The Bends
Radiohead, 1995. Solo by Jonny Greenwood.
Jonny Greenwood's playing on 'The Bends' mixes crunchy rhythm, sudden bursts of noise and melodic flourishes, all in service of the song's restless energy. His lead lines are short and unpredictable, full of bends and squeals that cut through the dense arrangement. Rather than a traditional solo, the guitar parts act as sharp punctuation, adding tension and release throughout. It's an early example of Greenwood's knack for turning textures into hooks. Listen for the moments where his guitar seems to scream in and out of the mix, jolting the song forward before disappearing again, and how the band leans into the chorus afterward.
The Bends by Radiohead is ranked #120 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Jonny Greenwood and the song was released in 1995. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #7 (NME).
In our lists
- See Them Live — #44
- The Modern Canon: Best Since 1990 — #28
- The 25 Greatest Alternative Rock Guitar Solos — #16
- The 1990s — #21
- SGs & Telecasters — #15
Sources
- NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #7
- The Metal Circus (Spain), reproducing Q magazine: Los 20 mejores solos de guitarra — #19
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #193
Who played the guitar solo on The Bends?
Jonny Greenwood played the solo on Radiohead's The Bends (1995).
What guitar was used on the The Bends solo?
A fender telecaster plus, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does The Bends rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#120 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 3 of them.