Green Plastic Radiohead

Back in 2003, many of us NYC residents remember desperately trying, and failing, to get into one of two acoustic sets Radiohead performed at Electric Lady studios for the KCRW Sounds Eclectic program. Most of us made do with the excellent promo CD from those shows which has been kicking around The Hub for some time.
Well, fear not, dial-up users: the third Sounds Eclectic compilation is slated to be released on January 11, 2005, and will feature an acoustic performance of “Go To Sleep”.
The complete tracklist:
1. The Polyphonic Spree, “It’s the Sun”
2. The Flaming Lips, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Part 1”
3. Damien Rice, “The Blower’s Daughter”
4. Jem, “Flying High”
5. Paul Weller, “Amongst Butterflies”
6. Radiohead, “Go to Sleep”
7. My Morning Jacket, “One Big Holiday”
8. Kinky, “Mirando De Lado”
9. Interpol, “Untitled”
10. Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out”
11. Sarah McLachlan, “Answer”
12. Iron & Wine, “Superman”
13. Steve Earle, “Jerusalem”

The photos Thom took for Make Trade Fair are online, at long last. Head over to the Make Trade Fair website to see the photos, and, more importantly, learn the reasons behind why they were taken.
For example- Thom is covered in chocolate in his photo set. Why? Because poor countries lose around $100 billion a year because rich countries put up barriers, which prevent them making the most out of trade in crops such as cocoa.
Thom commented on the photoshoot in a recent NME posting-

“How sweet does your chocolate taste when you know the producer in a country you will never see did not even get paid enough to feed his family? How sweet does it taste when you see the amount of profit a few multinational corporations make on it?
“How sweet does it taste, exactly, to know our own governments prevent these countries from ever getting off their knees and from ever being able to compete and get PAID, erecting barriers and then DUMPING on them from a great height whilst feigning concern? How delicious is it to know that sweet taste in your mouth is one of slavery, a nice new economic model? As it melts in your mouth, how sweet does your chocolate taste, now you know the suffering that it took to get to you?”

This is a great cause, and other celebrities such as Chris Martin, Michael Stipe, Antonio Banderas, and Angelique Kidjo have photo sets up as well. Go take a look here.
If you’re interested in learning more about the fair trade problem, I’d also recommend checking out the following sites:
People For Fair Trade
United Students For Fair Trade
GlobalIssue’s Trade Issue Page

The good people over at Edquarters are putting together their annual Christmas gift to Ed. Last year, it was lots and lots of Rizlas. This year, well, I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but let’s just say it’s large-ish and alive.
For more info on how you can contribute, or to leave a nice holiday message for Ed, head over to the Edquarters message board and read up.

As we previously reported, Jonny is to be in the new Harry Potter film as a member of the “Wyrd Sisters”, along with Jarvis Cocker. Turns out Phil’s in as well… Cocker went on Channel 4 earlier today and had the following to say-

“I’m in a scene where I sing for a group called the Wyrd Sisters. There’s six of us: Me, Three blokes from Relaxed Muscle and Jonny and Phil from Radiohead.”

I’ll take that as a confirmation.

(Thanks to all that wrote in- although we’d like to kindly request that before sending news, you check and make sure we haven’t previously reported the scoop you’re sending us!)

Although a trick of MT made us think we’d reported on it previously, Chieftan Mews, whom you may know as the madman behind Radiohead TV, had taken to selling some of his more “personal” items on eBay. The auctions have ended…with over $700 in sales!
Empty wallet – $89.88
Signed photo – $102.50
Clump of hair + glass eye – $119.76
Bath water – $123.01
Torn diary page – $319.00
Who knows if the winning bidders will get anything. Who knows if anything was there to begin with! All I know is that someone paid $319 for a page of a fictional character’s diary, and I am compiling my old things for sale at once.

The below picture is what you see when you visit the old Radiohead TV site. The words Chieftan Mews=Maniac appear, as does a link to purchase the DVD.

Mmmm, promotion…
(Thanks to Will.)