Thom Yorke: Radiohead star shares pain of ex-partner’s death in emotional interview

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has told of his family’s suffering following the death of his former partner.

Rachel Owen died aged 48, in 2016, after a battle with cancer.

Yorke and Ms Owen were together for 23 years and had two children, Noah and Agnes, before splitting in 2015.

The award-winning musician told BBC Radio Four’s Desert Island Discs: “When the kids’ mum died, it was a very difficult period and we went through a lot.

“It was very hard. She suffered a great deal and my ambition is to make sure that we have come out of it alright, and I hope that’s what’s happening.”

Probed on his relationship with his kids, Yorke told host Lauren Laverne: “I can’t hope to be their mum but we’re alright.

“I’m just really proud of them both. It stuns me most days. I can’t believe they’re anything to do with me. They’re just such great people.”

The rock star went on to describe how his new partner had helped his healing process.

“I’m lucky now because I have a new partner who has come and brought a light into all of it, which has taken a great deal of strength,” he explained.

“And really if all that’s OK, If I’m able to make some music that expresses all that and is still important to people, that’s more than I can ask for.”

Yorke also admitted being a “hypocrite” for flying around the world on tour while campaigning against climate change.

“The thing I’ve always struggled somewhat with, is if I’m campaigning on climate change, I’m someone who has to fly for my work so … I’m a hypocrite,” he said.

“I totally agree I’m a hypocrite but … what do you want to do about it?”

Speaking after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sparked a furore for flying on private jets, he said: “The truth of the matter is we’re all part of a system. It’s a systemic thing that has to change.

“You can do stuff but the real stuff has to happen in Parliament and the UN, and has to happen now, we’re out of time.”

The musician also spoke of his initial struggles to cope with Radiohead’s monumental success.

“I got angry. I’m an extremely angry person. I got more control freakery. I put my hands on the steering wheel and I white-knuckled, and I didn’t care who I hurt or what I said,” he said.

“Years later I sat down with the guys and apologised. By the time we got to recording OK Computer the doors had opened up and we had the best time doing that record.”

He said REM frontman Michael Stipe “helped me when things went crazy, when people started to talk to me like I was Jesus… on the street”.

Thom Yorke on Desert Island Discs aired on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday at 11.15am and is available on BBC Sounds.