In a way, all creeps are outsiders to some degree - so perhaps that's why the British band Radiohead's "Creep," with its insightful
lyrics praising individuality, has become the anthem these days.

Beside celebrating standing up for individual rights, " 'Creep' is a celebration of the creep as well," says Radiohead's "polite guitar"
player, Ed O'Brien, 25. "A celebration of all those feelings of people feeling like an outsider, an outcast.

"People say, 'I heard "Creep" and I know those lyrics were written about me, that it's about me.' And that's wonderful."

"Creep" is the powerhouse introspective single, currently all over radio, from Radiohead's decidely melancholy, somewhat dark,
alternative rock debut album "Pablo Honey" (on Capitol Records, the title taken from a Jerky Boys telephone routine).

And Mr. O'Brien and his bandmates, lifelong friends who formed the band in summer 1991, couldn't be happier with their
newfound success - and with their debut American tour that brings them to the 9:30 Club Monday night; call 202/393-0930.

"We should be quite buzzing [excited] by the time we get there," Mr. O'Brien says, with obviously genuine enthusiasm. It was
mostly American bands such as R.E.M., the Pixies and Sonic Youth, he says, that influenced Radiohead. (Mr. O'Brien does give a
nod to British counterparts the Cure and the Smiths). "We're desparate to play dates there. It should be quite intense and
passionate."

"First and foremost, Radiohead is a live band. The best way to get into Radiohead is to see them live. It's very passionate, it's very
intense. It's not the type of gig where you sit in the back and drink and have a chat. You will see five guys totally absorbed onstage
in what they're playing."

And there's much for the five Oxford-area residents, in their early and mid 20s, to play. Other songs on "Pablo" speak out
politically, too. Mr. O'Brien points to songs such as "Stop Whispering," - "about people not standing up for their rights: Stop
whispering and start shouting" - and "Vegetable," which he says warns people not to be dehumanized, not to be vegetables.

But there's no preaching from Radiohead, promises Mr. O'Brien. "I hate the whole thing of people on record lecturing," he says.
But he does like "bands who actually play and write good songs," of which he believes Radiohead is included. "Songs are most
important to us. That is essentially what Radiohead is about."