Below are two letters, both sent by Thom Yorke to fans of Radiohead — the first handwritten in 1994, pre-Bends, and the second typewritten in 1996. At this point in their career, Radiohead were still on the lower rungs of the ladder in terms of success, as evidenced by the earlier letter — written in the studio as they recorded Nice Dream — in which Thom jokingly imagines their plectrums being displayed in “Rock Cafés around the world.” The second letter is a brief but sweet note of advice to a girl named Melissa.

Transcripts follow.

(Sources: First submitted by Callum; second via Melissa; Image of Thom Yorke via.)

Image: Callum

Transcript

radiohead

p.o. box 322

oxford

OX4 1BL 23rd March 94 Dearest Rob. Thanks for writing. Wow! Framing T-shirts. Next thing we know we’ll have our plectrums framed in “Rock Café”s around the world! Or not. I’m sitting in the control room of a studio in London. – ‘RAK’ where we’re recording new stuff, for the album & so on. Phil is currently playing a wierd ride cymbal thing on Nice Dream. Jonny’s in the corner drawing with an Apple Mac. Hope you like the new stuff! all love thom

Transcript

thom yorke

w.a.s.t.e. correspondence,

p.o.box 322,

oxford,

ox4 1ey

20/5/96 melissa snyder

103 North St

[Redacted]

U.S.A. dear melissa, i hope you get your wish to leave your town and see the world. the worst feeling in the world is not thinking anybody else feels the same as you, but you’dbe surprised how many people to do. i hope you are feeling okay today love thom