary band [3]. His candid admission about his changing tastes offers insight into the personal life of a veteran artist who continues to balance his past legacy with a desire for new, varied auditory experiences [1].

## Sources
1. The Guardian — [‘I don’t listen to indie music any more’: Ed O’Brien’s honest playlist](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/31/ed-obrien-honest-playlist-smiths-george-michael-scotland-1978-world-cup-squad)
2. Wfmu — [WFMU: Atlantic Tunnel with Ed: Playlist from September 5, 2021](https://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/107554)
3. Wrongmog — [EOB: Earth review – Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien goes](http://www.wrongmog.com/2020/04/eob-earth-review-radioheads-ed-obrien-goes-eclectic/)
4. Jonchaisson — [2020 | Walk In Silence](https://jonchaisson.com/tag/2020/)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Radiohead Guitarist Ed O’Brien Shares Personal Music Influences", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/0fb2eb1b-6d96-409e-98f3-7bddd181b0e9