Following the critical and commercial success of their 1997 album "OK Computer", the members of Radiohead suffered burnout. Yorke became ill, describing himself as "a complete fucking mess ... completely unhinged". Bassist Colin Greenwood said: "We felt we had to change everything. There were other guitar bands out there trying to do similar things. We had to move on." Guitarist Ed O'Brien had hoped Radiohead's fourth album would comprise "snappy", melodic guitar songs, but Yorke stated: "There was no chance of the album sounding like that. I'd completely had it with melody. I just wanted rhythm. All melodies to me were pure embarrassment."