AboutAndreas Moss Expertise Your question is my challenge, I`m updated on news, gossip and where to find everything on the net since I have system over what info there is about Radiohead officially and unofficially. Feel free to share opinions, philosophies, gossip and thoughts about Radiohead as well.
Expert: Andreas Moss Date: 10/21/2007 Subject: Theme behind Kid A
Question QUESTION: I have been listening to songs from Kid A and was wondering what is the theme behind it? Was Radiohead influenced by psychedelic music like Pink Floyd?
I have heard that Radiohead was involved with drugs. Is this true? I was thinking this since it usually that case with a lot of rock stars.
ANSWER: Hey Christopher,
I think Radiohead listened a lot to stuff on WARP Records around the days of Kid A. Notably Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and Boards Of Canada. I think they also listened to some jazz artists.. like Alice Coltrane and Miles Davis. Some Godspeed You Black Emperor. Pink Floyd wasn't a DIRECT influence on that album, but I'm sure they've listened a lot to Pink Floyd in the early days, so its probably in the influence-baggage somewhere. Radiohead never had any direct influences. From what I gather they take stuff from everywhere.
About drugs; I think they've done some earlier in their youth, and probably occationaly, but I don't think its ever been on that ridiculous "rockstar"-scale. None of them has had any drugproblems or addictions as far as I know. Nowadays I think its basically wine.. and beer. And a cool quote!
"Us on hard drugs? That would be horrible. We'd probably end up sounding like Bryan Adams."
- Thom Yorke
Hope that answers your question.
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QUESTION: I am just wondering about their art in general and if it is symbolic to any of their personal lives like their crying Minotaur off Amnesiac?
ANSWER: Hello again Chris,
All their art is done by Stanley Donwood (www.slowlydownward.com) and partly Thom Yorke(often under the name dr.tchock). They've done the covers, websites and other stuff for Radiohead since the middle of the 90s. Amnesiac and Kid A there was a lot of demons, scary bears and a minotaur crying. The Amnesiac artwork was inspired heavily on egyptian mythology, architecture and such..
If its symbolic to their personal lives.. Well, hmm.. yes. In the same degree as their music I would say. Not to say its only about them, but of course whatever an artist do creatively it usually represents their worldview in some way. That goes for Radiohead too.
Hope that answers your question.
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QUESTION: Are there any specific themes behind Radiohead's albums like "the Bends" or "OK Computer"? Sorry if I seem to be asking a lot of questions about Radiohead but I am curious about them. Also are there any books you recommend I read to find out more about Radiohead?
Answer Hey, thanks for the ratings. :)
And no problem with the questions. I've been an allexpert for ages now, and I get like 2-3 questions a year these days.
The theme behind OK Computer obviously had a modernistic theme, which is also expressed in the artworks. A alienated lonely human in a cold and tense captalistic-like society. A lot of emergency signs and stuff like that.
The Bends I never felt had any 'direct' theme, but that could just be me. To me its merely a collection of songs. A poprock album. But it was kind of a kick in the side of all the britpop stuff going on at the time in England.. but its the sound of Radiohead finding their unique style.
About books, there's sadly never been any really good books on Radiohead in my opinion. And those who are okay is older than Kid A. I'd recommend you to just read interviews and articles on Greenplastic.com and ateaseweb.com. I've been wanting to write a book about them myself. Perhaps I'll blow dust from that project some day.
You should check out their documentary "Meeting People Is Easy", though. Which follows their tour after the release of OK Computer.
