I know we owe you an update on the current tour. Things have been quite crazy here so in the meantime, I would recommend you hanging out at our message board, Mortigi Tempo, for all the latest tour happenings.
For now, we would like to show you these images that Thom posted up at waste-central.com today. Could they be from the new “House of Cards” video that was described as having 3D lasers?
(thanks to Rex)
Radiohead has been named as one of the most influential people in Time magazine’s annual Top 100 list. Warner Music Group’s Edgar Bronfman, Jr penned the article, which appears after the Steve Jobs one. Amusing, huh?
Bronfman writes:
“When the British rock band Radiohead announced that In Rainbows would be made available online directly to consumers at whatever price they wanted to pay, many said it signaled the end of the world’s major music labels. As the CEO of one of them, I may surprise you by saying that in some ways, they were right. The traditional record-label business model—the one based on controlling access and distribution—is dead.”
You can read the full article here.
(thanks to Kenton)
Radiohead will be doing a webcast on New Year’s Eve and Day to celebrate the physical release of In Rainbows. The webcast will air on radiohead.tv at 12 midnight GMT as well as on Current TV in the United States. Please see Current’s press release below for times.
Press Release:
A special performance by Radiohead will be aired exclusively in the USA by Current TV on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The band will be performing all of the tracks from its newest album, In Rainbows, for a taped, private, hour-long performance, which will run commercial-free on Current TV and on www.current.com simultaneously.
“We are pleased to partner with Current for its innovative spirit” said Phil Costello, head of TBD Records, Radiohead’s US record label.
Broadcast times:
Current TV* (see below for distribution channels):
* December 31, 2007:
9 p.m. PST / 12 a.m. EST
10 p.m. PST / 1 a.m. EST
* January 1, 2008:
5 a.m. PST / 8 a.m. EST
6 p.m. PST / 9 p.m. EST
Webcast times:
www.current.com
* December 31, 2007: 9 p.m. PST / 12 a.m. EST
“As a leader in new media innovation, Current is proud to serve as Radiohead’s exclusive US broadcast partner for the band’s New Year’s performance,” said David Neuman, President of Programming for Current TV. “With a ground-breaking network and revolutionary band both serving as visionaries in the new media and music landscapes, this partnership is a natural fit.”
Through Current’s broadcast network, Radiohead’s concert will be available to 41 million households across the United States and to viewers of Current.com. After its initial on-air and online broadcast, the performance will be archived on www.current.com for additional viewing.
This news follows Radiohead’s self-release of its seventh album, In Rainbows, which was made available directly from the band’s website on October 10, 2007 solely as a DRM-free digital download, allowing fans to decide what price they would pay for the album. The physical release of the CD and LP will be in stores January 1, 2008.
Check out the critical acclaim Radiohead has received recently in the press:
#1 album of the year NEW YORK TIMES
#1 album of the year NPR
#1 album of the year NEW YORK
#1 album of the year MOJO
#1 album of the year BILLBOARD’S CRITICS CHOICE 2007 (BY A LANDSLIDE!!!)
#1 album of the year NEW YORK!
#1 album of the year MOJO!
#1 album of the year FILTER!
#2 album of the year TIME MAGAZINE
#3 album of the year NME
#4 album of the year Q magazine
Top 10 album of the year in ROLLING STONE, HARP and many more.
Top 10 song of the year in TIME MAGAZINE
BEST OF 2007, LA TIMES
LEAD 4/5 review in SPIN OUT NOW!
COVER OF THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTS & LEISURE SUNDAY FEATURE
“Radiohead haven’t sounded this aggressive and infuriated – so rock and roll – since OK COMPUTER, an achievement that will be worth the usual retail price when IN RAINBOWS comes out on CD in January,” ROLLING STONE
“In Rainbows had no serious rival this year,” #1 BEST ALBUM 2007, NEW YORK MAGAZINE
“Simply beautiful: warm, human, surprising and addictive,” ALBUM OF THE YEAR – MOJO
This was posted on DAS today:
Hello Everyone,
The download area that is “In Rainbows” will be shutting its doors on the 10th December 2007.
A big thank you to everyone who came and downloaded the music. It’s been the most positive thing we’ve done and we hope you shared the experience with others.
The discbox will still be available from the w.a.s.t.e store here until they have all gone. We then have no plans to make further stock.
For those of you who wish to buy In Rainbows in the usual way, it will be available on CD/Vinyl and download from traditional outlets from the 31st December 2007.
The record will be released by TBD Records in North America and XL Recordings for the rest of the world.
Thanks for everything.
Over at our message board, Mortigi Tempo, member sullichin has got his hands on what appears to be the lyrics booklet for In Rainbows. Go forth and see!
All the scans have been put up at this site as well.
If you missed Ed and Thom on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6 Music program, don’t worry! You can listen to it by clicking this link. You’ll need RealPlayer, though.
Some highlights:
– Thom being asked what he did the day the album was released online: “I seem to remember sitting at home thinking there’s something I’m supposed to be doing today. I didn’t do anything that day.”
– Thom and Ed talk about how they recorded part of In Rainbows in a dilapidated mansion and slept in caravans on the grounds. Nigel wanted to throw the band “in an uncomfortable” situation. “Bodysnatchers” was recorded in a live take there.
– Nigel limited the band to about 15 or 16 songs to focus on to record.
– Thom on why “Reckoner” is completely different than the live version: “Because it’s not the same song. There was a song called Reckoner. I wrote a second part to it and then Jonny wrote another part to it and the song as it was left the building.”
– Thom on why “Nude” took so long to be released: “I think it’s because I used to hate the way I sung it.”
– “Down is the New Up” is described as “mental” by Thom. “Wait till you hear it.” He really wanted it to be on the album but according to Ed, it didn’t fit.
– Thom talked about all the “mad theories on the net”, specifically about the theory of 10s.
– Ed remarked that he was happy that Thom’s voice on In Rainbows was upfront and not “pulled back.”
– If they could relive one Radiohead moment again, both Thom and Ed would relive Glastonbury 1997 where the lights and PAs blew up.
– Speaking of Glastonbury, it sounds like they may be playing it this year if “they want us.”
– Though not finalized or confirmed, they may be playing the US for a couple of weeks starting in May. Europe would follow in June/July. Again, nothing is confirmed!