Story by Anne Erickson

Radiohead bass player Colin Greenwood says the bands plan to start work on their new album at the ‘end of summer’

Radiohead fans might not have to wait too much longer for new music from the bunch. According to bass player Colin Greenwood, the band will start working on their upcoming studio album towards the end of the summer. As Greenwood explains, the group will enter the studio after frontman Thom Yorke wraps up the promotional run for “Amok,” the new album from his side band, Atoms for Peace, which also brings together Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, percussionist Mauro Refosco and drummer Joey Waronker.

“We’re taking some time out whilst the…people are…doing some other stuff, doing their own things, and the plan is to get back together again [at the] end of summer,” Greenwood told the BBC Radio 6 .

As for the Atoms for Peace project, “Amok” arrives in stores and online outlets on Feb. 26, and Yorke will be putting on three concerts in honor of the release over the next month. Each of the performances will offer DJ sets by Yorke and Godrich, as well as special guests Actress and Throwing Snow at the London gig on Feb. 22 and Shed and Anstam at the Berlin show on March 8. The final show will take place on March 14 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, and specials guests for that show are pending.

Story by Anne Erickson

Atoms for Peace are set to play three special ‘Amok’ launch events

Atoms for Peace – the musical project that brings together the talents of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, percussionist Mauro Refosco and drummer Joey Waronker – are coming up on the release of their debut full-length, “Amok.” The album reaches stores and online outlets on Feb. 26 via XL Recordings, and the group has booked a string of special launch events in honor of the release.

The events will take place in at the Oval Space in London on Feb. 22, the Berghain in Berlin on March 8 and the La Poisson Rouge in New York on March 14. Each night will offer a performance from Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich, coined “two turntables & a microphone” on Twitter, as well as performances by special guests.

The New York and London dates are already sold out, but Berlin tickets are still available. For more details and how to purchase tickets, visit Atoms for Peace’s official website. “Amok” is set feature nine tracks and will be available in CD, digital download and vinyl formats.

Story by Cat Badra

Radiohead frontman says his new release with Atoms for Peace ‘doesn’t sound like a band playing’

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has been focused on his band Atoms for Peace as of late, which also features Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, percussionist Mauro Refosco and drummer Joey Waronker. The group has their debut studio album, “Amok,” due out Feb. 26, and Yorke says the release doesn’t sound like a solo album, but doesn’t sound like a band album, either.

“It’s not like ‘The Eraser’ [his 2006’s solo album] at all,” Yorke told U.K. magazine Dazed & Confused, when asked about the upcoming set. “But it’s not a band album either; it doesn’t sound like a band playing. If it were up to me, every track would be 10 minutes long…to me, the Atoms album is not dance-y enough.”

In other news, Yorke and Godrich have unearthed 25 minutes of unreleased solo material and remixes as an exclusive Dazed Digital mix on Soundcloud. The track listing features a mix of tunes from Thom Yorke’s solo material, Radiohead, Atoms for Piece, Liars, Mali Musicians, Anstam and beyond. Check out the stream via the Dazed & Confused website.

Story by Cat Badra

Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood is writing music for the Australian Chamber Orchestra

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has been busy with a secret side project of sorts: working as a classical composer for the Australian Chamber Orchestra. As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, following Radiohead’s Australian tour this past November, Greenwood stayed in Sydney to put his talents towards a composition commissioned by the orchestra.

“I’ve been spending an awful lot of time in dressing rooms the last six months working on this and trying to imagine [it],” Greenwood said. “That’s why I turned up with three quarters of it on paper already, because I’d rather make a lot of mistakes and edit away rather than work with a skeleton and add to it.”

This isn’t Greenwood’s first time working in the symphonic realm. He served as a composer-in-residence with the prestigious BBC Concert Orchestra in 2004 and 2005. He was also previously affiliated with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as the group played his orchestral work “Popcorn Superhet Receiver” back in 2010.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s artistic director Richard Tognetti is thrilled to have Greenwood on board. “I think the amazing thing about Jonny is he might be a world first [because of] this incredible acumen that he has for being able to write for an orchestra coming from the background of being in a band,” he said.

Story by Charles Ken

Radiohead eam with fans to put together a video featuring footage from the band’s Sept. 29 New York City concert

Radiohead are known for their mesmerizing live shows, buoyed by frontman Thom Yorke’s knack for bringing enduring, experimental sounds to every stage he graces. Now, fans who didn’t make it out to catch Radiohead’s latest tour in support of their 2011 release, “The King of Limbs,” have the chance to enjoy all the goodness they missed the first time around.

Fans of the Radiohead website RadioHub have put together a special video of the group’s Sept. 29 show at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Radiohead actually got in on the fun, as the guys provided soundboard quality audio to the project.

The full-length concert video packs 21 trippy tracks, including “Bloom,” “Little by Little,” “Staircase,” “All I Need,” “Subterranean Homesick Alien,” “Everything is Its Right Place,” “Lotus Flower,” “The Daily Mail,” “15 Step,” “Supercollider,” “Morning Mr. Magpie” and more. The set included nearly every track from “The King of Limbs.”

Fans can download the concert via this link. The video is also up on YouTube. Fans who watch the show are encouraged to donate money to the Haiti Earthquake Fund, the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders.

Story by Cat Badra

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke speaks out about his side super group, Atoms for Peace

Any good Radiohead fan should know that frontman Thom Yorke has another group, Atoms for Peace, which also features drummer Joey Waronker, bass player Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead co-producer Nigel Godrich. Now, Yorke and company have announced that Atoms for Peace will release their debut album, “Amok,” in 2013.

Yorke says the writing process for Atoms for Peace’s upcoming album was pretty crazy. In fact, since the band didn’t have anything written before going into the studio to record, the process was extra hectic. “It was a form of madness,” Yorke told Rolling Stone. “We’d go in at midday and pretty much work through to 10. We were playing all the time. It was bonkers.”

As for what to expect from the upcoming album, Yorke says it’s very electronic music. “One of the things we were most excited about was ending up with a record where you weren’t quite sure where the human starts and the machine ends,” he explained. “But the best tunes I dance to always have at least one good vocal idea. There’s no such thing, to me, as a good tune with no vocals.”

“Amok” is set to arrive digitally via all online outlets on Jan. 28, 2013. For more about Atoms for Peace, check out the band’s weird and wacky official website.

Story by Charles Ken

PBS’ Austin City Limits kicks off tonight, featuring alternative rockers Radiohead

The 38th season of Austin City Limits kicks off tonight (Oct. 6), and who better to set off the season than legendary alternative rockers Radiohead? Thom Yorke and company will be featured on the show tonight in an episode that was taped earlier this year at the intimate, 800-person capacity Moody Theater in Austin. What makes the appearance even more special is that tonight is Radiohead’s debut appearance on the high-profile PBS series.

As for what to expect from Radiohead’s set, the band will play 11 songs spanning several of their albums: 2011’s “The King of Limbs,” 2007’s “In Rainbows,” 2003’s “Hail to the Thief,” 2000’s “Kid A” and 1997’s “OK Computer.” Check out the full setlist below.

Look up your local listings for details on when the PBS show will air in your area. Previous bands who have played on the show include Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Wilco and Arcade Fire, among others.

Radiohead’s Austin City Limits Setlist:

“Bloom”
“The Daily Mail”
“Myxomatosis’
“Morning Mr. Magpie”
“The Amazing Sounds of Orgy”
“Staircase”
“Identikit”
“There There”
“Feral”
“Idioteque”
“Paranoid Android”

Story by Charles Ken

Upcoming ‘Austin City Limits’ packs performances from Radiohead, the Shins and more

PBS’ popular music television series “Austin City Limits” has announced the artists lined up for its 38th season, and the list is impressive. Radiohead, the Shins, Bon Iver and Dr. Dog are just a few of the musicians slated to lend their talents to the show’s new season, which starts in October.

“We’re proud to continue the tradition of presenting a diverse, eclectic mix of some of the most original music being made today,” Austin City Limits executive producer Terry Lickona said in an official statement. “One thing that hasn’t changed in the last 38 years is that ‘Austin City Limits’ has a way of bringing out the best in an artist’s performance — whether it’s a rising new star or a legend. This year is no exception.”

Thom Yorke and Radiohead will set off the season on Oct. 6, Bon Iver’s episode will air on Oct. 13 and the Shins and Dr. Dog will share an episode airing on Oct. 27. On top of the regular season, a special performance from rockers Alabama Shakes will air during an episode slated to run on Nov. 10, named “ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2012.”

Viewers looking for a teaser of what’s ahead are in luck, as the show has a posted a sneak preview of Radiohead’s live performance of “Morning Mr. Magpie” and Bon Iver’s presentation of “Towers.” For more information, head to ACLTV.com.

Story by Charles Ken

Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich has booked Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foster the People and more for the new season of his TV series

Radiohead producer and engineer Nigel Godrich has booked a lengthy list of high-profile musicians to be involved in the upcoming season of his podcast-turned-TV-series “From the Basement.” Entertainment Weekly reports that Godrich’s upcoming third season of the series will feature performances by none other than the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Shins, Foster the People and Feist, to name a few. Call it an alternative rock fan’s dream lineup! In addition, Godrich has announced that he’s taking the series one step further this year by broadcasting the shows in 3D.

“I was quite cynical about it [3D] when it was suggested to me,” Godrich told Entertainment Weekly. “I’m very careful about anything that seems like a gimmick, but the technology is so good and it looks so amazing. When you see a photograph of an Impressionist painting, it doesn’t really make sense until you go to France and stand in the museum and watch this thing vibrate in front of your face. It really is another level of intimacy, and it really translates in a really sophisticated way.”

Godrich has yet to announced the date that the series is set to premiere, but he did drop the news that the show will air on the 3D network, 3net, during the summer months. If you can’t catch the show on TV, you can also watch the series in 2D online via Crackle.com.

Story by Cat Badra

Radiohead concert in Canada canceled following stage collapse

Alternative rock band Radiohead were scheduled to play a sold-out show in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday (June 16), but the show was canceled after the stage collapsed and one man was killed, according to The Star.

Just before 4 p.m., stage scaffolding at Downsview Park fell down, and according to police reports, a man in his thirties was caught underneath the heavy debris and was killed by a “heavy, crushing injury.” Another man was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and paramedics assisted two other men for minor injuries at the location of the collapse. Everyone injured were staff working on the stage, not fans. It’s still under investigation what caused the collapse, since the weather that evening was mild.

The Radiohead show — marking the 15th anniversary of the release of the group’s seminal full-length “OK Computer” — was supposed to start at 7:30 p.m. and booked to be the headlining act for Toronto’s North by Northwest Music Festival.

In the wake of the tragedy, Radiohead tweeted a message to fans: “Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight’s [show] at Downsview Park tonight has been cancelled. Fans are advised not to make their way to the venue.”

This isn’t the first time a stage collapse has caused calamity. Last summer, seven people’s lives were taken in Indiana when a stage buckled at a Sugarland concert. Three people were also injured when a stage came down at a Cheap Trick concert in Ottawa, Canada.