MEETING PEOPLE IS EASY..?

 

  This is the transcript of the live chat that was held at yahoo on June 13th, 1998. Radiohead played the Tibetan Freedom Concert '98 the next day (And what a performance it was!), despite the late start. This proves just how intelligent Thom and Colin really are, with just a tinge of arrogance, which is very cool. Thom proved to be the deep and meaningful one (Yeah, you think so Sherlock?How could you tell? Jeezz...) with Colin providing a bit of light humour too...


Q: Radiohead what else have you contributed to the tfc besides your music and how can i help?
Thom: how can you help? write to clinton

Q: you played two new tracks in the last leg of your last tour, do you think those two (how to disappear/ big ideas) will make in onto your new album?
Thom: no idea and it's not really relevant

Q: if i said the situation in tibet is being misrepresented by the american government as propaganda against china what would you say?
Thom: i would refer you to noam chomsky

Q: any reason you're neglecting england at the moment?
Thom: in what way neglecting? i pay taxes

Q: how did you get so involved in the tibetan freedom concert what got you there in the first place fighting for the cause?
Thom: i cant remember. i think i read about it, and we were approached like everyone else.

Q: what is the inspiration for your music?
Thom: i've never really known that. usually it's something that i cant deal with in any other way.

Q: what has changed in your career since the beginning of it?
Thom: i'm not impressed with famous people

Q: ever meet the dali lama? what was the experience like?
Thom: i've never met him. i feel there are far more important people that should talk to him.

Q: how were you approcached to play at the concert?
Thom: via fax

Q: do you think china is just playing politics by letting a few of the political prisoners go?
Thom: i dont believe china knows how to conduct itself in the world media.

Q: why do you support tfc? i think it's all propaganda.
Thom: propoganda is everything you take as truth.

Q: how do you feel about your music being banned in china as a result of being a part of the tfc?
Thom: very proud

Q: thom what are some of your favourite chomsky works? i read manufacture of consent and loved it
Thom: the best one currently is class war, a misleading title

Q: do you think the english government is doing more than the american government with the whole tibet cause /situation?
Thom: no i dont think the government is doing anything effective. britain is more guilty of turning a blind eye than most.

Q: mr yorke hiya, do you think clintons' visit to china might help in any way the tibet cause?
Thom: if he raises the issues and as a true politician and not a puppet of the trade lobbyists then yes

Q: do you think that having a big concert will acutally influence the government
Thom: yes. there is nothing any government hates more than being called by its proper name

Q: are you at all a situationist?
Thom: i beleive situationism has a place but much of it was common sense steeped in marxism

Q: how long have you been aware of the tibet crisis?
Thom: only about theree years. i'm a late comer

Q: how important is it to you to play a show with this much political meaning?
Thom: it makes up for having to do a lot of things in the past year that i was not into

Q: what are you guys planning on playing at the concert today?
Thom: airbag, lucky, paranoid, karma police, iron lung, fake plastic trees, can't remember the rest

Q: do you think you get the message you want to give across to your fans?
Thom: in instances like this. i guess it's just that i still believe in democracy. that people have the power which is probably naive but maybe not.

Q?: how important is a show like this to your band
Thom: it's not important as a band it's important as an issue

Q: do you think that most of the people in the crowd are actually getting the mesage or do you feel that they just want to see a lineup of popular bands?
Thom: i think that's a patronizing attitude towards the audience

Q: not to lighten the conversation or anything, i'm just curious, what other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the concert?
Thom: sonic youth , herbie hancock. that's it. kraftwerk

Q: who will win the world cup?
Thom: the promoters

Q: is the reason the chinese dont care about outside influence (the us) because they know that no forceable action will be taken?
Thom: absolutely they think they've fooled the rest of the world. very much like the serbs in bosnia


Q: will you use a tibetan monk sample in any of your new songs?
Thom: no

Q: but do you think the us government is interested in anything other than trading policies with china?
Thom: yes i think they are. i think their hands are tied like with so many issues. by trade and powerful multinational corporations invested with vested interests. this has dictated much of foreign policy in the west since the second world war.

Q: what do you think about marxism?
Thom: that's definitely a good one to ask chairman mao if he was sitll around

Q: will you be attending monday's rally?
Thom: yes

Q: are you at all attracted to the buddhist faith?
Thom: very much so

Q: do you think tfc could really make people aware of the tibet problems?
Thom: ultimately that responsiblity lies with the way it is reported in the mainstream press

Q: what have been the highest and lowest points of your career so far?
Colin: highest - hang on - um toronto tower lowest er gig in paris was underground

Q: what is the meaning behind high and dry?
Colin: god it was so long ago, we were drunk, it was late, i can't remember

Q: what music do you listen to and do you listen to radiohead?
Colin: not radiohead at the moment because we're playing it but i love old soul and reggae. especially mr curtis mayfield.

Q: how important is america to you success?
Colin: super and indeed fly

Q: are you planning on supporting anything else besides the tibetan freedom concert?
Colin: individually not as radiohead we all support stuff but we all support tfc. amusingly we also support teenage fanclub

Q: congrats on ok computer. i was wondering what books you guys were reading these days any good novels?
Colin: i am reading john pilgers hidden agendas. also best book last year was bernard schlink's the reader

Q: do you prefer a small club like setting or the huge festival setting such as today (i love you guys)
Colin: oooh different vibes. i was in the 9.30 last night. took me right back to when we played vcool

 

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