Jonny Greenwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonny Greenwood
Greenwood in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood
Born	(1971-11-05) 5 November 1971 (age 53) Oxford, England
Genres	Alternative rock electronica art rock experimental rock
Occupations	Musician composer
Instruments	Guitar keyboards ondes Martenot bass
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Nonesuch XL Parlophone WEA Trojan Sanctuary Capitol Lakeshore

Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood (born 5 November 1971) is an English musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and keyboard player for the rock band Radiohead. He has also written music for many films. Many magazines, including Rolling Stone, have called him one of the greatest guitarists.

Jonny Greenwood formed Radiohead with his older brother, Colin, while they were at school. Their first song, "Creep" (1992), became famous for Jonny's powerful guitar playing. Radiohead has sold over 30 million albums and is very well-known. In 2019, he was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Radiohead.

Greenwood can play many instruments. He is especially known for playing the ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument. He uses electronic music techniques like programming and looping. He also creates his own music software. Jonny helps turn Thom Yorke's song ideas into finished Radiohead songs. He is the only member of Radiohead with classical music training. He has written music for orchestras like the London Contemporary Orchestra.

Greenwood released his first solo music in 2003, which was the soundtrack for the film Bodysong. He has worked with director Paul Thomas Anderson on several films, starting with There Will Be Blood in 2007. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his music in Anderson's Phantom Thread (2018). He received another nomination for The Power of the Dog (2021). Greenwood also wrote music for films by Lynne Ramsay, such as We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011). In 2021, Greenwood started a new band called the Smile with Thom Yorke and drummer Tom Skinner.

Early Life and Music

Jonny Greenwood was born in Oxford, England, on 5 November 1971. His brother, Colin Greenwood, who plays bass in Radiohead, is two years older. Their father was an expert in bomb disposal for the British Army.

When Jonny was a child, his family listened to a few music cassettes in their car. These included classical music like Mozart's horn concertos and musicals like My Fair Lady. He would listen closely to the car engine's noise, trying to remember every detail of the music. His older brothers and sisters introduced him to rock bands like the Beat. He said his first concert, the Fall in 1988, was "overwhelming."

The Greenwood brothers went to Abingdon School, a private school for boys. The music director there remembered Jonny as a "charming student" who loved music. Jonny's first instrument was a recorder, which he got when he was four or five. He played baroque music in recorder groups as a teenager. He also played the viola in a youth orchestra, which helped him understand how orchestras work. Greenwood also spent time programming computers, making simple games. He enjoyed getting "closer to the bare bones of the computer."

Forming a Band

At Abingdon, the Greenwood brothers, along with singer Thom Yorke, guitarist Ed O'Brien, and drummer Philip Selway, formed a band called On a Friday. Jonny was the youngest and the last to join.

At first, Jonny played harmonica and keyboards for On a Friday. Their previous keyboard player had been too loud, so Jonny played with his keyboard turned off for months! No one in the band noticed, and Thom Yorke even told him he added an "interesting texture." Jonny secretly learned to play chords at home and slowly started turning his keyboard up. He eventually became the band's lead guitarist.

Even after the other band members left school for university, they kept practicing on weekends and holidays. Jonny studied music in school, learning about how to arrange music.

Music Career

Early Success with Radiohead

In 1991, the members of On a Friday reunited in Oxford. Jonny Greenwood had started studying psychology and music at Oxford Brookes University. However, he left after his first term when the band signed a record deal with EMI. He joked that he was "headed for the back of the viola section at some minor orchestra."

The band changed their name to Radiohead and released their first album, Pablo Honey, in 1993. Their first song, "Creep" (1992), became a big hit. Rolling Stone magazine said that Jonny's "gnashing noise blasts" showed that Radiohead was more than just another sad band. This aggressive guitar style became a key part of Radiohead's sound.

Growing Fame

Radiohead's second album, The Bends (1995), brought them a lot of attention from music critics. Jonny said it was a "turning point" for the band. While on tour, he damaged his hearing and sometimes wore ear protection during performances.

Their third album, OK Computer (1997), was highly praised. It showed off Jonny's lead guitar work on songs like "Paranoid Android". For the song "Climbing up the Walls," Jonny wrote a part for 16 string instruments playing slightly out of tune, inspired by the composer Krzysztof Penderecki.

New Sounds and Film Scores

Radiohead's albums Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) had a very different sound. They used electronic music, classical music, and jazz influences. Jonny used a special electronic synthesizer to create the drum rhythm for "Idioteque." He also played the ondes Martenot on several songs.

For "How to Disappear Completely," Jonny created a string section by recording his ondes Martenot many times. The orchestra musicians found his music challenging to play at first, but they worked with his unique ideas. Jonny also arranged strings for other songs like "Pyramid Song."

For Radiohead's sixth album, Hail to the Thief (2003), Jonny started using a music programming language called Max. This allowed him to sample and change the band's playing. He also challenged himself to create interesting guitar parts without using many effects pedals.

Solo Work and Orchestral Music

In 2003, Jonny released his first solo work, the soundtrack for the film Bodysong. This music combined guitar, jazz, and classical styles. He played instruments like the ondes Martenot, banjo, and vocoder.

In 2004, Jonny's first piece for an orchestra, Smear, was performed by the London Sinfonietta. In 2005, he organized a concert where he performed a new version of Smear and other classical pieces. He also played two Radiohead songs with Thom Yorke.

In May 2004, Jonny became a composer-in-residence for the BBC Concert Orchestra. This meant he would learn more about how orchestras work. For the BBC, he wrote "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" (2005), which was inspired by radio static and the complex sounds of Penderecki. He won Composer of the Year from BBC Radio 3 for this piece.

In 2005, Jonny and Radiohead drummer Philip Selway appeared in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as members of the wizard rock band Weird Sisters.

Film Music and New Projects

Jonny composed the music for the 2007 film There Will Be Blood, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The soundtrack won several awards. In 2016, famous film composer Hans Zimmer called the music "recklessly, crazily beautiful."

In 2007, Jonny also put together a collection of reggae songs called Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller. Radiohead released their seventh album, In Rainbows, in October 2007. They famously let people pay what they wanted for the album. Jonny said they were responding to the trend of downloading free music.

In 2010, Jonny debuted a new song called "Doghouse." He later expanded it into the music for the Japanese film Norwegian Wood. Radiohead's eighth album, The King of Limbs (2011), used special software written by Jonny. By 2011, Radiohead had sold over 30 million albums. That year, Jonny also wrote the music for the film We Need to Talk About Kevin.

In 2012, Jonny composed the music for Paul Thomas Anderson's film The Master. That same year, Jonny and Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki released an album together. It included Penderecki's older works and Jonny's "Popcorn Superhet Receiver," plus a new piece by Jonny.

Jonny also spent three months working with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney and wrote a new piece called "Water."

Collaborations and Recent Work

Jonny composed the music for Anderson's film Inherent Vice (2014). It included a new version of an unreleased Radiohead song called "Spooks."

In 2014, Jonny performed with the London Contemporary Orchestra, playing music from his film scores and new songs. He also performed with Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur and his band. Jonny described Ben Tzur's music as "celebratory" and like gospel music, but with Indian instruments.

In 2015, Jonny, Shye Ben Tzur, and producer Nigel Godrich recorded an album called Junun with Indian musicians in India. Jonny wanted to use only musicians and string instruments from that region. The recording was featured in a 2015 documentary film also called Junun, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Jonny helped with string arrangements for Frank Ocean's 2016 albums Endless and Blonde. Radiohead's ninth album, A Moon Shaped Pool, was released in May 2016. It featured strings and choir vocals arranged by Jonny.

Jonny wrote the music for Anderson's 2017 film Phantom Thread. This music was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. He also wrote music for Lynne Ramsay's film You Were Never Really Here (2017). In 2019, Jonny debuted his composition "Horror Vacui" for solo violin and 68 string instruments at the BBC Proms in London.

In March 2019, Jonny was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Radiohead. He did not attend the event, saying he felt uncomfortable with such public recognition. In September, he started a record label called Octatonic Records to release contemporary classical music.

For the music of The Power of the Dog (2021), Jonny played the cello like a banjo. He also recorded a piece for a player piano controlled by software. This soundtrack earned him his second Academy Award nomination. For the film Spencer (2021), Jonny combined Baroque and jazz styles in his music. He also contributed music to Anderson's 2021 film Licorice Pizza.

The Smile and Recent Projects

In 2021, Jonny started a new band called the Smile with Thom Yorke and jazz drummer Tom Skinner. Jonny said it was a way for him and Thom to work together during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The Smile made their first public appearance at Glastonbury Festival in May 2021.

Critics said the Smile sounded like a simpler, but more complex, version of Radiohead. They explored progressive rock influences with unusual rhythms. In May 2022, the Smile released their first album, A Light for Attracting Attention, and started touring. Jonny and Thom also contributed music to the TV show Peaky Blinders.

In June 2023, Jonny and Israeli musician Dudu Tassa released Jarak Qaribak. This album featured new versions of Middle Eastern love songs. Jonny said they tried to imagine what the band Kraftwerk would have done if they were in Cairo in the 1970s. A tour for Jarak Qaribak was canceled in 2023 due to the Gaza war.

In January 2024, the Smile released their second album, Wall of Eyes. In May, Jonny's long organ composition, "X Years of Reverb," premiered at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. This piece is eight hours long and is played by organists in shifts. Jonny wrote it after helping charities repair churches damaged by an earthquake near his home in Italy.

In May 2024, Jonny joined protests in Israel calling for new leadership and the release of hostages. He and Dudu Tassa performed songs from Jarak Qaribak in Tel Aviv. This performance was criticized by some activists. Jonny responded that Israeli artists should not be silenced and that his project was about musicians working together across borders.

In July 2024, the Smile canceled their European tour because Jonny was temporarily in the hospital with a serious infection. In October, Jonny said he was mostly recovered and focusing on film music. The Smile's third album, Cutouts, was released that month. Jonny also scored his sixth film for Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another, which is expected in September 2025.

In May 2025, Jonny and Dudu Tassa's performances in Bristol and London were canceled due to "credible threats." They said the cancellations were censorship and highlighted the mixed backgrounds of the performers.

How He Plays Music

Guitar Style

Greenwood playing bowed guitar

Jonny Greenwood is Radiohead's lead guitarist. He is known for his strong and energetic playing style. Guitar.com described his playing on Radiohead's first album as an "exciting mix of sounds." In the 1990s, Jonny developed a repetitive stress injury and had to wear a brace on his arm.

Jonny has said he doesn't like the idea of guitars being "worshipped." He sees them as a tool, like a typewriter. He also said he dislikes guitar solos where you can hear the player carefully thinking about each note. He finds it more interesting to write something that is quick and exciting.

Jonny often uses a Fender Telecaster Plus guitar and Vox AC30 and Fender 85 amplifiers. He uses a special switch on his guitar to create a stuttering effect on songs like "Airbag." For softer songs, he plays a Fender Starcaster and sometimes uses a cello bow on it. For his solo work and with the Smile, he plays a Gibson Les Paul. For bass, he uses a Fender Precision Bass with a strong picking style.

He uses a Marshall ShredMaster for distorted sounds on many 1990s Radiohead songs. He also uses a DigiTech Whammy pedal to change the pitch of his guitar, creating a "glitchy" sound. He has used a Roland RE-201 Space Echo unit on several albums. On some songs, he uses a delay effect to create sharp, synchronized repeats.

Many publications have recognized Jonny as a great guitarist. In 2008, Guitar World named his solo in "Paranoid Android" the 34th greatest. In 2010, NME called him one of the greatest living guitarists. Rolling Stone ranked him among the top guitarists in 2011 and 2023.

Ondes Martenot

Greenwood performing on an ondes Martenot in 2010

Jonny Greenwood is a well-known player of the ondes Martenot. This is an early electronic instrument that makes sounds similar to a theremin. Jonny calls it "the most expressive electronic instrument ever invented." He first used it on Radiohead's 2000 album Kid A. It can be heard on songs like "The National Anthem" and "How to Disappear Completely."

Jonny became interested in the ondes Martenot when he was 15 after hearing Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony. He said he was drawn to it because he can't sing, and he wanted an instrument that sounded like singing. Since the ondes Martenot is no longer made, Jonny had a copy made for touring so he wouldn't damage his original one.

Other Instruments and Sounds

Jonny plays many other instruments, including piano, viola, cello, glockenspiel, harmonica, recorder, organ, banjo, and harp. He enjoys "struggling with instruments I can't really play."

He created the rhythm for "Idioteque" using a modular synthesizer. He also used a Kaoss Pad to change Thom Yorke's vocals during live performances of "Everything in Its Right Place." Jonny is fascinated by Indian instruments, especially the tanpura, which creates complex "walls" of sound.

Jonny uses a "home-made sound machine" with small hammers hitting objects like yogurt cartons and bells. He also uses found sounds, like a television and a transistor radio, in songs such as "Climbing Up the Walls."

Software and Songwriting

Jonny started using the music programming language Max at the suggestion of Radiohead's producer, Nigel Godrich. He found it freeing to create his own sound effects from scratch. Examples of his use of Max include the processed piano on "Glass Eyes" and his unique "stutter" guitar effect. He used Max to write software for creating Radiohead's album The King of Limbs.

Jonny is the only member of Radiohead with classical music training. He sees his role in Radiohead as an arranger, helping to make Thom Yorke's song ideas even better. He has said he is the most impatient member of Radiohead and would prefer records to come out more often, even if they are "90 percent as good."

Jonny has made important contributions to Radiohead songs like "Just" (which Thom Yorke called a "competition" to get many chords into a song), "My Iron Lung", and the vocal melody of "Kid A."

For his film music, Jonny tries to use instruments that fit the time period of the story. For example, for the Norwegian Wood soundtrack, he used a 1960s Japanese guitar and old recording equipment. Many of his compositions use microtonal sounds, which are notes between the usual notes on a piano. He often uses special musical scales. Jonny has also used unusual ways to write down his music, like drawing an oak leaf on a music staff for one piece.

Musical Influences

Jonny admires alternative rock bands like Pavement, the Pixies, and Sonic Youth. He said the guitarist who influenced him most was John McGeoch of the band Magazine.

He first heard Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony when he was 15 and became "obsessed" with it. Messiaen was his first connection to classical music and remains an influence. Jonny also admires composers like György Ligeti and Steve Reich. He has performed Reich's guitar piece Electric Counterpoint. He also mentioned jazz musician Alice Coltrane as an influence.

Jonny learned about Middle Eastern music through his wife's family. He admires the sounds and complex rhythms in songs by artists like Abdel Halim Hafez. He enjoys how the rhythms can be a bit unclear, making it hard to tell where the first beat is.

Personal Life

Jonny Greenwood is married to Israeli visual artist Sharona Katan. They met in 1993 when Radiohead performed in Israel. Her artwork appears on the covers of Junun and some of Jonny's film soundtracks. Sharona has said their family is Jewish, and they celebrate Jewish holidays. Jonny's nephew, who served in the Israel Defence Forces, was killed in the ongoing Gaza war.

Jonny and his family live in Oxford, England, and in Marche, Italy. In 2021, Jonny appeared on a BBC radio show and chose "Sweetheart Contract" by Magazine and "Brotherhood of Man" by Oscar Peterson as his favorite songs. Jonny is red–green color blind. In April 2023, he started selling olive oil from his farm in Italy through Radiohead's online shop.

Discography

Collaborative Albums

Soundtracks

Compilations

EPs

Other Appearances

• 1992 – Blind Mr. Jones, "Crazy Jazz" – harmonica
• 1999 – Pavement, Terror Twilight – harmonica on "Platform Blues" and "Billie"
• 2002 – Bryan Ferry, Frantic – guitar
• 2006 – Thom Yorke, The Eraser – piano on "The Eraser"
• 2009 – Dudu Tassa – Basof Mitraglim Le'Hakol
• 2010 – Bryan Ferry, Olympia – guitar
• 2011 – We Need to Talk About Kevin – score
• 2014 – Steve Reich, Radio Rewrite – "Electric Counterpoint"
• 2016 – Frank Ocean, Endless – string arrangement
• 2016 – Frank Ocean, Blonde – string arrangement
• 2021 – Licorice Pizza (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack) – "Licorice Pizza"
• 2023 – The Pretenders, Relentless – string arrangement for "I Think About You Daily"
• 2024 – Dudu Tassa & The Kuwaitis, Dudu Tassa & The Kuwaitis (2024 Reissue) – "Eshrab Kasak Withana (Live)"

Concert Works

• 2004 – smear for two ondes Martenots and nine-player chamber ensemble
• 2004 – Piano for Children for piano and orchestra (later removed)
• 2005 – Popcorn Superhet Receiver for string orchestra
• 2007 – There Will Be Blood live film version
• 2010 – Doghouse for string trio and orchestra
• 2011 – Suite from 'Noruwei no Mori' (Norwegian Wood) for orchestra
• 2011 – 48 Responses to Polymorphia for 48 solo strings
• 2012 – Suite from 'There Will Be Blood' for string orchestra
• 2014 – Setting Up Arrows for seven-player string ensemble
• 2014 – Water for two flutes, upright piano, chamber organ, two tanpura & string orchestra
• 2015 – 88 (No 1) for solo piano
• 2018 – Three Miniatures from 'Water' for violin, piano, 2 tampuras, and cello/bass drone
• 2019 – Horror vacui for solo violin and 68 strings
• 2024 – X Years of Reverb for organ

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jonny Greenwood para niños

• List of Old Abingdonians

Images for kids

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  Greenwood performing with Radiohead in 2006

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  Greenwood performing with the London Contemporary Orchestra in Geneva, 2015

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  Greenwood receiving an ovation after a performance of his piece Horror Vacui at the BBC Proms in London, 2019

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  Greenwood (left) performing with the Smile in January 2022

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  Greenwood playing bowed guitar

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  Greenwood performing on an ondes Martenot in 2010