'High and Dry' performed by Headless Chickens, feat Thom Yorke of Radiohead

An early performance of the song that was recorded by its author a few years later on Radiohead's album, 'The Bends'. Thom was playing with Exeter University band Headless Chickens during term-time, a band which included - among others - Simon Shackleton and John Matthias.

Filmed at the Lemon Grove, Exeter University, c.1990, by Shaun McCrindle.

[nonyashblob]

lol Thom coming in with guitar solos... this really is old school

[MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Just imagine being one of those band members back then. They probably thought it was no big deal playing with their talented but slightly awkward friend Thom Yorke.

[danieljamesmead]

Turn it to 0.75 speed to hear Radiohead

[nieteline]

Also really cool that this was recorded in somewhat OK quality!

[Stevenwwebsite]

I was at this very concert. Couldn't wait for them to leave so the disco could start. As for Thom Yorke, if only I had known....

[BlackAlbino]

I’ve never seen this footage before and it’s been over 20 years since I discovered Radiohead. It’s sounds like the Pixies doing high and dry

[jessica]

This makes you appreciate the whole band (radiohead)

[justinwilson]

2:10 is a mannerism that has stayed with Thom until today. awesome

[qunny]

Damn, Thom really had the voice to pull that awesome voice off and Headless chickens actually really did amazing background music.

[JakeSpurlock]

Man, I really like the pacing of this version. The solo is pretty rad too.

[willscomix]

Sounds like it was a great Pixies show

[Jasonbean]

Thom said High and Dry is for commercial purpose, but this version proves no! This is so great!

[DemiKrueger]

This is so different from the original version! I like it :)

[regularshow]

Realizing that he's my age here made me think what it would be like to just go back in time and see these performances, just watching my peer Thom play what would become one of my favorite songs many years later, knowing that he himself would grow up to be a legend. The fact that no one in that audiance or in that band had a clue feels weirdly nostalgic, even a bit sad somehow.

[jessmoore]

Im in a band myself and I find this so inspiring. It helps that I'm a massive Radiohead fan to I'm sure.

I find it funny that this took so long to make it on to any album. It goes to show how hard it is to judge your own bands songs. This looks like just another song to them, but to the outside world its a masterpiece.

[AugustoGuerrero__Main__]

This is where Thom sees that he needed a good drummer like phil ahaha.

[schprout]

Man imagine being one of the bandmates.And hearing High And Dry from The Bends

[Squall]

A really interesting version of the song. I honestly wish their was a high quality mp3 of this somewhere.

[kiernanhowell-mackinley]

I would have loved to hear a studio-quality recording of this. Shame nothing like that exists.

[lauranikiel]

Late night scrolling through the University mag website brought me here. What a treat! I was in the year below you guys on the Fine Art and Eng Lit course, and I worked behind the bar at the Lemon Grove on Friday nights. I saw at least one Headless gig there - maybe I was in the crowd somewhere that night. Thanks so much for posting these videos!