Headless Chickens (UK band)

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For the New Zealand band of the same name, see Headless Chickens

The Headless Chickens were a five-piece melodic punk band from Exeter, England, comprising at various times Thom Yorke (guitar and vocals), Simon "sHack" Shackleton (bass and vocals), John Matthias (violin), Laura Forrest-Hay (violin), Martin Brooks (drums), Andy Hills (bass) and Lindsey Moore (drums), they were well known on the Exeter punk scene in 1989. In June 1989 they released their first single, "I Don't Want To Go To Woodstock", on the Hometown Atrocities EP, along with tracks from three other bands. This is believed to be Thom Yorke's first ever released recording, but he sings backup, not lead vocals.

The band performed to packed out houses, including highly acclaimed solo shows and supporting acts such as Eat and De La Soul.

Their "poly-sensual" shows often involved avant-garde visual experimentation, with the occasional bizarre act of total nudity.

Thom Yorke later reformed an earlier group named "On A Friday", who later changed their name to Radiohead. Headless Chickens eventually mutated into the techno-influenced Flickernoise; "sHack" later went on to form Lunatic Calm in 1996.