Harry Styles toasts Thom Yorke at 2026 Ivor Novello Awards: ‘I cannot overstate how much his work continues to influence me’: Full speech

Harry Styles introduced Radiohead’s Thom Yorke at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards with an eloquent, heartfelt, funny and engaging five-minute speech. “It’s always nerve-wracking to go on stage, but to think that the man I’ve spent so much of my life listening to is now going to hear me talk about him is an incredible honor,” he said.

Styles presented Yorke with the Fellowship Award at the Ivors held at Grosvenor House in central London on Thursday (May 21).

Styles said he was born the year after Radiohead’s debut album. pablo honeyA comment was posted that drew laughter from the young people’s idea of ​​calling attention to the age difference. “Just let it sink in,” he said, eliciting more laughter.

Styles also noted that he lost his virginity to Radiohead’s “talk show host.” He thought for a moment and corrected himself. “I lost my virginity intro Become a “talk show host.”

Below is the full text of Styles’ speech introducing his hero.

“Thom Yorke was always good with words.

Releasing music for nearly 35 years, he has taken feelings of anxiety and alienation and turned them into atmosphere, anthem, and art. From guitars to glitches, he has shown us time and time again what the future of sound will be like. A true artist, a creative who never compromises and never rests. No two songs sound the same.

For many of us, he lives at the top of this magical musical mountain that we are all trying to climb.

Some people had it when the Radiohead album was released. Their debut album came out the year before I was born. [laughter] Just let it sink. [more laughter]

So I discovered their songs over time, growing up breathing in inherited teenage angst, climbing the stairs that separated my sister’s bedroom from me doing homework downstairs.

Thanks to her uncle Michael for burning her a bunch of CDs trying to convince her of some of the strangest things he says..

Found it again at the party [and] Enjoy your precious moments alone.

I lost my virginity to a “talk show host.” [laughter] I lost my virginity to the intro to “Talk Show Host.” [more laughter]

Tom’s work is music that can be felt. It’s always been a kind of religious experience for me. It is religious in the sense that understanding seems to go both ways.

I’ve always felt like I could uniquely understand the author of these songs, and finally someone who captured what it feels like to be human sometimes. Thankfully, someone else will think so, and I used to think so too. That alien, that wandering ghost, that angry prophet, Thom Yorke.

I cannot overstate how much his work has influenced, and continues to influence, my belief in the purpose of art in today’s world.

Without “EXIT MUSIC,” “Watermelon Sugar” would not exist. Imagine that. [laughter] A world without that song [playing off the laughter].

Now, it’s always nerve-wracking to go on stage, but to think that the man I’ve spent so much of my life listening to, is now listening to me talk about him, is such a terrifying honor. The first time I met Tom, I was walking down the street in Rome. At dinner the night before, while listening to “Bending Hectic” by The Smiles, a friend asked me if I’d seen him before, and I told him I hadn’t. Maybe it was better that way. I was always worried that he would be mean to me and that mentally I would never get over it.

The next day, “A Moon Shaped Pool” was playing in my headphones. I was alone with him on the quiet cobblestone street.

“Hello, Mr. York,” I said. “Oh, it’s you. Hello,” he replied. During the conversation I was overwhelmed. Don’t waste your time with the giants. The weight of moments with the people who made us who we are should be noted. He was cheerful, friendly and helpful.

In a world where outside noise tends to leak into his consciousness without permission, he feels the resentment of wanting to please others, but sometimes he is liberated by a little kindness offered by a hero. I was glowing and have been glowing ever since.

Wizards were also humans.

When I asked Tom’s friends to describe him in three words, they said he was caring, sensitive, dedicated, bold, unique, untouchable, provocative, a true punk, not for sale, and, as my wife told me, he spends his days off with a synthesizer.

In Tom’s words: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your mouth only moves when someone has a hand on your butt. Has the light gone out? Because the light has gone out for me.” It’s the 21st century. The message is clear. Express humor and heartbreak. Only cowards would distance themselves from our complex and beautiful world.

It’s an honor to be here tonight and share with Tom my recognition of his lasting influence on British music. Radiohead is my favorite band. Thank you forever, Tom.“