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Ed O'Brien GP Radiohead Thom Yorke tour

News for May 31, 2000

This is from Planet Telex:

More information on the Spanish press conference:
Ed mentions the influence that the Public Enemy documentary had on the band (see his diary for more), and trouble with the electronic side of things – “one day we decided to leave our instruments and try to get the songs out electronically. It ended up becoming a bit of a competition and it wasn’t clear whether progress was being made or not.”. He confirmed that everything surrounding the track ‘Innocents Civilian’ was just a hoax. It was one of their worst songs that they had discarded ages ago because they didn’t like it, but as a joke to all the papers who were hanging on his every word in his diary, Ed decided to mention in his diary that it was the best thing they’d ever done and that they’d lost the master tapes, and that they hoped they hadn’t been stolen. He also talked about the first webcast where they could get some feedback from the fans, and to also show them that the band weren’t as serious about everything as they seemed. Also speaking about the imminent European tour – it is a way of relieving some of the pressure they are under and to shake off some of the disproportionate, so he feels, expectation and attention that OK Computer left them with. Talking about that pressure, he said that they’ve never stopped being self-critical as a band, and it was hard to keep neutral distance from the whole thing. Overall he said that the record is going “to surprise everyone” as they have taken a lot of time over it, which is a positive thing, as it has given them time to stop, reflect and examine the work very carefully, and work with very diverse styles that are not necessarily what people expect from Radiohead. “Before, the tracks were recorded in a very direct way, with everyone playing simultaneously. Now, everything is a bit more fragmented, using computers, and looking for a sound that’s different from usual of just plain guitars. In our opinion its got something to do with a desire to innovate, to risk something in the new record which is something you don’t see in the current so called ‘alternative’ English music scene. The new records from Oasis and Richard Ashcroft are a let down because they’re repeating the same formulas over and over again and doing what everybody expected of them.”

Thom on the official message board
Thom was on the official Radiohead message board today and made a few comments about the upcoming European tour and supporting acts,

“probably we’ll change as the tour goes on. its possible we might have two supports. it depends on logistics in the tent. im trying to keep an open mind, see who can fit in where. doesnt help much does it? sigur (sigur ros) sent me their album which is really great. theres lots of other possibilities though. are we spreading ourselves a little thin? im surprised about how much im getting to like the broadcast album. its really growing on me. but we want to ask a load of electro people as well. no names really yet.”

Another date in Nijmegen
Another show at Goffertpark in Nijmegen, Holland, might go on sale soon. The show will be the night after the first on, on September 16, 2000. Stay tuned…

Green Plastic’s first giveaway!
Congratulations to the two winners! The whole giveaway was a huge success, with close to 3,000 people registering for it! The random drawing was held today and both the winners were notified by email.

A new giveaway will start shortly, so keep your eyes open!

By Jonathan

New York, NY