We have an update for you regarding the story we brought to you last Tuesday about concert pianist Christopher O’Riley’s transcriptions of various Radiohead songs on the NPR program “Performance Today”. The episode will air on on May 28, 2002 on your local NPR radio station in the US. To get a taste of what you’ll hear, head on over to the Performance Today website and listen to O’Riley’s incredible transcription of “Exit Music (For a Film)”.
(thanks to NPR Music Producer Mark Mobley)
Radiohead is featured in several chapters of a new book called MOUTHING OFF – A Book of Rock & Roll Quotes. With funny and truthful observations from hundreds of rock, punk, and indie figures, this book was written with the music fan in mind.
Here’s an excerpt from Thom Yorke:
“My songs are my kids and some of them stay with me. Some others I have to send out, out to the war. It might sound stupid and it might even sound naive, but that’s just the way it is.” – Thom Yorke of Radiohead (2000)
The book also features a full page photograph of Thom Yorke taken by Rahav Segev.
Compiled by Rolling Stone/Billboard contributor John D. Luerssen and published by Brooklyn-based record label/publishing house The Telegraph Company, MOUTHING OFF hits book and record stores in June. Those who can’t wait can purchased early online at major book e-tailers. (Note: it’s cheapest on Amazon)
Concert pianist and host of the radio program “From the Top”, Christopher Riley, did a live taping for the NPR show “Performance Today” yesterday, where he performed many Radiohead songs, including “Black Star”, “True Love Waits”, and “Like Spinning Plates” on the piano. As of now, there is no set date that this episode of “Performance Today” will air, but the program manager has said that it will most likely air in mid-May.
As soon as a date is known, it will be announced at http://www.npr.org/programs/pt.
(thanks to Pablo)
Radiohead was recently brought up in an interview with Dallas Mavericks point guard Steve Nash and ESPN’s Dan Patrick:
DP: Do you understand Radiohead?
SN: Not really, no. But you know, probably what’s great about it is that you make your own interpretation.
DP: I listened to “OK Computer” a few times, and I came away saying, must be me.
SN: Didn’t you like the music?
DP: It’s OK, but it wasn’t, like, ground-breaking.
SN: If you turn on the radio today, you’re really still hearing the Beatles or Led Zeppelin or whoever else set the standard at some point. But when you hear Radiohead, you very rarely hear that, especially in their evolution. So I think they’re constantly taking risks and breaking new ground. I give them a tremendous amount of respect because of that, because they’re willing to try new things. … A lot of people say, why are they trying this crazy, different stuff? But why not?
DP: That’s a valid point.
SN: The music itself is excellent. And I think he’s a very clever guy, the main singer who writes the lyrics and is kind of the mastermind behind most of it.
(thanks to Jonathan)
Radiohead’s video for “Street Spirit” was recently named #5 in VH1’s “Best Ever Video” list. Video and music industry experts spent months pondering their choices before deciding on the final 100. Here is the top ten:
The industry’s top 10 was as follows:
1. Fatboy Slim — Weapon of Choice
2. Beastie Boys — Sabotage
3. Jamiroquai — Virtual Insanity
4. Blur — Coffee & TV
5. Radiohead — Street Spirit
6. Michael Jackson — Thriller
7. Bjork — It’s Oh So Quiet
8. Madonna — Vogue
9. Robbie Williams — She’s the One
10. Peter Gabriel — Sledgehammer
(thanks to Sara & Daniel)
Radiohead were awarded the top Live Gig by an International Act for their performance at Belfast’s Odyssey at this year’s Hot Press Irish Music Awards. Both Ed and Colin were there and accepted the award from Bono. Colin commented what a privilege it was to get the award from Bono after seeing U2 in Milton Keynes back in 1985.
(thanks to Brian, Adam, Kevin, Ciaran, Miriam, & Laurent)