Line.

This seemingly simple, one syllable word is capable of eliciting such a variety of reactions. Drug users hearts sing and soar, palpitating with excitement. Mathematicians might share a Euclidean insight. Actors are likely to rehearse and recite. But, today, to Radiohead fans in East London a line means one very good thing: a secret Radiohead show! And thus, like drug users, their hearts are likely to sing and soar.

At 1900 GMT, Radiohead will play a show at the Rough Trade East shop on Brick Lane. A secret show, yes. So secret, in fact, that even the staff of the shop did not know they would be hosting such an event. So, today, music lovers will line up on Brick Lane and wait and wait and wait, hoping for a chance to see Thom Yorke and crew.

Organisers are planning a numbering system to allow fans to take a few minutes break from the queue. Radiohead also hope those left outside will not lose out completely.

"For those who can't get in - and it's pretty small in there - we'll have some screens and speakers outside, if we're allowed. I think we are. And we'll also webcast it," the band said on their website.

The show will feature songs from Radioheads latest album, In Rainbows. While diehard fans have had a variety of reactions to the release from absolute adoration to lamenting its purportedly more formulaic approach the album has met praise from some particularly big sources. For instance, In Rainbows was named #1 Album of the Year by Billboards Critics Choice 2007 and #2 Album of the Year by Time Magazine.

The tracks were released for download in October 2007, but only in the first week of January 2008 did the physical version of the CD become available for purchase. Of course, this release meant that purchasers would be paying a set price for the music, rather than the original listener-dictated value of the downloads. This fact also meant that the album went to the top of the UK charts during the first week of the new year - particularly noteworthy in light of the previous "success" (i.e. large number of downloads) of the online version.

It was previously reported that most downloaders paid nothing for the album. This fact, however, is not particularly attributed to having motivated Radiohead to proceed with a physical release.

"We didn't want it to be a big announcement about 'everything's over except the internet, the internet's the future', 'cause that's utter rubbish.
"And it's really important to have an artefact as well, as they call it, an object," [Thom Yorke] added.

The musician said that an internet only release would have been insanity. Additionally interesting is the fact that the album is being distributed by XL Recordings the first independent release for the band after a sixteen year relationship with EMI. Regarding this matter, Yorke grieved the major labels' inability to cater to the fans alongside their excessive profit cuts.

So, there you have it. Some recent Radiohead news. And in case any of you dont see this until you get back from the show, be sure to fill us in.

Fatality only listened to three Radiohead songs while writing this article. She switched it up, she swears.

Postblank

New Brunswick, NJ

June 2004

JAN 16, 2008 05:07 PM

It's almost like the studies done in countries about when someone finds a wallet on the ground. People in most places will just make off with it.