NME Magazine 13 December 1997 Radiohead Thom Yorke Chemical Brothers NP009

Original NME (New Musical Express) Magazine, dated 13 December 1997, featuring British alternative rock band Radiohead as the main front-cover attraction.

This vintage issue documents an important period in British music history, capturing Radiohead during their hugely influential OK Computer era, alongside coverage of The Chemical Brothers, The Charlatans, Joy Division, Oasis and numerous other artists.

The front cover features a striking group photograph of Radiohead's five members against a vivid yellow-orange background, with Thom Yorke positioned centrally.

The photograph is credited to Roger Sargent.

The band members are photographed wearing dark clothing, creating a distinctive contrast with the bright background. The large white RADIOHEAD lettering dominates the lower half of the cover.

The main headline reads:

"BARCELONA... BERLIN... BRUM... OK COMPUTER!"

Accompanied by:

"SIX MONTHS ON THE ROAD WITH THE BEST BAND IN BRITAIN"

This makes the issue particularly interesting as a contemporary record of Radiohead's extensive touring activities following the release of OK Computer in 1997.

Radiohead – Six Months on the Road

The main cover story focuses on Radiohead's experiences touring during their OK Computer period.

The cover specifically references Barcelona, Berlin and Birmingham, suggesting a retrospective look at the band's international and British touring schedule.

Released in June 1997, OK Computer became one of the defining alternative rock albums of the decade.

This December 1997 issue captures the band during the same year, when their international reputation was growing considerably.

The cover photograph features the complete five-member Radiohead line-up:

• Thom Yorke – vocals and guitar.

• Jonny Greenwood – guitar and keyboards.

• Ed O'Brien – guitar.

• Colin Greenwood – bass guitar.

• Philip Selway – drums.

The group portrait is particularly appealing to collectors because it features the full band rather than an individual musician.

The large Radiohead headline, distinctive orange background and Roger Sargent photography give the magazine considerable visual appeal as a period music collectible.

The Chemical Brothers and The Charlatans – Live Coverage

The upper-right section advertises:

"BLOCK ROCKIN' GREATS! THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS AND THE CHARLATANS LIVE"

This promotes live music coverage featuring two prominent British acts from the 1990s.

The Chemical Brothers were major figures in electronic dance music and the big beat movement, while The Charlatans were an established British alternative rock band associated with the Madchester and Britpop eras.

Their inclusion provides an interesting contrast to Radiohead's alternative rock sound and demonstrates the broad musical coverage offered by NME.

Joy Division – Retrospective Feature

Another prominent headline reads:

"UNKNOWN TREASURES – THE TRUTH ABOUT JOY DIVISION – BY JOY DIVISION"

This advertises a retrospective feature concerning the influential Manchester post-punk band Joy Division.

The wording suggests a feature drawing upon the band's own recollections or perspectives.

This is an especially interesting inclusion for collectors of Joy Division, Ian Curtis and Manchester post-punk music history.

Oasis – News Coverage

The top banner reads:

"OASIS BOTTLED OFF – PAGE 3"

This advertises a contemporary Oasis news story.

The headline provides another connection to the British music scene of late 1997, during the period following the release of Oasis's third studio album, Be Here Now.

Other Featured Artists

The lower cover advertises additional music and entertainment coverage involving:

• Texas – Scottish pop rock band.

• Busta Rhymes – American rapper.

• AC/DC – Australian hard rock band.

• The Lightning Seeds – British alternative rock and pop band.

• The Hybirds – British indie rock group.

• Atari Teenage Riot – German digital hardcore group.

• Gene – British alternative rock band.

• Metalheadz – influential drum and bass record label and collective.

This selection reflects the diversity of NME's music coverage in 1997, combining alternative rock, Britpop, hip-hop, electronic dance music, hard rock and drum and bass.

New Year's Eve Gig Listings

The bottom of the cover advertises:

"AND BOOK NOW! THE BEST NIGHTS OUT FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE!"

This promotes contemporary concert and entertainment listings for the approaching New Year celebrations.

These listings may be of interest to collectors researching the British live music and nightlife scene at the end of 1997.

Collector Interest

This issue is particularly appealing because it features Radiohead during their original OK Computer touring period.

The full-band cover photograph, Roger Sargent photography credit and six-month touring retrospective make it a desirable period publication for Radiohead enthusiasts.

The additional coverage of Joy Division, The Chemical Brothers, The Charlatans and Oasis further enhances its appeal to collectors of British alternative music history.

Magazine / Item Details

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition with visible age-related handling and storage wear.

The following assessment is based on the single supplied front-cover photograph.

Front Cover: The main Radiohead group photograph remains clearly presented, with the vivid yellow-orange background and large white headline still visually striking. There is visible surface waviness, light creasing and general handling wear.

Spine / Left Edge: The left-hand folded edge shows noticeable creasing and compression. Some unevenness is visible along the paper edge, particularly around the middle and lower sections.

Right Edge: The right-hand edge appears slightly wavy and uneven, with minor roughness and light fraying consistent with the thin newspaper-style paper stock.

Top Edge: The upper edge shows mild waviness, light curling and handling wear. The top-right corner appears slightly bent and softened.

Bottom Edge: The bottom margin shows visible creasing, minor compression and unevenness. There is some light bending towards the lower corners.

Corners: The lower-left corner shows softening and minor wear. The lower-right corner has slight bending and compression. The upper corners also show signs of previous handling.

Discolouration: Age-related yellowing and toning are visible around the pale outer margins, particularly along the right-hand and lower edges.

Surface Marks: Light scuffs, rubbing and minor marks are visible. There are faint horizontal creases across portions of the cover, although the main Radiohead photograph and printed text remain readable.

Tears / Damage: No obvious major tears or large missing sections are visible on the photographed front cover. Minor edge irregularities are present.

Interior Pages: The interior pages and back cover have not been photographed, so their condition and completeness cannot be fully assessed.

Overall, this is a vintage reading and collecting copy showing age-related handling and storage wear, while retaining an attractive and distinctive Radiohead cover.

Please examine the supplied photograph carefully, as it forms an important part of the condition description.

Packaging & Postage

The magazine will be carefully and safely folded and packed inside a protective cardboard box for posting.

It will be securely packed to help reduce the risk of crushing, excessive bending and further damage during transit.