Radiohead sketchpad from 1993's The Bends era going up for auction

A Radiohead sketchpad, apparently used to curate ideas for their sophomore album The Bends, is going under the hammer.

The English rock outfit rehearsed the infamous album in 1993, in an unused barn at a fruit farm in Oxfordshire.

An anonymous man, who had offered the group instruments and a PA sound system, was given the A2 sketchpad as he cleared out the studio space following one of their sessions.

Over 20 years later, the man is selling the piece of music memorabilia, which is expected to rake in over £10,000.

The sketchpad features hand-drawn drawings, chords and lyrics, with experts saying that the item gives “an insight into a crucial period in the group’s history”.

Speaking about the valuable find, the man said:

“When the sessions were over I went to retrieve my equipment and ‘clear out’ the room. The A2 sketchpad had been left” with “some carpeting that had been used as acoustic treatment. I was informed that anything remaining in the room was not required by the band and should be thrown away or kept by me if I so wished. I kept the sketch pad and discarded the carpeting.”

Workings for two unknown songs, 'Too Easy' and 'Idiot Boy', are contained in its eight pages.

It also contains lyrics for some of the band’s classic songs, including 'Street Spirit (Fade Out)', and notes for an unreleased track, 'Dead Bank Clerk'.

Their debut single, 'Creep', had been a major success. The Bends was released in 1995.

“The Bends was absolutely crucial to the band’s success and the notepad really gives an insight into the fascinating creative process that resulted in the creation of true classic of the genre,” auctioneer Paul Fairweather commented.

Also going under the hammer is a 1960 Fender Precision bass guitar, used by Jonny Greenwood on the same album.

The items will be sold at Omega Auctions in their Music Memorabilia and Vinyl Records sale on February 23rd.

https://open.spotify.com/album/35UJLpClj5EDrhpNIi4DFg?si=q0UsH41_TUeZnCmnNlTaOw