Hot air from green rockers Radiohead

In today's Sunday Times you can find an interesting article on how Radiohead are significant contributors to greenhouse gases, according to an environmental audit of their recent tour and record production. The past week, Thom Yorke has fronted the Friends of the Earth campaign that seeks to make the government legally responsible for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 3% a year.

The Sunday Times enlisted the services of the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management (ECCM) to assess the scale of his band’s pollution. It found that 50,000 trees would need to be planted and maintained for 100 years in order to offset the amount of CO2 produced by Hail to the Thief, the group’s last album and tour. Trees neutralise the effects of emissions by absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen.

Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth, defended Yorke and his band. “Everyone in society is contributing to carbon dioxide emissions, and to pick on anyone saying ‘It’s a problem and therefore I must be a total paragon of virtue’ is not a particularly good way of looking at it,” he said.

Bryce Edge, Radiohead’s manager, said he was unsure if the band had taken measures to limit the environmental impact of their tour. “You either do these tours or you don’t,” he said. “I don’t know if the cups or anything are biodegradable, although I’m sure they are.”

The wonderful world of Rock

As you should know by now Thom Yorke is getting quite some press for the latest Friends of the Earth Climate campaign. It seems not everyone likes to see artists support the good cause... like Mr. Buono for the The Daily Vanguard:

I haven't really liked Radiohead for years. Sure, they were pretty cool back in high school when I didn't know as much about what was out there, but now they just put me to sleep. And all that politicking on Hail to the Thief really turned me off. Get over Bush-bashing, for Christ's sake. It's so pass�. And to title your album with some lamely ironic stab at someone who's not even your president? That's bad art. Kennedy stole the election too, but no one bitches about that.

Anyway, I had pretty much forgotten about them since then, and was enjoying it, too. Then I had the misfortune of reading music news and noticed that Thom Yorke is campaigning extensively in England against global warming. Great, like we need another Bono getting in our face about issues that were tired in the '90s. And it's not like "climate change" is something you can campaign against, since it's going to happen naturally no matter what. So please, artists, concentrate on what you can actually have an impact on, like your art that's suffering under the weight of your overbearing political messages.

Radiohead: 5th Best Live Band of all Time

Radiohead were voted the 5th Best Live Band of All Time in The Carling Music Survey. U2 topped the list and were followed by Queen, Oasis (3rd), the Rolling Stones (4th). Carling spokesman Martin Coyle said: "Rock clearly wins out in the Best Live Band of All-Time category which is mostly made up of great British bands like Queen, Radiohead and Coldplay." The survey of 5,000 people nationwide was Commissioned by Carling to celebrate Britain's live music scene.

Thom Yorke features in new video: 'Eat This!'

Thom Yorke features in a new, cutting-edge film, Eat This!, produced by Animal Aid. Thom Yorke's involvement with the project is a major coup for the national campaign group, as the musician - a long-term vegetarian - is known for guarding his privacy and picking his causes carefully. An eloquent and fearless spokesperson for issues such as free trade, human rights and the anti-war movement, this is the first time he has gone on camera to discuss such a personal topic.

This ground-breaking investigation explores the reality behind the livestock industry, and the ethics of eating meat. Inspired by Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine and Morgan Spurlock'sSupersize Me documentaries, Eat This! is a collage of vox pops, animation, guerilla reportage and interviews with experts and celebrities.

In his interview, Thom outlines the reasons he stopped eating meat: "A list of things I guess... first thing was Meat is Murder, The Smiths. The second thing was getting sick all the time every time I ate meat – just getting sick a lot… and the third thing was I started going out with this girl and I wanted to impress her so I pretended I'd been vegetarian all along… and I immediately felt a lot better, a lot healthier. I was concerned, as many people are, about that 'you’re not going to get all the things you need in your diet, you’re going to get sick all the time', but the exact opposite happened to me, so I never looked back, it was never a problem straight off."

Asked whether teenagers should care about factory farming, Thom retorts, "Yeah, they should care that society deems it necessary to create this level of suffering in order for them to eat food that they don’t need, they should care about that. There is enough suffering in the world and if you choose to physically ingest it, then you should at least be aware of what you’re doing rather than assuming that that's your right as a human being to do it."

In the film's 60-second trailer, he gets the last word: "Why the hell would you still wanna eat meat?"

Eat This! is hosted by MTV music presenter, Tim Kash, who probes deep into the psychology and reactions of the participants and, at the same time, makes the viewer examine their own eating habits and morals. Also featured are vegetarian hip-hop artist Common and British women's surf champion, Robyn Sunshine Davies, another veggie. Eat This! is being launched to celebrate National Vegetarian Week (23 – 29 May). An extract from Thom Yorke's interview is available at eatthis.org.uk.

Guardian interview: Thom takes on the world

In today's Guardian there's an interview with Thom Yorke. Quite a good read:

Radiohead are texting the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs. Thom Yorke, Radiohead's Chief Black Pencil, is campaigning for Friends of the Earth's The Big Ask - a crusade for a new law to force the government to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 3% each year - and, as tactics, he is frightening Margaret Beckett.

"Margaret doesn't want to debate carbon emissions or climate change with Thom on Channel 4 News because she had a very bad experience with Boy George on Question Time," says a press officer. "So he's texting her."

Yorke is wearing black leather and a badge that says, "DUMP NUCLEAR". His text lobbying was a triumph; Beckett has collapsed. "Climate change is indisputable and we have to do something dramatic," he sighs. "There is no way climate change will be dealt with unless it's structural - as a law. We can't address the issue of climate change on a voluntary basis.
"You have a certain amount of credit you can cash in with your celebrity, and I'm cashing the rest of my chips in with this. But I like to worry. I'm a neurotic. And instead of internalising it, I'm lucky I can externalise it in this way."

I fear for Mr Yorke. What with all his brooding, introspective music, can he afford to worry about the destruction of the planet? Don't Radiohead ever titter? Yorke looks hurt. "I have a perverse sense of humour. It's a bit dark, that's all." He offers, as evidence, a list of things that make him laugh. "Dead Ringers." Oh, the film about the people with deformed genitals? "No," he says sternly. "Dead Ringers, the bloody comedy thing. And that thing Help, the psychiatric thing."

The list grows. "Have I Got News For You. I also find my music very funny. Paranoid Android, to me, was hilarious. People took it very seriously, but never mind." Is it true that Arthur, in which John Gielgud dressed up as Santa Claus, is his favourite film? "Dudley Moore's very good. Manic. Whatever." He stares into the void, remembering Arthur jokes. I think I see a spectre of a smirk. His head swivels. "How's this related to climate change.

Thom Yorke photos from 'The Big Ask'

Andrew Kendall, who made some amazing pictures of Thom at the Fair Trade Rally, has made another fine shoot of Thom. This series is from yesterday's 'The Big Ask' campaign. Have a look at andrewkendall.com.

Thom's panic attacks and writers block

Thom Yorke has admitted he's been suffering panic attacks and writers block because of his fears over global warming. He's been in Parliament today campaigning to get the law changed on greenhouse gasses.

Friends Of The Earth wants the Government to make sure less carbon dioxide is released into the air. Thom is working on the new Radiohead album at the moment and hopes now he's doing something about the environment he'll be able to write again.

Speaking to the BBC he said: "This was something that was obsessing me and creating a writer's block. To get involved and get stuck in, get the proper information about what's going on has really helped. To be presented with a sane solution to what seems like a problems that's insurmountable, purely selfishly it's extremely useful. I can get on with my work now."

Speaking at the campaign launch at the House of Commons, as reported by ITV, Yorke said: "This seems to be the first sane, reasoned way out of what is basically an international emergency," he said.

He said individuals acting alone could do little to tackle the problem. "Any person out there who has any concern about global warming in this country, who feels powerless like I did, should think about getting involved in the Big Ask.

"There has to be a law passed that addresses carbon emissions as an issue, makes it law, makes 3 per cent cuts. This is the only way we will be able to do it without there being a sudden shift when it is just too late. This is the way to do it calmly, in a reasoned manner before it gets too late. There is no other option."

Thom on 'The Big Ask' and 4 words on the new album

Xfm spoke exclusively to Thom Yorke about his involvement in the newly launched Friends Of The Earth 'Big Ask' campaign as the organisation's 'Special Representative' and got four words about Radiohead's new material.

Yorke has joined the Friends Of The Earth's 'The Big Ask' national campaign, launching a nationwide petition to make the government legally responsible for reducing the UK's impact on global warming. The campaign aims to bring about the cutting of emissions of carbon dioxide by three per cent every year.

Speaking exclusively to Xfm, Yorke explained his reasons for getting involved, and his belief in preventing an increase in global warming: "I think it was because it became increasing obvious that the science behind climate change was proven now and there's no way back. I'd been involved with Friends Of The Earth on and off for a few years and when they asked me to get involved with this, it was 'This is the time to do this right now' and it seemed to be the only reasoned approach to a problem that is almost impossible to comprehend.

"The IPCC - the intergovernmental panel on climate change - issued a report, and the projected consequences that have been written up by the climatologists are just, just mind boggling. And the public are just seeing the surface of this.

"If we put this problem off we are all bringing disaster on ourselves, we are all bringing disaster on ourselves and our children. There is actually a way out of this; unfortunately it's the governments that we have to persuade to administer it. It cannot be done on a voluntary basis. It'sgotta be a law."

When asked how Radiohead's current rehearsal and writing sessions were going, Yorke managed to ignore the subject entirely, saying,

"I don't... Realy... Know... Yet. [laughs]. I avoided that didn't I?"

Climate Campaign launches today

The previously reported Friends of the Earth Climate Campaign launches today. The campaign is calling for the government to change their current policies on global warming has started today. Thom Yorke will be speaking at many television stations on the current campaign today.

XFM reports that Thom Yorke is backing the organisation in calling for thousands of people across the country to back ‘The Big Ask’ a new national climate change campaign to make the Government legally responsible for reducing the UK's impact on global warming

The press, cinema and television campaign launches today (May 25) and centres around reports that the UK is failing to meet its climate change targets and will challenge the Government to bring in a new climate change law.

This would aim to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by three per cent every year, thus making it easier and more affordable for the UK to meet its previously set target of cutting 1990 carbon dioxide levels by 60 per cent by 2050.

On BBC Breakfast Thom said: "A 3% reduction in carbon emissions year on year is the only sane solution to this problem."
An NOP survey for Friends of the Earth suggests 73% of people think ministers are not doing enough on climate change. FOE director Tony Juniper said: "Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces - urgent action is desperately needed but despite government promises to cut carbon dioxide levels, emissions are continuing to rise."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK was on target to meet its obligations under Kyoto - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below base year levels by 2008-12. "This is a significant achievement," the spokesman added.

Thom told BBC Breakfast that individuals taking responsibility by doing their share of recycling was important but was only part of the solution. "There are a series of very large villains that the government know about that need to be dealt with," he added.

For more information and to back the campaign, log onto www.thebigask.com. You might be interested in this article from the Financial Times for some more info. You can also check the FOE press release.

Thom Yorke on BBC Breakfast

Thom Yorke will be on Breakfast on BBC ONE tomorrow morning at about 0840 (BST). He will most likely be talking about the latest Friends of the Earth Climate campaign, which is calling for the government to change their current policies on global warming.

'Paranoid Android' tops ateaseweb.com/phoenix fm poll

'Paranoid Android' topped the ultimate Radiohead Top 20. The poll was broadcast on Phoenix FM in association with ateaseweb.com. Eddie Curry played out listeners' top 20 Radiohead songs on Saturday 21 May 2005.

Thanks to At Ease readers Phoenix FM had a record entry for this poll - a total of 2,273 votes, along with a record listener numbers on line.

Happy Birthday Mr. Selway & more Barbican details

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Phil Selway today. The Radiohead drummer celebrates his 38th birthday. Speaking of Phil... As reported earlier, Phil is one of the guest musicians when the Merce Cunningham Dance Company comes to the Barbican Theatre in June.

Merce Cunningham, the revered American choreographer has scheduled six unique evenings of different choreography, décor and music, specially created for the Barbican stage from 14 – 19 June. The visual artists are: Darren Almond; David Batchelor; Marc Camille Chaimowicz; Enrico David; Richard Hamilton and Roger Hiorns. The musicians are: John Paul Jones; John King; Takehisa Kosugi; Kaffe Mathews; Steve Montague; Scanner (aka Robin Rimbaud) and Philip Selway. Each performance is a different Event making it possible to see six totally new shows.

Phil will only perform on June 14th and June 16th. More information at Barbican's Bite.

Chris Martin wants some Radiohead love

Newsweek had an interview with Coldplay where Chris Martin admits he winced when Radiohead's Thom Yorke, one of his heroes, labeled Coldplay "lifestyle music" -- a dig at the band's universality in films, stores, airports and Mom's iPod.

Chris Martin: "We're like an eager dog just yapping around their heels, and they're trying to kick us away," he jokes. "It's like unrequited love. I'm in love with a lot of things. Some of those things love me back. And some of them don't -- and one of them is Radiohead."

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper on 'I Might Be Wrong'

The newest issue of Blender interviews CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in the "My Music" feature to find out his favourite and least favourite albums. He picked Radiohead's "I Might Be Wrong" live album as the album "I don't understand." Here's what he has to say:

"I don't know them as well as a lot of people do, but I think they have an interesting, different sound. I like to have a mix of different stuff on my iPod and they have a completely different sound from the other things that I would normally listen to. I don't understand what he's singing about all that often. But that's OK. You know, Marisa Monte sings in Portuguese, so it doesn't bother me." [thanks Alex]

U2's Bono on Radiohead

An interview with U2's Bono at Metromix.com has some Radiohead mentions. The interviewer Greg said: "You said the other day, "We've 'Kid A'd' ourselves to death." It was a funny line, but I'm disappointed to hear that. [A reference to Radiohead's 2001 progressive-rock album 'Kid A']."

Bono: I just looked at the pop machine and the machinations of pop and just said, we don't have it in us, we don't have the energy, to have our way with that. I don't hear [Radiohead's] Thom Yorke singing on the radio. I want to hear Radiohead, extraordinary band that they are, on MTV. I want them setting fire to the imaginations of 16, 15, 14 year old kids. I was 14 when John Lennon set fire to my imagination. At that age, you're just [angry], and your moods swing, and it's an incredible time to be hit with something like that. I don't blame them [for not wanting to be on MTV]. But I think, what would my life be like without the Beatles? If the Beatles had just kept going on experimenting after "Sgt. Pepper," I'd be interested to hear it, of course …

All my favorite innovators disappear into the woods and bring something back, and you get to hear the songs distilled from those experiments. I used "Kid A" as an example, because I love the album.

Tonight: Radiohead Top 20 results and broadcast

Tonight's the night. You can listen to the Radiohead top 20 as voted by you all. Don't forget that you can tune in live to Phoenix FM from 8pm UK time TONIGHT (that's 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern, 1900 GMT).

Go to the website and click on Listen Live - you will need Winamp, Real Player or another MP3 player to tune in.

Phoenix FM would love to hear your comments during the show. You can email them at talktous@phoenixfm.com or go to phoenixfm.com/top20-rad.php to email from the website - the results will go up on this page too.

If you have any problems you can access the stream by clicking on http://reddog.wavestreamer.com:9579/listen.pls (or copying and pasting this URL into your media player).

If you miss the show - we will be repeating it in the next couple of weeks, so keep an eye on the schedule for information. But don't miss it!!

LA Weekly interview with Christopher O'Riley

Christopher O'Riley is interviewed in the latest issue of LA Weekly. The interview, focussing on his other musical passion, Elliott Smith, can be found online at LAWeekly.com. Of course, Radiohead are mentioned as well. Here are some bits and pieces:

What do Radiohead think of your work?
I only met Colin and Thom once - a few months after the first record came out. I introduced myself, and Thom immediately said, "We're all so excited about what you're doing." He wanted to know what the classical listeners thought about it, and the influence of classical music on [my renditions]. It wasn't my task to make a Debussy version of "Subterranean Homesick Alien," but my hands have been shaped by certain composers. Thom was infinitely self-deprecating at every turn - he said "How To Disappear Completely" is a mediocre song.

What do you want played at your funeral?
"Street Spirit (Fade Out)" by Radiohead - my version of it. Someone's going to have to learn it.

Oh, and if you're in the LA area... don't forget to check Chris out on Thursday, May 26, at UCLA's Royce Hall to hear some Radiohead and Elliott Smith... the classical way.

Thom backs Friends of the Earth Climate campaign

Thom Yorke has joined a new Friends of the Earth Climate campaign calling for the government to change their current policies on global warming, XFM reports today.

Thom is backing the organisation in calling for thousands of people across the country to back 'The Big Ask' a new national climate change campaign to make the Government legally responsible for reducing the UK's impact on global warming

The press, cinema and television campaign launches on May 25 and centres around reports that the UK is failing to meet its climate change targets and will challenge the Government to bring in a new climate change law.

This would aim to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by three per cent every year, thus making it easier and more affordable for the UK to meet its previously set target of cutting 1990 carbon dioxide levels by 60 per cent by 2050. As 'Special Representative' for Friends of the Earth, Thom Yorke himself will be attending and speaking at a press conference at Westminster on the campaign launch day Wednesday May 25.

Radiohead by the Dresden Dolls & Nickel Creek

The Dresden Dolls played a gig in Boston last night, supporting Nine Inch Nails. The band brought the drummer from Nine Inch Nails out to sit in with them and they played a cover of Radiohead's 'Karma Police'.

Earlier this week Nickel Creek played a gig at St. Olaf's College in Northfield where they played 'Nice Dream', which was the first time they've played the song. Nickel Creek have played Radiohead's 'Creep' & 'Just' on past shows in 2004 as well as 'The National Anthem', during a medley toward the end of a show in Cary, NC in fall 2002.

[Thanks Ed, Travis & Farrell]

New album not out before February 2006

Radiohead are working on 15 songs at the moment with two of them described as "already done and amazing", Green Plastic reports. The band first got together back in January and Thom played a bunch of his new songs for the others. Having never heard the songs before, the rest of the band just jumped in and started adding their own parts.

The whole recording process has been described as "unorganized" and very different than the way Radiohead has recorded before. The new album should be finished by December with a release date in Februay or March 2006. Touring will possibly begin in February 2006.

Radiohead's 'Lucky' on Six Feet Under Soundtrack

Radiohead's 'Lucky' is included on a forthcoming soundtrack of 'Six feet Under'. The second soundtrack for the television series, entitled 'Six Feet Under: Everything Ends', will be released on June 21st through Astralwerks.

Radiohead's 'Lucky', previously released in 1996 on the HELP album and later on Radiohead's 1997 classic 'OK Computer', has been played in one of the Six Feet Under episodes last year. Here's the full tracklisting of the soundtrack:

01 Nina Simone 'Feelin' Good'
02 Coldplay 'A Rush of Blood to the Head'
03 Sia 'Breathe Me'
04 Phoenix 'Everything Is Everything'
05 Irma Thomas 'Time is on My Side'
06 Radiohead 'Lucky'
07 Jem 'Amazing Life'
08 Bebel Gilberto 'Aganjú'
09 Interpol (Exclusive New Track)
10 Caesars 'Don't Fear The Reaper'
11 Death Cab For Cutie 'Transatlanticism'
12 The Arcade Fire (Exclusive New Track)

A SMALL ANNOUNCEMENT

Stanley has been spamming quite some inboxes lately. Here's another one, received through w.a.s.t.e. this time:

A SMALL ANNOUNCEMENT: The second chapter of My Giro will be available to download as a PDF from www.slowlydownward.com from the 12th May. The first chapter will still be available too. In case you missed it. For those unfamiliar with the term, 'giro' is short for 'girocheque', which is what you get every fortnight if you are on the dole in the UK. If you're lucky.

-Stanley Donwwod, prop. Slowly Downward Manufactory.

bye

Vote for Radiohead's 'Creep' at the BBC Radio 2

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Ivor Novello Awards the Academy has teamed up with BBC Radio 2's Ken Bruce Show to go in search of the nations favourite Songs Of The Decades.

Ken Bruce features five songs from 1985-1994 today. Radiohead's 'Creep' is one of the songs nominated. You can vote via text messages. Listen to BBC Radio 2 for more instructions and information on the Ivors. Radiohead have won 2 Ivor Novello Awards in 1997. 'Karma Police' (Best contemporary song) and 'Paranoid Android' (Best song - musically and lyrically). [thanks Chris]

Win limited edition Stanley Donwood prints!

Grammy Award winning Stanley Donwood has returned to the studio to hand-produce a limited edition series of screen prints based on all his famed Radiohead designs and you could win one!

NME have got a one-off print, 'Operation Phantom Fury', so-called after the codename for the US military assault on Falluja, painted, hand-gilded and then signed by Stanley, to give away. A similar print recently auctioned for £1,800 so you could wind up owning something very special indeed! What's more - we've got a second prize of a set of two prints, 'Escape' and 'Alarm' to give away, again, both hand produced and signed by the artist.

To enter this competition answer the question printed on page 20 in this week's issue of NME, dated May 14, on sale across the UK from Wednesday May 11.

Click here to enter

Radiohead Chat Room returns

The Radiohead Chat Room has returned after a long absence. Stick around and chew the fat at ateaseweb.com/radioheadchat.

'OK Computer' drops on Dutch all time album chart

Radiohead's 'OK Computer' was recently voted the best album ever in the UK, but on Radio 3FM's annual album list 'De Hemelse 100' the classic album dropped from 1 to number 5, with Pearl Jam's 'Ten' taking over the top spot. The list, broadcast today, was compiled by 3FM listeners. 'The Bends' is now ranked at 33.

Server change

As you have noticed, ateaseweb.com was offline yesterday and most of today. This has to do with a server change. The site changed servers and most parts of the site are not working yet. I will keep you updated... but rest assured.. work is in progress.

Update: The message board is alive and kicking again... ateaseweb.com/mb" will be the permanent address from now on.

For the past few days I haven't received any e-mails. I suppose that everything that was sent got lost in cyberspace and it's not really working right now either. So if you have sent anything to adriaan@ateaseweb.com, please resend it to info@a3sign.nl for the time being. thanks.

Manufactory Press Release

Following Stanley's apologies for the shop not working fully on his site, an annoucement was sent out by w.a.s.t.e. today:

The Manufactory is open at www.slowlydownward.com From 1st May 2005

You are invited to visit the Manufactory,
either to peruse the Library or browse
the Shop, where a Selection of Items
are offered for Sale to the Publick.

shop pdf

my giro

A bit of Radiohead at Coachella '05

After Radiohead's performance at Coachella last year, this year's edition had some Radiohead coming from the stage as well. Jamie Cullum played his version of 'High and Dry' (currently out as a single) and developed it into a riff from 'Paranoid Android', and then back to 'High and Dry', with improvising all over. [thanks Kurt]

Hold on... usual dopey excuses

Responding to the earlier report of Stanley Donwood's new site. Apparently, not everything is working yet as Stanley wrote in:

helo i went and redid my site without making sure everything worked ho hum but youll get an email release soon saying that it all will work

i hope

apologies for any confusion

salut!
stanley

bye

Speaking of which, the at ease mb has recovered from the latest crash. You can find the new/old board by clicking on the msg board link on top of this page. This is a temporary link as some dns servers will change. This might cause some downtime somewhere this week... depending on where you are and what you had for breakfast.

No Radiohead news... here's LPG

Nope, nothing to see here. No Radiohead news at all. Not even Britney Spears buying 'The Bends' or 'Everything in its right place' being played on your favourite gardening/DIY show. Let's abuse this opportunity for some new music. LPG debuted with their album 'I fear no foe' last month and this is what it sounds like: Enjoy!