Thomas Edward Yorke

Thom York & Chocolate - Make Trade Fair Maketradefair.com

Born on October 7, 1968 in Wellingborough, Northam England, Thomas Edward Yorke was born with a paralyzed left eye. This left him with countless operations to endure, and his trademark lazy eye. After seeing Brian May, Queen guitarist, Perform on T.V. he was inspired to become a musician, receiving his first guitar at age seven, and joining his first band at ten. While attending an all boys school, he met his future Radiohead bandmates at age 21.

Radiohead is a British alternative rock band from Oxford: Thom being lead vocals, Johnny Greenwood is a lead guitar, Colin Greenwood is synthesizers, Ed O’brian as effects guitar, Phil Selway is drums and percussion. Thom Yorke along with his band Radiohead, is heavily involved as a political activist for campaigns such as "Make Trade Fair," anti-war movements, and in playing in charity concerts such as "Free Tibet" in 1999. Yorke and his bandmates were influenced by such bands as: Nirvana, Queen, Tom Jones, REM, and Bjork.

Thom’s involvement in "Make Trade Fair," includes him posing in pictures while chocolate is poured over him, in an effort to convey the message that farmers don’t even get paid enough to feed their families with the money they earn from selling their goods. “How sweet does your chocolate taste when you know the producer in a country you will never see did not even get paid enough to feed his family?”

In the summer of 1999 Thom and his band contributed to the Free Tibet movement by becoming involved in the Free Tibet concerts. Appearing in countless countries and four continents, all embracing a similar goal: freedom for the people of Tibet. While donating thier time in Free Trade and Free Tibet he also donated his time in countless anti-war movements.

In my opinion, a hero is someone who gives of him or herself to others, or to the earth, in the hopes of making it a better place to live. Thom Yorke is all of theses things; while donating countless hours of his valuable time, he has perhaps even if only in the tiniest amount, made the world a better place.