"Simple Question: 'What do you think will be the role of Britain in the world context during the 1980's?'
The prophecies include the collapse of the current world economic system, major earthquakes and floods, a new Middle East war, and"
We thought we'd take the opportunity to update you with current w.a.s.t.e. information while the band take a break from the letter writing. Plans for work on the new album are underway, as are preparations for the forthcoming Amnesty Festival. The band had a well-deserved break following the last year of touring and will be back in the studio shortly. We'll be collecting contributions from the band for w.a.s.t.e. 17 in the New Year, but for now you'll get some w.a.s.t.e. ramblings to see you through.
w.a.s.t.e. has just taken over new premises to house the rapidly expanding "fanclub" along with the merchandise that the band design under the w.a.s.t.e. label. In total we are four people working towards giving Radiohead fans what the band hope they want. We look after all the mail sent to the band and develop new ideas to enable worldwide access to Radiohead. We work alongside Stanley Donwood and the band to ensure that everything we do comes from them directly. Stanley and The White Chocolate Farm do all the logos and artwork you see related to Radiohead or w.a.s.t.e. products, along with their own NODATA designs, some of which are housed on the website at www.radiohead.com. From that site you can contact us by email directly or via the great postal system (PO Box 322, Oxford, OX4 1EY, UK). Whichever route we can guarantee that everything is read. Although we can't reply to everything or pass on every piece of mail intended for the band members, I can assure you that they all get as much personal mail as it is possible for them to deal with.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 1998
Radiohead will be playing their first European gig this year in support of Amnesty International at the biggest human rights concert to hit the world for a decade. On 10th December 1998, the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International and The Body Shop are to hold a major international concert to celebrate the courage of thousands of human rights defenders around the world. UK concert tickets from International Concert Travel; 01733 571 616. Information for tickets can also be found on the w.a.s.t.e. information answer machine; telephone (international dialing code) +44 118 967 7760, if you're dialling from abroad, or 0118 967 7760 if you're calling from the UK. Please note that the original w.a.s.t.e. information line may still be dialled to get these details. If you need any other specific information then email us at stuff@wasteproducts.demon.co.uk and we'll do all we can to oblige.
MEETING PEOPLE IS EASY
A feature length documentary video is due for release on the 30th November 1998, showing footage from the 1997 - 1998 tour. Grant Gee, who made the No Surprises video, spent a year on and off with Radiohead. Meeting People is Easy presents a view from the inside and looking out. Included are performances from Barcelona, Paris, New York and Tokyo, as well as the beginnings of new material.
There will be a premiere of 'Meeting People is Easy' at a venue in London before the release of the video. w.a.s.t.e. have 50 pairs of tickets to give away. Please ring the w.a.s.t.e. information line +44 118 967 7760 for more details.
Enclosed is an order form to purchase the documentary on video. Apologies, but the video is only available on PAL format at this time. This means that fans in Tawain, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, North and South America and Canada will have to wait until the New Year, when w.a.s.t.e. will have copies on both PAL and NTSC formats.
w.a.s.t.e. products
As you will see, we have updated the catalog(ue) with four new inserts. As from now the charcoal grey tshirt (RT450) and the meeting people is easy tshirt (ST444) are unavailable. We have made this clear on the new order form that we have also included. Along with the next w.a.s.t.e. letter from the band will be some new merchandise ideas to add to the catalog(ue).
w.a.s.t.e.
Firstly, thanks to you all for your letters and gifts to the band and also for your letters to w.a.s.t.e. and your encouragement that we are giving the service the fans want. Credit goes to all the people who run their own fan services via fanzines, online groups, and websites. We never cease to be impressed by the time, dedication and creativity so many fans put into work that they do. To name only a few, thanks to Barbara, Laura, Stefania et al for their Oxygen publications, to Max, Michael and all who work on the Planet Telex site, Richard Arthur for his work on the discographies, C.A.R.S., Ed's Kinky Shoelace, Sarey Products, and Cathryn Ellis for her Headcase fanzine. Love and best wishes go to Tique for her quick and full recovery.
Mel XXX
PS.
There will be a lot of changes to the Radiohead website soon. Very soon. Maybe it will be completely different. I don't know. But you'll see. We've done lots already and we're going to hide in a remote shack on a windswept mountain until www.radiohead.com is ready. The quote at the top of this letter will be the front page though. Probably. Actually, I've just had a thought; it would be good if anyone who does anything interesting (not necessarily Radiohead-related) online could send their URLs to Mel at the usual place. Then she might send them to me. And I could put them on a links page. Which might actually be easy to find. Not too easy though. Anyway, I've got to go and gather dust not. Goodbye. I'm sorry we don't update the website very often.
Stanley XXX