Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien has revealed the band nearly split up during the recording of 2007 album ‘In Rainbows’.

O’Brien cited the lengthy recording process of the album as the cause of the tension. He told Midem.com that at one point, the band’s future was “in the balance”. However, the album’s reception and forward-thinking release made Radiohead vow to carry on.

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“The recording of the album took three years,” O’Brien said. “Which is a long time by anybody’s standards. It’ pretty much half killed us. Whether the band would continue was very much in the balance.”

He added: “It was empowering [the release format]. You can’t put it into a balance sheet, this feeling of empowerment. It completely rejuvenated us as a band. It got the creative juices flowing. You can’t put a price on that. That’s the stuff that keeps you going.”

Radiohead, who are currently working on the follow-up to ‘In Rainbows’, have also announced that they are to play a benefit gig this Sunday (January 24) in Los Angeles at The Music Box Theatre At The Fonda. It’s in aid of Oxfam’s Haiti earthquake emergency response appeal.

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