Radiohead’s Thom Yorke met his first wife, Rachel Owen, while they both were Art students at Exeter University. They had a son and a daughter during their long-term relationship of 23 years. The couple announced in 2015 that they had decided to split. Sadly, Yorke was deeply affected by their breakup and Owen’s tragic passing a year later.
Thom Yorke’s First Wife Passed Away One Year After Their Breakup
Thom Yorke and Rachel Owen met as art students at Exeter University, and their relationship began. Yorke was famous in the rock scene as the lead vocalist of Radiohead, and Owen worked as a photographer, printmaker, and lecturer. She was also a scholar in medieval Italian literature and researched Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy.’ Owen taught students art history and Dante’s works at the University of Oxford.
Owen was a great source of inspiration for Yorke during their 23-year relationship. She was an influence on several Radiohead tracks, such as ‘I Might Be Wrong’ and ‘Optimistic.’ They had their relationship away from the public eye for years. The couple announced in 2015 that they had decided to break up amicably. Some music critics and fans speculated that there was a reference to their relationship in Radiohead’s ‘Daydreaming’ in which Yorke sings ‘half of my life.’
The Guardian reported that Owen had been struggling with some health issues but wanted to continue teaching anyway. Pembroke College revealed that she had been battling cancer, and her health was deteriorating. She sadly lost the battle against cancer and passed away at 48 on December 18, 2016.
What Did Thom Yorke Say About The Loss?
In a previous conversation with BBC Radio 4 program ‘Desert Island Discs,’ Yorke opened up about how he was affected by Owen’s passing. The rocker stated that losing her was a challenging process both for him and their children. He noted that he put a lot of effort into this process, especially to make their children feel better.
Yorke said the following:
“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. My ambition is to make sure that we have come out of it all right, and I hope that’s what’s happening.”
Owen’s passing right after their separation led to a complicated process for Yorke. He made a lot of effort to make sure he and their children would overcome this heartbreaking experience and ‘come out of it all right.’ Yorke’s new partner Dajana Roncione was the person who gave him strength after this tragic experience.
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