Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien Says They “Subconsciously Killed” “Lift” Because It Would’ve Made Them Too Popular

Yesterday, Radiohead announced the official reissue of their landmark album OK Computer, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of its release. The reissue, dubbed OKNOTOK, features three previously unreleased tracks from the band: “Man of War” (previously “Big Boots”), “I Promise,” and long-awaited fan favorite “Lift.” Acknowledging anticipation around its release, Ed O’Brien spoke to BBC 6 Music about “Lift” this morning. In the chat, he says the song’s initial reception—during their tour with Alanis Morissette ahead of OK Computer—alerted them to its mainstream potential. “If [‘Lift’] had been on that album, it would’ve taken us to a different place,” he says, “and probably we’d have sold a lot more records.” Instead of encouragement, O’Brien says, the pressure “felt like having a gun to your head.” In the end, they “subconsciously killed it,” because “if OK Computer had been [as popular as] Jagged Little Pill, it would’ve killed us.” Listen to the segment below.

Along with the new reissue announcement, the band overhauled their website to feature assorted art from the OK Computer era. It’s complete with click-through text (as seen on recent posters) that reveals conceptual artwork for the album by designer Stanley Donwood and “Tchock” (aka Thom Yorke). Check it out here by clicking “This is the Radiohead website.”

Read Pitchfork’s feature “Why Radiohead Finally Releasing ‘Lift’ Matters,” as well as “Internet Explorers: The Curious Case of Radiohead’s Online Fandom.” Pitchfork recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Radiohead’s OK Computer with a series of features; find them here.

We played that live with Alanis Morissette. It was a really interesting song. The audience, suddenly you’d see them get up and start grooving. It had this infectiousness. It was a big anthemic song. If that song had been on that album, it would've taken us to a different place, and probably we’d have sold a lot more records—if we’d done it right. And everyone was saying this. And I think we subconsciously killed it. If OK Computer had been like a Jagged Little Pill, it would’ve killed us. But “Lift” had this magic about it. But when we got to the studio and did it, it felt like having a gun to your head. There was so much pressure. But saying that, I’ve got a monitor mix, and it is pretty good.

via Jazz Monroe and Noah Yoo