Radiohead Managers Advised To Split Up During 'In Rainbows' Recording

Radiohead's manager Brian Message says he advised the band to split during the recording of last album "In Rainbows".

Speaking at the Music Managers Forum in Dublin, Message explained that the Oxford band initially found it difficult to get started on the 2007 album.

"Radiohead are a once-in-a-generation act," he explained. "But you have to be honest if it's not working."

Message added that although the band were tired, they chose to ignore his advice.

The manager also revealed that it was not the band who came up with the idea of releasing "In Rainbows" with a pay-what-you-like scheme, reports The Guardian.

"Two of my partners in the management company came up with the idea of pay-what-you-like," he explained.

"Both the band and us were really excited about doing something brave and a bit wacky...we realised that by using the internet for the delivery of the album, we could reach 173 countries and it would cost us less than three cents a copy for distribution."

Speaking about music and the internet in general, Message said he believes Radiohead are "out of step" with the record industry on the major issues, adding that he thinks file-sharing should not be illegal.

"We believe file-sharing by peer-to-peer should be legalised," he explained. "The sharing of music where it is not for profit is a great thing for culture and music."

Thanks for the report to Nme.com.

Comments

[emidog]

Radiohead can never breakup. That would be the end of the world if they did. In Rainbows was awesome by the way.

[Ovenman]

Why would he do that, the evil, evil man!

[MuRph83]

In Rainbows = best radiohead album since Ok Computer.

[Somnambulance]

Remember, Radiohead IS composed of real people. I'd rather see them quit while they're ahead than release a string of bad albums. If you're no longer inspired, then you should not release music. That said, In Rainbows was a pleasant album. Not their best, but still very consistent and worth purchasing. If they keep up making albums like that, I'll be fine. It's just that I would hate to see Radiohead tarnish their record for excellent music in order to cater to the fans.

[Tullettalica]

Amazing album.

[ZeppelinruleZ]

These guys are too smart to wear out their welcome. Having said that, I hope they go on forever, and that the best is yet to come

[MAYNARD]

Sounds like a great play by an intelligent "in the now" manager. He probably knew they wouldn't break up and instead they made another career defining and the "pay what you wish" made it a landmark album from the start.

[indie_nation]

Yeah In Rainbows is awesome and i don't see them breaking up any time soon

[v_gamer]

wicked album. actually the first radiohead album i listened to. i actually just came to the website to get a tab for fake plastic trees. Radio head must never die

[Stooja]

in rainbows has to be one of my favorite records of last year, or since the 21st century for that matter.
i do find his opinion on file sharing interesting though it would be cool if there was anymore information on his opinion.

[stradivari310]

Radiohead nearly broke up during the OK Computer world tour and during the Kid A/Amnesiac sessions as well. Writing and performing brilliant songs is a tough process, but in the end these guys will stay together.

[WheredMyRockGo?]

I must be the only one that doesnt think the In Rainbows album is even close to their best. Personally I like the more rock oriented radiohead songs. I just think their last album was way too soft and it almost sounded like a rough draft. Too many programmed drums, a lot of repetition, etc. I want to hear songs like the bends, blackstar, paranoid android, fake plastic trees, just, etc. I did think bodysnatchers was a great song off the new album though. Sounded cool. Hopefully this doesnt irritate too many people on here.

[stradivari310]

^Seriously, what are you talking about? In Rainbows had hardly any programmed beats with the exception of 15 Step and parts of Videotape. That's two songs out of ten...

[Like I Is]

Why is this a headline?

[ccam555]

"Radiohead are a once-in-a-generation act,"

Pompous ass. I like Radiohead, but to give them that title is ridiculous.

[powerstroke]

ccam555 wrote:

"Radiohead are a once-in-a-generation act,"

Pompous ass. I like Radiohead, but to give them that title is ridiculous.

To say it about yourself is certinaly pompous, but to be perfectly honest, that title isn't so ridiculous. IMO (many would disagree), Radiohead makes music that other people can only imitate and the fact every album is in a completely new direction (and the fact every b-side they've ever made is absolutely amazing), they kinda deserve that title.

[odinwolf]

ccam555 wrote:

"Radiohead are a once-in-a-generation act,"

Pompous ass. I like Radiohead, but to give them that title is ridiculous.

Not true at all. OK Computer is widely recognized by critics as well as plain music fans as one of the if not the best single album ever recorded.

Think about the bands that are inspired by Radiohead. Muse, Sigur Ros, Coldplay(shudder). Radiohead proved to the world that experimental music can be appreciated and popular. If Radiohead had simply stayed with albums like The Bends or Pablo Honey they would have simply been another alt band from the 90's.

You may not like them, but you cannot deny the effect they have had on music, and yes that does make you a once a generation act.....maybe twice a gen at most.

[niflag]

If anyone's complete genetic structure and brain activity should be recorded for posterity, it should be those five. Then create a neural link between their digital memories and voila, radiohead albums forever.

[Deacon Blues]

goes to show you how management is usually sh!t no matter how big the act is fukking leeches

[guitarheroII]

Radiohead is music, and music is Radiohead. That evil, satanic man.

[SatanPriest]

MuRph83 wrote:

In Rainbows = best radiohead album since Ok Computer.

Totally with you on that. And kudos to Radiohead for supporting music downloading. Art should be free for everyone to experience. I think selling merch, including CDs is cool, cuz I myself like to own CDs, but theres alot of music out there and nowhere enough money to afford it all, so I do download alot of music too.

[oasis43606]

This doesn't say that he was suggesting a permanent split, just that the recording process on 'In Rainbows' seemed to not be going well. Can you imagine the process of making a Radiohead album would be like before its finished? Every session had to seem disasterous until the final cuts were made, and their genius was displayed.

[SMITH05]

Although I think sometimes you do need an outside perspective to give you advice, I'm glad they chose to ignore his advice. In Rainbows was a great album and I def agree it was their best since OK Computer (but that album will never be outdone). But I don't know how heavily I can rely on his statement that "he came up with the idea". I'm sure he had a part in the idea process, but to say he and two other guys did came up with it while Radiohead just got excited about it, idk sounds like he's a little too proud. You know, like he's performing mental acrobats and he actually thinks he came up with something when he didn't;]

[MusicalMinority]

Here's to Radiohead NEVER splitting.

They're the only band around besides the Beatles who've changed my life with every record they put out. No other band can get that sort of consistency and quality.

Consistency referring to them creating genius songs, by the way, not referring to their sound... Which we all know changes from album to album, haha.

Checked

[Fearnohamsters]

What money would Radiohead live off exactly if file sharing was legal the sale of 1 album?

[joker_thief]

Fearnohamsters wrote:

What money would Radiohead live off exactly if file sharing was legal the sale of 1 album?

touring. merchandise. they could never sell another album in their career and they would be set for life.
P.S. radiohead is too good to breakup...every band has thier hitches...but in rainbows was definitely one of thier bests IMO

[Altered_Carbon]

In Rainbows was lame by Radiohead standards. It was good, but it wasn't good for them. But wow, their manager advised them to split? That's a totally insane thing for a manager to do! With that kind of a cash cow?

[Phaustho]

Radiohead to split up during "In rainbows" recording? How come they made such a great album being about to split up? No way...

[Phaustho]

*How come they made such a great album being "tired" of what they were doing?

:P

[FlyingPirahna]

MuRph83 wrote:

In Rainbows = best radiohead album since Ok Computer.

Yup. It was truly a return to form, and if they split up during the recording of one of their best albums, it'd have been a tragedy.

[Night_Lights]

We believe file-sharing by peer-to-peer should be legalised," he explained. "The sharing of music where it is not for profit is a great thing for culture and music."

Yeah, maybe if your band is already one of the most well known in the world.... whats an up and coming band to do if they cant sell their music? Oh sure, 'tour tour' you say, but how are they gonna get the gigs if they dont have the cd sales figures behind them for the venure owners to know that they'll get a crowd?

[arcticradiohead]

WheredMyRockGo? wrote:

I must be the only one that doesnt think the In Rainbows album is even close to their best. Personally I like the more rock oriented radiohead songs. I just think their last album was way too soft and it almost sounded like a rough draft. Too many programmed drums, a lot of repetition, etc. I want to hear songs like the bends, blackstar, paranoid android, fake plastic trees, just, etc. I did think bodysnatchers was a great song off the new album though. Sounded cool. Hopefully this doesnt irritate too many people on here.

not irritated lol. their old stuff was great. i like their new sound a little better but hey. in rainbows had a lot more guitar than either of their 3 before it though.

[arcticradiohead]

Night_Lights wrote:

We believe file-sharing by peer-to-peer should be legalised," he explained. "The sharing of music where it is not for profit is a great thing for culture and music."

Yeah, maybe if your band is already one of the most well known in the world.... whats an up and coming band to do if they cant sell their music? Oh sure, 'tour tour' you say, but how are they gonna get the gigs if they dont have the cd sales figures behind them for the venure owners to know that they'll get a crowd?

venue owners aren't retarded. they do leave their house and hear things. if you're stuff is good enough and its free you're going to be getting a lot of people talking about you. not to mention other bands listen to other people's music too and have stuff to say about it.

no you're not going to get huge venues begging you to come right away but no band does. you'll work your way up just like the rest. file-sharing has been going on for the better part of a decade and yet there are more new bands out it seems than ever. personally i'm not a huge fan of it, i think you should have to at least pay something but you can't argue that it stops bands from getting exposure because they are.

[Radz117]

MuRph83 wrote:

In Rainbows = best radiohead album since Ok Computer.

Damn straight! People will argue saying The Bends or Kid A but this is more refined and complete.

[flintazra]

Kill the man! Kill the man before his evil ideas spread to the weak-minded! Ha, listen to me, I sound like a church leader...
In Rainbows is Radiohead's best album. Period (my own opinion, don't freak). It's the perfect mesh of all Radiohead's sound, having the guitar-oriented sounds of their first three albums while keeping true to the electronic and krautrock of Kid A and Amnesiac. HTTT is just their first crack at blending their past styles, and In Rainbows is their perfection of this Holy Trinity-love-child. And who knows? Their next album may (and hopefully will) top In Rainbows. How awesome would that be? I'd die. Every religious figurehead bless Radiohead. They keep the world worth living in, if only to hear the next slice of wickedness.

[jetwash69]

Night_Lights wrote:

We believe file-sharing by peer-to-peer should be legalised," he explained. "The sharing of music where it is not for profit is a great thing for culture and music."

Yeah, maybe if your band is already one of the most well known in the world.... whats an up and coming band to do if they cant sell their music? Oh sure, 'tour tour' you say, but how are they gonna get the gigs if they dont have the cd sales figures behind them for the venure owners to know that they'll get a crowd?

If it was legalized it would be really easy to track metrics of how many different folks downloaded the tracks. Come to think of it, they've been doing that to some extent all along; legalization would just make it easier and more accurate. It could be better than CD sales becuase by tracking IP addresses you could see how popular the band is in whatever specific city, much more accurately than local CD retailers share with most venue owners now.

[lilypondkid2]

not sure what splitting up would have benefited, but in rainbows was an amazing album. p2p should definitely be legal. it circulates so much music to listeners otherwise aware of said bands. if money is the concern, people still attend concerts. so whats the problem?

[sblecman]

Radiohead has never put out an album that I've been disappointed with, In Rainbows amazes me more every time I hear it. That being said, I hope they continue making albums if they want to, and I hope they stop when it's appropriate.

[JPScralatchtica]

amazing band. nuff said.

[nintendoeats]

I am enheartened to hear a band manager support filesharing like that. Are we turning a cultural corner though? probably not.

[loganpwns]

here's to hoping i never have to read anything about them again

[acusticBoy]

once in a generation act??dats absaloutly riciculous..

[biglaz84]

Radz117 wrote:

MuRph83 wrote:

In Rainbows = best radiohead album since Ok Computer.

Damn straight! People will argue saying The Bends or Kid A but this is more refined and complete.

Yeah I am part of the Kid A/The Bends Camp, i think those are their best. although both in rainbows and ok computer are obviously brilliant

[AngryGoldfish]

"We believe file-sharing by peer-to-peer should be legalised. The sharing of music where it is not for profit is a great thing for culture and music."

[Jeboo]

I just read through all of those comments. I think, at most (not including the moderated comment), there would have been two negative comments re: Radiohead and their music.
They truly are an amazing band. They are my favourite band ever. Some people say they don't like them, or don't get them, and I respect their opinions.
But I personally can't imagine my life without such great music. I believe it's an acquired taste in a way, but once you get it, it's like a drug (without the harm to your bodily systems), that just gets better and better.

Anyway, regarding the article: I can understand the managers motives for advising a split, but I think it would've been a huge shame if they had. In Rainbows was brilliant.
Also, from what I've heard people say, I think my ideas regarding file sharing have changed. I used to think it extremely damaging, but now I can see the benefits to legalising it as well. I don't think the music industry is going to have much choice, so many people do it it's almost impossible to police effectively.

Here's to looking forward to their next album, may it be as good, if not better!

[liamoshoro]

i don't think half of this article is credible ...for one thing i dont think 4 even a second that they wer so tired that they wer thinking of breaking up thats just silly
Woo radiohead!!!

[fattyDQ]

liamoshoro wrote:

i don't think half of this article is credible ...for one thing i dont think 4 even a second that they wer so tired that they wer thinking of breaking up thats just silly
Woo radiohead!!!

Do I even have to point out the fail in this post? The article is about how their manager told them they should split, not that they were thinking of breaking up. It also says they didn't even consider listening to him.