Radiohead & USC Marching Band rehearse ’15 Step’
We filed it under rumours the other day, but now there’s no denying anymore. We’ve got a photo and video (below) of Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke rehearsing ’15 Step’ with US Marching Band for tomorrow’s Grammy Awards ceremony.
The Los Angeles Times report on Thom Yorke dancing a little jig in the aisles as USC’s Spirit of Troy warmed up with the Fleetwood Mac hit “Tusk.” The crew of the show is hard to impress, but by the third take it was all eyes on the stage as Yorke gave an animated interpretation of the song, one that somehow sounds both cerebral and tribal.
“Can you make my voice sound a little bit less shiny,” Yorke asked the sound team. “Take the top off — I like the idea of belting it out with these guys.” Afterward, Jonny Greenwood said the marching band was an idea that he and Thom Yorke brought with them to L.A. “It’s something we’ve been wanting to do with this song for a long time,” he said.
He also said he was a bit dazed by the Grammys and its big tent, which has room for the band as well as the Jonas Brothers and Lil Wayne. “We never encounter any of these worlds,” Greenwood said. “There’s a surreality to it all.”
Radiohead Rehearsal for the Grammys from Kara on Vimeo.
Entertainment Weekly report on the Grammy rehearsals as well, with slightly different quotes… At 9 a.m. they did a rough run-through with crew and directors clustered on stage, after which Yorke politely asked, “Can you make my voice sound a little less shiny? I like the idea that I’ve got to belt it out over these guys, you see.” Between takes, he beatboxed a bit into the mic; the band kids sat on the risers and mostly just grinned in disbelief. Yorke wandered down to the lip of the orchestra pit and asked a nearby stage manager, “Is it okay if I stand here?” Sure, said the guy, “but just so you know” — he gestured to the floor beneath Thom’s feet — “this is a wall that comes out of the ground.” Thom took a step back. “All right! Here we go! Standby!” said another stage manager, and the wall did indeed come up. The band members stirred with excitement. A stand-in who was not Gwyneth Paltrow began reading the intro off the teleprompter, and by the time she got to “Nominated tonight for Album of the Year…” the wall had lowered again to reveal Thom making a my-head-is-exploding gesture to Jonny, I assume because even Thom Yorke still gets jazzed about the Grammys. And then a snare drummer in the front row counted things off, the bass players raised their sticks, and the awesomeness began.
Radiohead news on this day..
- Radiohead's New Album Update - 2010
- Thom Yorke guests on new Flying Lotus album - 2010
- Phil Selway announces solo tour - 2010
- Mark Ronson to release 'Just' on single - 2008
- New photos on 'Dead Air Space' - 2007
- Paranoid Android main theme in anime 'Ergo Proxy' - 2006
- Radiohead.com update - 2005
- Pitchfork: 'Kid A best album of this decade' - 2005
- Jonny Greenwood interview with Billboard - 2004
- Coachella Pre-sale - 2004
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Radiohead News on this day in...
2010: Radiohead’s New Album Update — So, [...]2010: Thom Yorke guests on new Flying Lotus album — And [...]
2010: Phil Selway announces solo tour — Radiohead [...]
2008: Mark Ronson to release ‘Just’ on single — Mark [...]
2007: New photos on ‘Dead Air Space’ — New [...]
2006: Paranoid Android main theme in anime ‘Ergo Proxy’ — Radiohead’s [...]
2005: Radiohead.com update — Radiohead’s [...]
2005: Pitchfork: ‘Kid A best album of this decade’ — After [...]
2004: Jonny Greenwood interview with Billboard — There’s [...]
2004: Coachella Pre-sale — The [...]
2004: Aussie tour single: ‘A Punch up at a Wedding’ — According [...]
2003: David Gray on Radiohead — In [...]
2002: Download ‘Follow me around’ — File [...]
Make A Comment: ( 51 so far )
51 Responses to “Radiohead & USC Marching Band rehearse ’15 Step’”
SubSickAlien
February 7th, 2009
they look like they’re having fun and good to know it was their idea to do this
kid54
February 7th, 2009
This is so fucking exciting. OMG I can’t wait!
Khristopher
February 7th, 2009
holy shit
burnptcruisers
February 7th, 2009
i like the idea of watching them on live tv, but does this mean theyre part of the establishment now?
…theyve been for years i know. at least they do what they want. kudos to them for that.
salsadesoya
February 7th, 2009
I don’t think I’ve ever, EVER, seem Jonny smile. At least, not like that!
glenn
February 7th, 2009
radiohead fans in the band there must be soiling themselves! You could truly say that is an honor. 15 step – one of the premier radiohead songs of all time… : ) with real, loud bassdrums, and those “quad” drums too which tend to have a pretty wicked sound.
rocky
February 7th, 2009
we’re talking soiling themselves frequently, here, or pinching themselves. BOOM (clack clack clack clack) B-BOOM (clack clack clack)
rocky
February 7th, 2009
awww hell nah. this is great.
can’t wait to see them on sunday.
Tara
February 7th, 2009
THOM.HAIRCUT.NOW
marc
February 8th, 2009
ok, i’m actually getting pretty excited about this. i’m glad they’re not just doing house of cards, but doing 15 step and adding a bunch of stuff to it. there is brass there too? that should be interesting.
david Baake
February 8th, 2009
No Colin, Phil or Ed?
Radio_Vegged
February 8th, 2009
Sweet lord this sounds amazing. Glad to
see Radiohead excited about things for
once in their lives. They seem like a
much happier band nowadays.
OK_Kid
February 8th, 2009
What channel will this show be televised on?
Niblet
February 8th, 2009
damn I like Thom n Jonny new style and clothes
njikòlai
February 8th, 2009
So sad to see them completely sell out like this.
James
February 8th, 2009
what new style?
yoyo
February 8th, 2009
shut up james
dj
February 8th, 2009
aww they’re so cute!, but I’m worry about the other guys, why they’re not here?
so sarah
February 8th, 2009
honestly james, can it.
how can you be negative after johnny says its been something he and thom have been wanting to do for a while…they are artists, i trust them, even if the grammys suck a lot, radiohead makes them suck less, and its really great to see them get the critical attention they deserve. they dont think theyre so totally out there, they know that this is a slice of mainstream and obviously theyre okay with that. as am i. long live, i cant wait for tomorrow. love in rainbows and love 15 step.
Nate
February 8th, 2009
Shut up, James.
MS
February 8th, 2009
i think this is their way of saying a big f$%k you to the record industry. “f&%k you, we do what we wanna do”
rh
February 8th, 2009
selling out and jumping the shark are just words for taking risks. the rock n roll myths are all dead and good fucking riddance. fans they lose here are worth losing.
Paul
February 8th, 2009
where are the grammys being televised in england?!
matty
February 8th, 2009
I’d be very interested to know if the band will tell how much CO2 emissions were expelled through jetting in the band and its gear to the States for one song?
Rich
February 8th, 2009
good question, Rich, really….
janet
February 8th, 2009
Rich, it’s the USC band. As in University of Southern California. That’s IN Los Angeles. Where the Grammys are.
Simon
February 8th, 2009
this should be great. have to say that i’ll miss colin’s bass part in this on though.
john b
February 8th, 2009
wait whaddaya mean, is it just thom and johnny? i assumed it was the whole band…
Nate
February 8th, 2009
[...] Grammys worth watching in a long damn time, due in no small part to the appearance of Radiohead. Radiohead will of course be performing the fucking incredible ‘15 Step’ with the USC mar…, in addition to the appearance of Weezy, T.I. and any number of other great acts. Anyway, I thought [...]
[...] Story here. [...]
Radiohead rehearsing for the Grammys with a Marching band | pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four's Music and Media Blog
February 8th, 2009
Simon: Yes, I know. I mean the band, i.e. Radiohead’s gear. And the band members themselves.
Rich
February 8th, 2009
Unhappy Snob-fans raise your hands, please! 1,2,3,4… someone else? Ok, you may dismiss the class, thank you!
Stefano
February 8th, 2009
[...] I was surprised to hear that Radiohead will be performing on the Grammys tonight. I wonder what song they’ll perform. Maybe ‘15 Steps’? [...]
So what has come of the theory that Radiohead are going to stay in LA and work on the album until its time to head off to their South American tour, making the question of CO2 emissions useless.
Radio_Vegged
February 8th, 2009
Matty, the Grammy’s are being shown on
ITV2 on monday mate, at 9pm
Jack
February 8th, 2009
how could they even think about performing at the Grammy’s without 3/5 of the band, Radiohead? Obviously, they have their blessings but still.
unborn chicken voices
February 8th, 2009
…a propos CO2 emissions: how come that when you TRY to do SOMETHING, some people still think that what you do is too little or wrong?
puh
February 8th, 2009
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to see Radiohead play any venue, but if I have to see Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers sing one fucking note I might just off myself.
Mike
February 8th, 2009
grammy.com
Vorsprung Dyk Technik.
February 8th, 2009
James… your an idiot. Have fun spending your life just trying to do exactly what no one else does.
Glenn, Jonny is not a robot… he smiles plenty. In fact, i think when he is happy, he smiles… its weird. And unless this is the first time he has ever been happy, then he probably has smiled before.
KidKharma
February 8th, 2009
wow, thom is looking a lot like clay aitken these days hahahha
nonlinear
February 9th, 2009
Congratulations Radiohead, you’ve finally jumped the shark! What a disappointment…
Nathan
February 9th, 2009
thoms hair is getting a little out of control
fakeplasticman
February 9th, 2009
I think the boys just won a Grammy… Alternative Album of the Year… in other news, how come COLDPLAY gets nominated for Rock album but not Radiohead? Last I checked their music doesn’t rock, and also aren’t they being sued for plagiarism?
PearlyXG
February 9th, 2009
All edited down that show. I just read they won 2 awards, but neither were aired (in Toronto at least).
I dug the performance, though I was surprised at the absence of 60% of the band…with all the percussionists, Phil could have been one…and it’s a pretty bass-heavy song, so Colin could have been there…and Ed always does fine with his atmospheric pedal twiddling.
_john_
February 9th, 2009
Did I miss something? Wasn’t Radiohead nominated for five awards? I don’t get these lame ass award shows, did they win anything? Hmm…
Someone needs to do some serious house cleaning at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, they should start by taking the head of president of the Academy Neil Portnow.
Its a bloody circus.
Your Mom
February 9th, 2009
Best alternative music album
Radiohead, “In Rainbows”
Best boxed or special limited edition package
“In Rainbows,” Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell & Christiaan Munro, art directors (Radiohead)
DID my own research courtesy MSNBC.
Grammys have that creepy David Lynch feel to them these days.
Your Mom
February 9th, 2009
Rich, does it look to you like they needed to bring gear? Thom & Jonny hopped on one of the many flights heading to LA everyday with a bag of clothes and Jonny’s guitar. When you aren’t on tour you don’t need your own gear; the Grammy’s facility would provide all that stuff.
Nikita
February 9th, 2009
i saw the video
but i want to see it again
and the nice guys from grammy deleted from everywhere
any link?
canute
February 11th, 2009
[...] Band performed 15 Step at the Grammy Awards earlier this year. The recording is taken from the rehearsals for that show at Sony Studios’ Stage 25 two days before the live broadcast of the 2009 Grammy [...]
Radiohead’s Marching Band collaboration gets release | Radiohead At Ease
December 3rd, 2009
It’s good to see them smiling! !
I’ll be watching them win a handful of “awards”.