...AND THE Q INTERVIEW
[30-08-00] In an interview with Q Magazine to be published tomorrow, Yorke describes his mental state prior to the recording of 'Kid A' in January 1999 as "one of the lowest points of my life". He said: "New Year's Eve '98 was one of the lowest points of my life. I felt like I was going crazy. Every time I picked up a guitar I got the horrors. I would start writing a song, stop after 16 bars, hide it away in a drawer, look at it again, tear it up, destroy it...I was sinking down and down."

Elsewhere in the interview, guitarist Ed O'Brien said that the band had to learn "how to be a participant in a song, without actually playing a note", something which caused tension within the band. He continued: "Thom drove the album, more so than on any other album. It was an eye-opener for me. He has a great art-school ethic. He did art at university and had that kind of drive: 'OK, I've done that - now I'm going to move on'. I think Thom is in the line of the John Lennons, the David Bowies...he has an incredible gift." [from NME. read the full story here]

The band also reveal their top secret publicity photographs for the launch of the album, a series of manipulated portraits created by Thom Yorke and his "mate Dan", which depict each band member with modified features and pale eyes. The experiment he says, was because he's "fed up of seeing my face everywhere. It got to the point where it didn't feel like I owned it. We're not interested in being celebrities, and others seem to have different plans for us. I'd like to see them try to put these pictures on a poster [giggles]". [from www.qonline.co.uk]

THOM YORKE INTERVIEW
[30-08-00] Thom Yorke was interviewed by Juice's Lauren Zoric. Yorke revealed that the period following the phenomenal success of OK Computer was one of great pain: "I was a complete fucking mess. I mean really, really ill." He says that it's all behind him now and that his post-Computer depression was a long time in the making. "For, like, ten years," he recalls, with the worst aspect being "not being able to really connect with anything. Basically just becoming unhinged. Completely unhinged."

There will be no singles or music videos accompanying the release of Kid A. This interview, the world's first since the album's completion, is one of only three interviews Radiohead will do to promote the record. Instead, they are arranging the production of a series of 10-40 second downloadable ads.

Yorke defends this stance by comparing the ads with video clips, saying that videos are basically little more than promotional tools anyway anyway. "Although we owe them a lot, the whole MTV thing and what it did to music just got way out of hand," Yorke elaborated. "The thing that really did my head in was going home and turning on the TV and the ads for fucking banks and cars being more like MTV videos than the MTV videos. It seemed like there was nowhere to go."

"[It gets to a point where] you just hear a sound and it doesn't matter what you do, you're not going to respond to it, even though that's what you should be doing, even though that's what you've always done," Yorke explained. "You can't just sit in a room together and play like that for the rest of your fucking lives and expect it to be wonderful. It's just not going to happen."

you'll be able to read the full interview with Yorke in the October issue of JUICE magazine, which goes on sale on September 25. more on www.juice.net

 

JAM MUSIC REVIEWS 'KID A'
[30-08-00] Jam Music reviewed 'kid a' on their website.
JAM! Music attended a media-only listening session in Toronto Wednesday for "Kid A,"  A track-by-track breakdown is included. "If anything, "Kid A" sounds very much like a record largely written in the studio -- more a collection of interesting sounds and ideas, rather than the more structured song format that might be familiar to Radiohead fans who first embraced the group on the strength of "Creep," "Just" and "High And Dry." [read the full review here]

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
[30-08-00] Radiohead has been confirmed to perform Oct. 14 on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" program, in support of the U.K. act's long-awaited fourth album, "Kid A," due on Capitol Oct. 2 internationally and a day later in North America.

No proper North American tour dates have yet been scheduled, although rumors are swirling that Radiohead will turn up for surprise shows in New York and Los Angeles while its members are in the U.S. Billboard's Sept. 16 issue will feature an interview with the band.
[from Billboard, thanks Sean]

SUNDANCE: MEETING PEOPLE...
[30-08-00] The Sundance Channel [USA] will air the Radiohead documentary, "Meeting People Is Easy," on September 6, at 2:35 pm EST. The channel will broadcast the documentary as well on 12, 18, 24, 28 & 29th September.


ANOTHER 'BLIP' FROM W.A.S.T.E.
[29-08-00] Here's another one of those media blips.
Title: Deathbear. Click here to check it out.

there are more blips available in the multimedia section

[Thanks to w.a.s.t.e.]

THOM YORKE INTERVIEWED
[29-08-00] Thom Yorke has done some exclusive interviews. They're Yorke's first interviews to promote the album and there are only three worldwide he has agreed to. The magazines are Q (UK) The Juice (Australia) and Spin (US).

Lauren Zoric (The Juice) sat down with Thom Yorke for a DNM (deep and meaningful) chat at a Cardiff cafe. Zoric, still on cloud nine after her major score, described the interview -- which lasted for more than an hour -- as "revealing." We'll have more tomorrow... (from The Juice - Australia)

MORE 'KID A' PLAYBACKS
[28-08-00] Some more information on organised playbacks of Kid A in the UK from w.a.s.t.e.: Here's an idea that may please some people. The very nice chaps at the record company are letting people listen to KID A before it is released..... in fact on the 4th or 7th of sept, depending on where you live.
Here's how: You will need to go to your local indie record shop (see list below) to queue for your ticket early on 2 September (probably earlier than opening time, yikes!!) - there should be posters up instore about the playbacks. Tickets will be handed out on a first come, first served basis - strictly 1 ticket per person. The playbacks on either 4th or 7th September (depending on city) will start at 7pm and finishing     around 9pm at each venue.

MANCHESTER Shops: Picadilly, Vibes (in Bury), X Records (in Bolton) Playback date: Monday 4 September Venue: The Roadhouse, 8 Newton St, Piccadilly, Manchester

GLASGOW  Shops: Fopp, Avalanche, Record Factory (in Paisley) Playback date: Monday 4 September, Venue: King Tuts, 272A St Vincents Street, Glasgow

NEWCASTLE Shops: Windows, RPM, Spin Playback date: Thursday 7 September, Venue: The Cluny, Lime Street, Newcastle 

OXFORD Shops: Polar Bear, Chalkys (in Banbury), Modern Music (in Abingdon),  Powerplay (in Newbury), Music Box (in Wallingford) Playback date: Thursday 7 September, Venue: Zodiac, 190 Cowley Road, Oxford

CARDIFF Shops: Spillers, Hitman (in Newport), Diverse (in Newport) Playback date: Thursday 7 September Venue: Ifor Bach, 11 Womanby Street, City Centre, Cardiff 

[thanks Max]

LISTEN TO 'KID A' ON BBC R1
BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq attended one of the hearings, and said that it was marvelous, and eventually described it thus: "Radiohead have written the best movie soundtrack ever and played it whilst jumping backwards out of an aeroplane" 

He announced that Radio 1 would the first to play album tracks, on September 18th, with band members commenting on them.

[Thanks Jeremy]

A LIVE VIDEO COMING UP?!
[24-08-00] Radiohead, are working once again with director Grant Gee. The director made their 'Meeting People Is Easy' documentary - was speaking last week at a studio in London. He said that he is to film live video footage with Radiohead, as they are not making any videos or release singles from, 'Kid A'.

Co-manager Chris Hufford, speaking in this week’s Music Week, said: "Doing a commercial single doesn’t make any sense at all with what they're trying to do with their music. Instead, radio programmers in every territory are being offered the opportunity to choose which tracks to play themselves.

"Over the past three records Radiohead have found it harder and harder to fit the way they perceive their creativity and what they're doing within the way the industry has gone with its focus on music as commodity. We had no choice - the band couldn't go through the traditional procedure again."
[from NME: read full story here]

'KID A' COVER PRESENTED
[24-08-00] Stanley Donwood revealed the cover of the new album. There was a lot of speculation of what the cover would look like. As expected, a new radiohead font is also featured on the cover radiohead's fourth album 'kid a'. Click here to view full size

Other cool stuff is available at capitol records' website. Download 4 media blips and e-mail backgrounds. Go here to check it out.

ANOTHER KID A REVIEW
[23-08-00] Here's a 'Kid A' review from the internet edition of UK's Telegraph. "So what's Kid A like? Before we get to the meat, a brief description of the circumstances under which I listened to it. Finished copies of the album, set for release by Parlophone on October 2, have not yet been sent out to journalists; instead, we were invited to go along to a warehouse in Chalk Farm, north London, for a one-off playback. Thus I found myself one of 20-odd people lounging on heaps of cushions, wearing cordless headphones and nibbling exotic snacks. A man behind a curtain pushed a button, and it began" (....) "OK Computer was a thoroughly weird album, but its enormous popularity was down to the fact that it was also highly approachable and had some top tunes. Kid A is not really comparable, being another species altogether. Commercially, it's probably suicidal. Musically, it sounds, on the basis of one hearing, like nothing I've heard before. And I can't wait to hear it again."
Click here for the full review [Thanks Chikara]

UPCOMING  (RE)RELEASES
[19-08-00] Radiohead have officially released some video 'blips' - artwork by the band accompanies with audio from Kid A - to see them, go to Planet Telex's news section

In the UK, the UK versions (CD's 1 and 2 with all the original B-sides) of the singles from The Bends (High & Dry / Planet Telex, Just, Fake Plastic Trees and Street Spirit) will be reissued to the shops on the 4th September. The singles from OK Computer (Paranoid Android, Karma Police and No Surprises) will be reissued on the 18th September.

As previously reported, the initial pressings of the Kid A CD will include a hidden booklet behind the CD tray. These should be available worldwide on  the release date, but later pressings will not have the extra booklet. The vinyl version will be a 10" double gatefold format. Rumours of appearances by the band soon in North America have beensurfacing - one-off gigs in Toronto and Los Angeles in mid October, as well as a live appearance on Saturday Night Live. (thanks Max)

NME POSTS FIRST REVIEW
[17-08-00] Read the first press review of 'kid a'. Here are the views of the NME. Click here

KID A 'W.A.S.T.E. PLAYBACK
[12-08-00] If you can be in London on the Thursday 17th August during the day and would like to be one of the first to hear the new album please read on. At a secret venue in somewhere in London 100, w.a.s.t.e. members will get the opportunity to listen to Kid A. If you can definitely be in London on the 17th August send one (and only one) e-mail with your name as the subject to radiohead@waste.uk.com. The first fifty entries chosen at random will be notified (on Tuesday 15th by return e-mail) of the details of the playback sessions. You will be allowed 2 places (so you can bring a friend) for one of the sessions that will take place during the day of the 17th. As yet we cannot confirm the timings so please make sure you can be free all day. You may have to call in sick... If you haven't heard anything by the end of Tuesday 15th, assume that you haven't been chosen. Please do not email w.a.s.t.e. otherwise about the playbacks. Good luck everybody

CAPITOL PRESS RELEASE
[11-08-00] here are the most important excerpts from capitol's press release (read it in full here):

Kid A will be released as a limited edition package to include 28 page booklet, plus an additional 12 page booklet hidden inside

CD will contain direct link to "Lost Children", a hidden website containing constantly changing radiohead "rarities"

Air studios performance - live performance september 4-5 for 200-300 invited guests (band to perform kid a in its entirety)

Webcast - 4 hour webcast at the end of august from the band's studio in oxford (will include live performances, dj sessions, etc)

Full lp and promo cd of 1st track "optimistic" will be hand delivered to key alt/rock programmers on 9/18 worldwide radio date - 10" vinyl (double gatefold jacket)

A collection of 40-50 video blips are being produced. these will vary from 15-60 seconds and will feature music from kid a. animation, still photography and live band footage make up the blips and will be used for
local/regional video shows, internet and mtv (see news story below)

at radiohead.com world creates a radiohead video -- create a 24 hour channel where the world creates a radiohead video using their own images. kid a would play contiuously behind these images. and fans create their own e-cards using audio clips, spoken words and animated images


VIDEO COLLABORATION
[11-08-00] Last night on Channel 4's (uk) mirrorball, Shynola revealed they are to collaborate with Radiohead for Kid A. Shynola who have done videos for Grooverider and Cypress Hill have also done adverts including one for NatWest Bank The Group of 4 animators have said they are excited to be doing work for the new album. They also said it was like there dreams come true as they are all big fans. [Thanks Mustapha]

ALBUM #5, CANAL+, US TOUR 
[11-08-00] Radiohead will release another album will come out in february 2001. The band will be attending the french show Nulle part ailleurs (Canal+), on september 18th 2000. They're supposed to play three songs and do an interview. The north american tour should start in 2001.
[thanks Aurelien & Mona]

KID A PREVIEW
[10-08-00] AurŽlien & Mona from the french Radiohead fanclub were priviliged to listen to a copy of 'Kid A'... Go to ne pas a.v.a.l.e.r.  for their personal review on the new tracks. 

Here are some excerpts: The cover of the album is a mountain scene, with a town at the bottom and has 'radiohead' is written small in white and with 'kid a' in large red writing. The booklet has 16 pages.

Kid A  [49:51]:

Everything in it's right place [4:12]
weird intro, soft voice, short electric organ solo, Thom's voice is cut by a sampler.

Kid A [4:48]
Intro Disney style music box. Then, as onstage, drums, but electronic, sampled. Piano really soft. Sampled voice, filtered, maybe slowed (deeper).

The National Anthem [5:49]
Less weird than onstage. Longer intro. Heavy bass, saxophone and a complete brass band 

How to disappear completely [5:55]
Intro guitar solo.Really close to the live version. Brass like the end of "a Day in the life" (Beatles).

Treefingers [4:47]
Organ solo (church?) slow. Instrumental.

Optimistic + In Limbo [5:00 + 3:49 = 8:49] 
Optimistic is slower than onstage. But its heavy rhythm awakes us. This contrast gives a weird sensation, slow seems fast... and makes us aware of our own hearts beating. The song comes from the right speaker. technical error? 1:20 The sound goes to the left, then centers. A very fast sound, drumlike, behind the sound.4:50 the sound morphs into some kind of TV series music, and it's. In Limbo, chained. Exactly like onstage

Idioteque [5:35]
Here are some of the lyrics. (some of them seems fake, but it's the real thing.)

Morning Bell [4:30]
Slower than onstage, same feeling as above, it contrasts with Idioteque. The voice is close from the mike, more intimate and warm than on OK Computer. Sounds like ˆ acoustic Creep. 

Motion Picture Soundtrack [3:19]
Little noises in the back, Rachel in the kitchen? No, it's the sign of a real church organ. Wonderful echo. Very very slow. For those who asked, it's the Red wine version. Sounds like Marilyn burial. 

Hidden track [0:59]
Instrumental. End of the film music. Sounds like. the intro of another one. Sublime. Wind in the sand, crystal that sing, harp, dream... We'd like to get asleep with it, we'd like it to go on, but. 0:50 music cuts. sharp.


SUPPORT ACTS CONFIRMED
[04-08-00] Sigur Ros (see http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk) and Clinic (see http://surf.to/clinic) have been confirmed as a support act for all of the band's tent tour dates. Sigur Ros will cover the first dates up to the final Paris date, where Clinic will take over for the rest.
[thanks Max]

And thanks to Ken who found out about the music played in between gigs of the support act and radiohead. it's Whispering Grass / The Original Ink Spots by The Ink Spots. Apparently it was Jonny's personal choice...so there you go...approximately
the first 8/9 tracks were played each time while the set was changed [thanks Ken]