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ISSUE 3 JAIM-MAR 96 too hard on the brakes again what if these brakes just give in what if they don’t get out of the wa what if there’s someone overtaking? i’m going out for a little drive and it could be the last time you see me alive could be an idiot on the road the only kick in life is pumping his steel wrap me up |p the back of a trunk packed with foam and blind drunk they won’t ever take me alive cos they all drive... don’t die on the motorway the moon would freeze the plants would die couldn’t cope if you crashed today all the things i forgot to say i’m going out for a little drive and it could be the last time you see me alive what if the car loses control? what if there’s someone overtaking? wrap me up the back of a trunk packed with foam and blind drunk they won||ever take me alive cos|!hey all drive killer cars words by radiohead, published by warner ohappell music reproduced with kind permission Radioheadlines...Radiohead lines...Radiohead Headitorial ... News reaches us of a Radiohead fan who purchased the biggest envelope she could find and in it sent the tiniest scrap of paper to a big Welcome to the first Radiohead cheese at Radio 1 with the message “Why don't you play Lucky, you World Service issue of 1996. A bastards?”... High and Dry was a fairly recent release in the USA and new year, a time for change and all was accompanied there by a fresh promo vid, shot in the style of Pulp that. With this in mind, Mike, my Fiction! Demand a UK viewing now... Thom is amongst several Faithful Assistant and Advisor, has decided to concentrate on a rock artistes, including Goldie and Supergrass, to have artwork exhibited at ‘n’ roll career with his band, the Blue Note Gallery (1 Hoxton Square, London, Nl) throughout Sarah's Lovers (remember, you Shelter Week, 26 Feb to 3 Mar. Admission is free, and opening times heard it here first!). Replacing are Mon to Fri from 10.30am to 6pm, Sat and Sun from 1pm to 6pm. Mike as my cohort is the wonder¬ All pieces will be auctioned on 4 Mar with the proceeds going to ful Suw Charman, who takes the credit for the dapper look of this Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People... Radiohead issue. Talking of staff, Nina, our received three nominations for the Brit Awards: Best Band, Best Video would-be Letters Editor, is on the (Just) and Best Album (The Bends), so all limbs crossed for 19 Feb... verge of quitting and is seriously We have it on good authority that Take That were heard singing Just as considering a post at the new they walked past Radiohead’s dressing room at the Smash Hits Poll Outhere Brothers fanzine. Save Winners’ Party. Obviously they then realised that they’d never reach this poor girl from obscurity and drop her a line. The best letter in those heady heights and split up on the spot... each issue will receive a headlines...Radiohead lines...Radioheadlines.. Radiohead goodie, so start writing to The Usual Address: Competition Three Radiohead World Service 151 High Road It's not just Anthea Turner who offers you a rollover jackpot! Yes Trimley-St-Mary folks, we bring forward the My Iron Lung promo double 12" set and Ipswich throw in a rather natty Radiohead jacket (size large). Subscriptions are on offer to two runners up. So, the question: Suffolk IP 10 OTW Which single and which movie theme did Radiohead perform on MTV on August 18th 1995? A good chunk of this issue is made up of reviews from the autumn UK Please send your answer to The Usual Address, to arrive before 15 tour, from both the music press Apr. Congratulations to Ryan Lambert of Felixstowe who won our and RWS readers, as well as a competition in Issue One and bags the Just promo 12" and a subscrip¬ couple of exclusive interviews and tion. Subs also go to Anneline Groves of Kent and Sally Howell from some as-yet-unseen photos. In the Nottingham. The answers were: 1. Belisha Beacon 2. On A Friday 3. next issue (out, er, eventually...) Drill. (You just have to guess the questions if you haven't got a copy of there’ll be an as-yet-unpublished Issue One...) interview with Thom, a look at what’s to be found on the Net, and the first part of a feature from the Back Issue Bundle USA mag, Alternative Press. Before we go, however, we'd like We're now offering the first two to welcome new readers from issues of Radiohead World Japan, America, Latvia, Sweden, Service as a special Back Indonesia, Holland, Italy, Issue Bundle, at £4 Malaysia, Belgium and the Isle of Wight! (inch p&p) for the both of them. What a Radiohead World Service - Where bargain! So, send your the words come out all weird. cheques or postal orders, made payable to Radiohead Yours, World Service, to The Usual Address. Paul and Suw 3 The Prophecy... In 1991 Thom et al. were called On A Friday and one evening they played at a place called The Jericho Tavern in Oxford and it earned them their first live review in a mag called Curfew. Soon after they were to be called Radiohead, and thence, “Genius”. I spent the entire set desperately Mr Brandon - the way he elongates opens up. While the drums and bass trying to think what exactly On A every syllable and almost howls (with a little help from the keyboard Friday reminded me of. Not so much rather than just sings - and it's the player) do evoke an indie dance the music, but the vocals. Then the way this is so at odds with the rest of groove thang, there's almost country next day it hit me: Kirk Brandon! the band's sound that was intriguing. and western feel to the band at times, Yes, he of Spear of Destiny and silly I was a bit sceptical after the first particularly the guitars. More REM haircut fame. Now the lead singer of couple of numbers which came a than Kenny Rogers, fortunately. On A Friday hasn't got a silly haircut little too close to that Manchester Confused? You won't be when you (in fact, he's hardly got enough hair sixties/dance sound for comfort. But, see them live for yourselves (which, to have any kind of cut) but he does delve a little deeper into On A Friday of course, you all will when they possess a voice very reminiscent of and a whole new angle on them inevitable become extremely famous and you swear that you were there at the beginning...). In my book it's a good thing when you can't easily place what you're hearing - and when you can dance to it as well (as you most surely can with On A Friday) then even better. There was a very impressive turnout tonight, justifying the buzz currently surrounding On a Friday who had been recommended to me by just “Delve a little deeper into On A Friday and a whole new angle opens up” about every other band I've spoken to lately (they're currently the Candy skins' faves). Certainly their sound is well in tune with what's going on generally at the moment and it shouldn’t be long before they're attracting record label atten¬ tion and I can see them going down a storm at Transformation when the Oxford Venue re-opens. Just a couple of questions: 1. Doesn't the bass player look like that bloke out of the Deerhunter? 2. Are those subliminal backing vocals really necessary? They made the inside of my head go all fuuny like. Reproduced with permission from Curfew, Sept 91. ...& The Epiphany With Pablo Honey still popping in and out of the charts like a meerkat, and with work on their third album under¬ way, Radiohead's finest hour to date continues to stun all those who hear it. The Bends received critical acclaim from all quarters, some less expected than others. The Sunday Times achingly gorgeous tenor vocals are Radiohead, on the other hand, have The banner term “Britpop” may exquisitely counterpointed by the no defining characteristics other than have been a useful ambassador for virtuosic lead guitar of Jonny the quality of their music. And this, I the British rock renaissance of the Greenwood (a suspect, past 12 months, but it hasn't helped free-form jazz “Radiohead have is why to identify who produced the best buff whose of all albums. As a general rule, the less talent for created an album of the you read about an act, the more there extemporisation above superb histrionic was to listen to. Blur and Oasis stole in live perfor¬ groups, the headlines, but neither The Great mance makes confidence and they are Escape nor (What's the Story) Radiohead gigs the only Morning Glory? told us much about among the best melodic grace” one not either group that you couldn't have you'll ever see). to have deduced from previous albums. None of their had a Radiohead, on the other hand, rivals writes melodies quite so number-one album this year. have created in The Bends an album beautiful; nor can anyone remotely British music fans are an image¬ of superb histrionic confidence and match the depth and range of their conscious breed, and few want to melodic grace, which, even without material, from the introverted angst nail their colours to the mast of a the endorsement of REM's Michael of acoustic, wrist-slit numbers like middle-class Oxford band who Stipe, has established them as the High and Dry to the full-on epic refuse to do exciting things like British band most likely to conquer guitar rock of My Iron Lung. brawl in public, wish death on their America. Previously known only for Radiohead take you to depths of rivals, sleep with supermodels or their nerdy anthem Creep, misery and heights of passion which take loads of drugs. Damn it, Radiohead have perfected the art of leave you drained, moved, exhilarat¬ Radiohead don't even have clothes or dynamic shading, moving smoothly ed and longing for more. Highly haircuts interesting enough to through a racing gearbox of moods recommended - except, perhaps, imitate. that enables them to sulk, swoon and during the festive season. What they can do, however, is swagger, sometimes in the same make exceptionally good music. As song. They have enough raw guitar The Tatler Portishead acknowledged after power to fill a stadium, and in While Oasis were performing to winning this year's Mercury Music vocalist Thom Yorke - by turns a record audiences of 21,000 a night at Prize, Radiohead's The Bends was sweet, subtle dreamer and a wordily Earls Court, I was on the other side probably the best album of the year. vengeful fury - they never let you of London at the Brixton Academy. Epic, swoonsomely melodic and take them for granted. Together with 4,500 others I had breathtakingly moving, it's the sort gone to see a rock band who are of record which will endure long The Sunday Telegraph indiputably the finest this country after we've forgotten the likes of While the music press speculates has to offer; Radiohead. Elastica's throwaway debut (which as to whether it'll be Blur or Oasis “Radiohead?” I hear a number of went to number one while The whol will first conquer America, my you cry. “Who the hell are they?” Bends languished at number six). money is all on Oxford's Radiohead Which goes to show that naked Ultimately, Radiohead's low - whose second album is, by a long genius is way down on the list of profile will stand them in good chalk, my album of the year. They requisites for success in the British stead. While their parochial contem- have been compared to early U2 and record industry. Supergrass are pories battle for column inches in the - in their dreamy excursions into young and cute; Elastica are blessed music weeklies, Radiohead can folky English psychedelia - to Nick with punk attitude and a strong babe devote their energies to less Drake, but in truth they are in a factor; Blur are lovably matey; Oasis ephemeral matters. Like world league of their own. Thom Yorke's are charismatic and laddish. domination, perhaps. CE> 5 Weebles Wobble But; They Don't; Fall Down - Radiohead Live 1995 was a good year for Radiohead live. They played a few nice, quiet; little dates with some band called REM, they took The Bends to Japan, Holland and most of the rest of the world, yet still they managed to find the time to grace us with their presence. Brixton about how his lyrics have no My Iron Lung is the highlight The Academy reference to him or his life and of The Bends live. A mind-blow¬ that the girl in ing arrange¬ 4 Nov 95 the front row “This is a top ment of Hay ley North has a sexy hair¬ spooky and quality, criminally cut. Screams chilling from the crowd underrated band vocals with Tonight was one of those of “You're a witnessed here crazed special nights, when things are so genius” prove instants of perfect that you never want it to that he is just tonight.” crashing gui¬ tars, strobe end, where you talk about it for that. months afterwards because it was Tracks from Pablo Honey lights and a completely mental so amazing. Radiohead are gonna revive the young Radiohead. exhibition of crowd surfing that be good. You can just feel it. Creep and Stop Whispering hold says exactly what you feel like Suddenly there's a roar of up easily to any of The Bends. doing. adoration as they appear on stage. As the show progresses the Radiohead take their show so It was interesting to see a gig band appear ultra-confident and contentedly through moments of begin with an acoustic based totally at ease with their adoring blood-boiling, head-rushing Street Spirit, but it was spine audience. Ed O'Brien becomes madness to moments that only the chilling, and Thom's voice is friendly with the girls on the front performance of Lucky can crystal clear. It was the perfect row whilst he tears into his guitar describe. opening. and provides a ‘hot’ performance, This is a top quality, criminally From this, they turn the whole almost as if he's making love to underrated band witnessed here thing around, his guitar, tonight. belting * into “Radiohead fondling and “So why have you all come tracks. Bones, stroking every here instead of going to see Oasis are gonna be Planet Telex, note with facial tonight?” Well, I think that the Just, Black Star... good. You can expressions to perfection of Radiohead and the Ripping their match. Thom, reaction of a crowd that felt every Just feel it.” new album apart meanwhile, is so ounce of passion that this band with such vigour engrossed in his has to offer answers Thom's ques¬ that their live performance blows music, sings each word with such tion as to what any of us were the record away. conviction and beauty, that the doing there... Although perhaps The presence of the band is felt crowd goes loopy every time he the fact that Radiohead piss all the whole way through. Thom jerks and waves his tiny frame over Oasis is the real answer to casually chats with the crowd around the stage. Thom's question. 6 Southampton The Guildhall 7 Nov 95 Charlie “I went into catering and the band were all sitting there, eating their dinner!” gushed the girls next to me, as we eagerly awaited the beginning of what was to surely be my gig of the year. “And d'you know what? The lead singer's dyed his hair orange!” Having been unable to avoid knowing this over the past few months, I was somewhat surprised and was, therefore, relieved to see a bloke nearby with spiky, dyed orange hair... He'd obviously noticed, then. After this strange beginning, it was brilliant to see the lads finally grace us with their presence. Thom and Ed looked stunning in their, erm, very white, huge trainers, while Colin was displaying his homage to the support (following Jonny's example of his recent Strangelove T-shirt statement) with a delightful Sparklehorse top. But most importantly, at least to me, was what they were wearing on their faces - smiles. February. The now well-estab¬ last he has accepted what had And they weren't just sneaky, lished songs have so much more become their frustratingly corners-of-the-mouth smiles that vitality and new ones such as constrictive ball-and-chain only appear when nobody's Subterranean Homesick Alien single. And so, although not the looking. These were full blown, and Man of War bode extremely highlight of the gig (Lucky and teethy, happy GRINS. well for the third album. Stop Whispering slip easily into As Radiohead rip into The “I suppose you want us to play that category) Thom and the Bends, the hall other four erupts, and not “I was relieved to see a bloke superheroes' only off-stage, obvious with spiky, dyed orange hair... either. Ed bobs acceptance of around, laugh¬ He'd obviously noticed, then.” their role and, ing at anything indeed, their anybody says as if this is his first this one?” Thom would've spat enjoyment of it, is what provides successful gig, and even Colin twelve months ago before the amazingly electric can't help but smile serenely. launching into Creep. Now, atmosphere tonight. The band have changed however, it is delivered with a As I anticipated, it is without dramatically since I saw them in wry smile, proving to us that at doubt my gig of the year. 7 Southampton single Lucky gets a well received classes at University - Radiohead The Guildhall airing. l*ve- “Hello Southampton,” remem- I wandered through the crowd 7 Nov 95 bers Thom, as Jonny switches to and stopped in the first bit of Howard T Gudgeon keyboards for the reverb intro of space I could find. Standing on Planet Telex - and we're off my tiptoes I saw the outline of again. An almighty strobe light Thom, a shadow of Jonny and a “Where do we go from here?” picks out the stripes on Thom's bit of Ed, between me and them begs Thom Yorke, as the metal was the huge calms from its sudden hammering dubious shirt as throng shak¬ spells The Bends. Radiohead are the crowd start to » An almighty ing, jumping, launching into their final appear¬ burn. My Iron ance of the year and fronster Lung and Just strobe picks out singing and screaming, Thom has a point. Where indeed? further the may¬ the stripes on with all eyes The Bends, the album, is quite hem before the Thom's dubious fixed on the possibly one of the most innova¬ strobe hits back, five blokes tive pieces of music to come out firing off the shirt” on the stage. of this country since Floyd's sweat of the I had a heyday or Zepplin's demise. And singer's brow, yet, its poor showing in the charts urging the climactic Blow Out to little groove in my little space. remains THE mystery of'95. a breathless fade. Anyone Can Play Guitar just Bones follows the opener, To the genius of Fake Plastic made me squeal, it has sounded Jonny's half-cropped barnet Trees, a moment's departure. A totally different every time I have swirling with every thrash of his four-song encore treats, and heard it played, and it was so axe, and Anyone Can Play Guitar farewells are bade with the last, good to hear it again. Lucky made clears the path for the melodic Stop Whispering - we did. me shiver. It was during Nice Dream that I really noticed the faves. High and Dry soars, Creep, inevitably, inspires and new Reprinted with permission from amazing light thing that had been Splash! Dec 1995. going on all night. I love lights. When you're a short-arse it is the lights you follow because you Manchester can't see the band. I could say, at <rV The Academy the risk of sounding like an amateur theatre critic with my ■ ’ f \ 2 Nov 95 M I . head at halfway up my own arse, ■ Lisa Abuse & that I love lights - good lights - ?/ ,# because they mirror the energy, It has been a long the mood and the meaning of time since I last went what is going on in the reality on to see a Radiohead the stage. There. I said it. Sorry. gig, and I arrived just The gaggle next to me had !r -a*#—? . in time to hear Creep. invented a whole new set of lyrics f - * . A very strange feeling for Fake Plastic Trees, but I / crept over me. I could noticed a few puzzled faces f J 'A* barely hear Thom's around during Banana Co. I can't *. voice over the collec¬ even remember what the last few tive voice of the audi¬ songs were, but I could feel the ence. My stomach muscles in my face beginning to turned over, butter¬ ache because I was smiling so li m flies started to flutter much, even when a bloke twice in there, and I remem¬ my size stood on my foot I just bered exactly why I grinned — and it's been a long used to skip so many time since I've done that at a gig. is 8 Cambridge Cambridge the band and their crew. Thom The Corn Exchange The Corn Exchange was in fine form and giving as 6 Nov 95 6 Nov 95 good as he got with the banter. Martha Chris Parry All in all, a nice day out. Cambridge, The Corn Did you know that it is approxi¬ Cambridge Exchange, and another roaring mately 500 miles from Aberdeen The Corn Exchange victory for the best band of the to Stansted Airport and, by the 6 Nov 95 century. miracle that is Air UK, it takes Debbie Manley The set opens with an amazing around 70 minutes to get from rendition of The Bends and, to be one to the other? Did you also quite honest, after the gentle know that it is about 25 miles In the true spirit of The Beatles, laziness of the support band, from Stansted Airport to Radiohead play short narrative Sparklehorse, the whole crowd is Cambridge and that, thanks to a pop tunes in which Thom Yorke electrified and a mass stampede bus company which will remain can pour out his philosophy on erupts, forcing my already tired nameless, it takes nearly 3 hours life. body into a barrier. to make the journey? He opens with The Bends “I This is my first time experienc¬ By the time I got to The Corn wish it was the 60's I wish I could ing Radiohead live, and it really Exchange I was in serious need of be happy,” followed by his does blow me away. The wonder sleep or a pint, but I couldn't cry lament about Prozac, Bones, and of Bones with its faultless guitar off a gig I'd been really looking the self-effacing Anyone Can and vocals echoes in my head. forward to. What the hell was I Play Guitar. I Stare at Thom Yorke and, as worried about? Hunched over his guitar, Thom Thom Yorke stares back, he's say¬ Radiohead came on and played looks like the kind of skinny, ing something but, to be quite one of the most blinding sets I've spiky-headed punk that gets honest, I'm not taking it in. Just ever had the pleasure of seeing. beaten up for not fitting in. But and Bullet Proof wash over my I've seen better stage show by a there is no way he wants to com¬ excited ears and I stand trans¬ number of bands, but I honestly promise. He hardly speaks to the fixed, gazing at my own special think that I've never seen so much audience except to tell them his guitar god, nearly close enough to energy and, well, a band having biggest hit, Creep, is for the touch. such a good time “moron The excitement reaches fever on stage in a very “This is my first outfit” pitch as the first few notes of long while. and to time experiencing Lucky ring out through the venue. From the open¬ swear at Two new songs are aired tonight ing number to the Rediohead live, the lis¬ - Bishops Robes and Man of War. house lights teners on and it really does Personally, I think they're really coming on we the BBC cool and I think that the rest of were entertained blow me away.” World the audience agrees with me. by one of the Service - I'm totally charmed by my finest bands going today. I can't this was another sell-out gig favourite song, Fake Plastic give you the running order, as all being recorded for later Trees, and it's certainly my the songs blurred into an out¬ broadcast. personal highlight. The last standing evening, but it must be But this rapid delivery means encore goes to Stop Whispering, said that the highlights for me they get through 20 songs, a bar¬ then they smile and they leave. were Creep, High and Dry and a gain in anybody's books, and they We want more, but sadly they storming version of Lucky. A attract screaming fans who want don't return. I hope they enjoyed good long set followed by two their pound of flesh. it as much as I did. I leave the encores. Brilliant and excellent Thom tells us in the first encore building with a desperate urge to value for money to boot. that a three-year-old review had die my hair orange. I know I'll Every song they played had an been left in their dressing room sleep well tonight. excellent sound, a real tribute to saying Radiohead had no songs 9 except Creep. reluctance of band to do the girls await autographs with Buy their two albums, Pablo same. They do, however, take weird politeness and restraint. Honey and The Bends, - or the full advantage of My Iron Lung, Regulars, apparently. Help album for Bosnia - and find accelerating blitzkrieg chorus Worth it?: Er, it's up to you. out for yourself. Radiohead are into frenetic moment of mosh- Great songs well performed in intelligent rock for the 1990's. mania. Thom stops at one point front of appreciative crowd. It They're loved by Keanu Reeves to request just depends on and their fanzine is based in water for how raw you “This is the Suffolk. What more could you parched- like it, really. ask for? looking peo¬ chord of E Merch: Short- ple in front sleeved T-shirt, minor.” Brrang. Reprinted with permission from row. Your 12 quid. the East Anglian Daily Times. caring, “Thangow very Football shirt, sharing 16 quid. Fair much...” Radiohead. enough. Leeds Lows: First Badges, four Town and Country heckle of tour - “You're a veg¬ quid? Just how ace would a etable, you ginger git” - cause badge have to be to merit four 1 Nov 95 of much merriment onstage. quid? Extremely bloody ace. Robin Morley Consummate musicianship of Support: Sparklehorse. group leads to slightly safe Despite name suggestive of four Vibe: Warm reception laid on feeling; no real chance of fey shoegazing undergraduates for the band by capacity endearing disasters mid-set with from Canterbury they take stage Yorkshire crowd. Enthusiastic band only just breaking sweat. replete with double bass, muted singing from audience throughout Even guitar changes executed trumpet and stetsons. Sound like set. Much sporting of band T- with Formula One pit stop effi¬ Radiohead in their more low- shirts and purchasing of fanzines ciency. A manifestly smooth key moments, only marooned in - general atmosphere that of evening out, really. middle of Nevada desert. Bloke large-scale Radiohead love-in. Myopic's-eye view: After first on left-hand side of stage Sound: Pretty much as per CD. number Thom discards fab fiddles with weird electronics in Boisterous bits suitably grungy. horn-rims on flimsy grounds search of Portishead atmospher¬ Low-key bits suitably smooth and that he “can't see a fucking ics. Mildly grungy when they creamy. No bum notes. No obvi¬ thing” with them on. Suddenly can muster up energy (not ous fuck-ups. Professionalism sees band in whole new light. often). Polite. Unassuming. incarnate! Revoke their ‘indie Quote: “This is the chord of E Punctual. licence’ at once! minor.” Brrang. “Thangow very Highs: Superb songs, full of much...” Reprinted with permission passion and variety, given extra Spooky goings-on: someone from Raw. live boost. Creep down the front sends massive “General keeps making ‘T’ shivers down the and ‘M’ hand Glasgow atmosphere spine. Thom signals in the air Barrowlands sings it rubbing that of followed by two 31 Oct 95 forehead blearily peace signs. Angela Lewis large-scale in semi-disbelief; Obviously either a crowd go bonkers Radiohead Transcendental at chorus and leap love-in.” Meditation devotee Guitarist Ed O'Brien can up and down (not or fan of lead hardly stop himself from easy considering singer who can't laughing. Tonight is a very wel¬ ambling pace of song). By end quite manage middle letters of coming sight. Last time he of Fake Plastic Trees everyone name. Later, backstage, three picked up a guitar onstage, it going for it, disappointed by absolutely identical Oriental was to face the vast stadium -- 10