The band are still in the process of recording their fourth album in a stately home in Gloucestershire and there have been rumors circulating around the internet about the possibility of a collaboration of some sort on the new album. Dotmusic is reporting that R.E.M.’s frontman Michael Stipe may be “collaborating on tracks for the forthcoming Radiohead album.” A press representative for Radiohead pointed out to dotmusic that, “since they have had their own studio, they collaborate with whoever they want and they’re great friends with Michael Stipe so it wouldn’t surprise me.” Stipe told an interviewer last February that a collaboration might happen. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
“Yeah, I mean Thom is an amazing singer,” added Stipe. “We know a lot of amazing singers and musicians and any good opportunity to work with them would be welcome. I’m not saying it will happen, I’m saying, speaking for three of us, we would love to work with Thom or any of the guys from Radiohead.”
To read the dotmusic article, click here.
That’s not the only collaboration rumor floating around. There seems to be a bizarre connection between the recording of the band’s new song “How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found” and the Montreal band Godspeed You Black Emperor, a unknown independent 10 piece band which has been described as “a 3 way cross of Radiohead, Ennio Morricone, and a drug-induced spiritual wonder.” They apparently make extremely long and other-wordly transcendental soundscapes that are so bizarre that major labels won’t touch them. Members of Godspeed were spotted last December at the Amnesty International gig in Paris when Radiohead were on stage. They have also been spotted recently in Gloucestershire where Radiohead have been recording. You might say, “so what?” Well, they also attended Radiohead’s gig in New York where “How to Disappear…” was played, and Thom said “this is for Nigel (Radiohead’s producer) to hear,” and winked as he said it.
Thom has spoken once about Godspeed…in an interview after the Amnesty gig he said, “they are the most emotionally pummeling outsiders of the music industry today.” A representative from their small record label, Constellation Records, told Green Plastic, “we can assure you that there is no truth to those rumours.” Nevertheless, this is an interesting story. “How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found” has reportedly lengthened to over 10 minutes and is sure to be a masterpiece with or without any collaboration.
For those of you in the U.S., make sure to watch 120 Minutes tonight (Sunday) on MTV for the special on Radiohead. The whole show will be devoted to the band and they will be showing the condensed version of “Meeting People is Easy” along with other goods. The show will air at midnight/ 11pm Central.
