As guitarist and backing vocalist for Radiohead, Ed O'Brien developed a distinctive and deeply textural style that served as a sonic cornerstone of influential albums like OK Computer (1997) and Kid A (2000). Along with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, O'Brien was part of the three-guitar battery that was a hallmark of the band's sound as they transitioned from Brit-pop into the more experimental mode. Ed released his first solo album Earth under the name EOB in 2020. Inspired by O'Brien's time living in Brazil and attending Carnival, which he described as a "musical eureka moment", Earth fused together elements of folk, electronica, and indie rock with his signature atmospheric guitar. O'Brien has contributed to the soundtrack for the BBC drama series Eureka Street and toured with Neil Finn as part of the 7 Worlds Collide project. He is a founding director of the Featured Artists Coalition, a nonprofit organisation that protects the rights of artists in the digital age and has contributed to Ear Opener, an online video course aimed at helping young people write music. He has worked with Fender to design a signature model guitar, the EOB Stratocaster. In 2010, Rolling Stone named O'Brien the 59th greatest guitarist of all time. Along with the other members of Radiohead, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.