The Bends

When you dive into the structure of The Bends, you encounter a song that unfolds in five distinct parts, a complexity that sets it apart within its own album. Originally conceived as The Benz, this piece was born in 1992, a time marked by the grunge scene, even before Creep or the first album by Radiohead saw the light of day. The very Thom Yorke described it as a kind of "Bowie pastiche", and while some critics interpreted it as a reflection on the unexpected success of Creep and the "one-hit wonder" label, Yorke himself pointed out that the intention was more humorous and that the lyrics had been misunderstood. The final recording, produced by John Leckie, was made at Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, England, and became one of the tracks the band has performed most live.

The story of how it came to be part of the album The Bends is an interesting journey. In 1992, a four-track demo was recorded during the Pablo Honey sessions. Later, in March 1993, another demo was made with live sound engineer Jim Warren at Courtyard Studios in Oxfordshire, alongside High and Dry. After the Pablo Honey tour, this demo reached producer John Leckie to work on the second album. There was a moment when it was considered as a possible single to follow Creep. The first recordings took place at RAK Studios in London between February and May 1994. Then, the band spent two weeks at Manor Studio in July 1994, working on The Bends. According to drummer Philip Selway, the version that ended up on the album was recorded in a single take, aiming to leave the studio to see a house. However, there are records indicating that multiple takes were worked on. The RAK version, which was never released, was mixed by Leckie at Abbey Road Studios. In Ireland, The Bends was released as the sixth and final single from the album on July 26, 1996, reaching number 26 on the Irish singles chart.