Radiohead Strummer Tests Radical Redesign of Electric Guitar

Radiohead’s rhythm guitarist Ed O’Brien tests the radical redesign of the electric guitar. (Reuters)
Radiohead’s rhythm guitarist Ed O’Brien tests the radical redesign of the electric guitar. (Reuters)
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Radiohead Strummer Tests Radical Redesign of Electric Guitar

Radiohead’s rhythm guitarist Ed O’Brien tests the radical redesign of the electric guitar. (Reuters)
Radiohead’s rhythm guitarist Ed O’Brien tests the radical redesign of the electric guitar. (Reuters)

British band Radiohead’s rhythm guitarist Ed O’Brien has been putting a radical redesign of the electric guitar through its paces.

The Circle Guitar features a rotating disc that can be fitted with plectrums to strum the strings, freeing up one hand for the guitarist to experiment with new sounds.

O’Brien described the instrument as one of those he had been “longing to find.”

“It’s like learning a new language, really,” O’Brien told Reuters during a session at The Church studios in London. “I want to spend a lot of time with it ... I think it’s extraordinary.”

The spinning wheel can rotate at up to 250rpm and allows the musician to program different rhythmic patterns with magnetic plectrums that fit into 128 slots in the disc.

Created by designer Anthony Dickens, it was inspired by the search for new sounds.

“It’s not really a guitar to be honest. It’s a different kind of instrument,” Dickens said. “It’s like Frankenstein’s cousin.”

The guitar can be synchronized with a computer, drum machine or digital interface.

“I like electronic music and drum machines,” Dickens said, “so taking the organic, lovely sound of a guitar and making it so precise is creating this different kind of feel and vibe to music.”

There are plans to make two versions of the Circle Guitar: one with a single output for the classic rock guitarist and one where each string is a separate output for record producers like Oscar and Grammy award-winning Paul Epworth.

“I think the Circle Guitar is an incredible innovation which really does challenge how you play an instrument,” Epworth said.

“This is really in a league of its own.”

Two years in development, Dickens said he hoped to start commercial production of the Circle Guitar next year.



Steven Spielberg’s Next Movie, With Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt, Set for June 2026 

Kate Capshaw, left, and Steven Spielberg attend "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" at Rockefeller Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP)
Kate Capshaw, left, and Steven Spielberg attend "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" at Rockefeller Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP)
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Steven Spielberg’s Next Movie, With Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt, Set for June 2026 

Kate Capshaw, left, and Steven Spielberg attend "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" at Rockefeller Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP)
Kate Capshaw, left, and Steven Spielberg attend "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" at Rockefeller Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP)

Steven Spielberg is gearing up to direct a new film starring Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt. The still untitled “event film” is set for a theatrical release on June 12, 2026, Universal Pictures said Tuesday.

Details are scarce about the new project, which will be based on a story by Spielberg. Screenwriter David Koepp, who wrote the scripts for “Jurassic Park” and its sequel, “War of the Worlds” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” is writing the screenplay. Colman Domingo, Colin Firth and Eve Hewson are also set to star.

The summer 2026 season is getting packed with blockbuster projects, including “Avengers: Doomsday” (May 1), “The Mandalorian and Grogu” (May 22), “Toy Story 5” (June 19), “The Odyssey” (July 17) and “Spider-Man 4” (July 24).

Universal had previously slated the next film from Oscar-winning “Everything Everywhere All At Once” filmmakers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for June 12, but said a new date will be announced soon for that also untitled film.

The studio also released Spielberg’s last film, “The Fabelmans,” in 2022. The movie received seven Oscar nominations.