I can't remember who said this, but I remember reading an interview with someone who stated that in order to be truly great, every band needs a member who kinda sucks...or else they end up sounding like Rush. This is the Ringo Starr theory, if you will. In Radiohead, this member is Ed O'Brien. And for this reason, and many others, Ed is my favorite member of the band.
First of all, at 6 foot 4, Ed towers over the rest of the band. Seeing him and Thom standing next to each other is rather like a scene from Lord of the Rings. Also, Ed is almost always stoned. There are a few songs in which he does not have a part to play...you can generally see him off to the side of the stage smoking up during these songs. Ed is the only one who seems to really enjoy being a rock star, and the most willing to take the piss out of Thom. But beyond this, Ed's limited technical skills have actually forced him to become one of the more interesting players in the band. Basically, he plays effects pedals. Only on the older songs (or the throw backs like Go TO Sleep) do you see him playing a traditional second guitar player's role...most of the time he just makes weird noises.
Airbag is a great example of "What Does Ed Do Exactly" (my favorite game to play at a Radiohead show)...he is the guitar line that comes in at about the 10 second mark...neither that monster riff of Johnny's, nor Thom's crunching rhythm part, but the tinkling little, The Edge inspired bit that comes in underneath it all. Additionally, you get Ed's capable background vocals on the "Woah-oh-oh" part at the end...well, on live versions, Thom usually over dubs him in the studio...
Yes. I do realize I'm a giant nerd.
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