Thom Yorke
September 19th, 2001
Sweden @ P3 Pop - intervew

Thom Yorke was interviewed by Ika Johannesson for the radio show ”P3 Pop” on the Swedish national radio. In the following texts I’ve given you the just of what’s she saying when she’s leading up to Thom’s answers – in the hope that you’re not completely blank when Thom starts speaking. Fortunately a lot of Ika’s brilliant questions in English is still in the broadcast.

--- Part 1 – 11:16 ---
Speak 1: Ika talks about all the stuff set in motion to get the interview (through the bands management etc.). At the interview Thom is relaxed and cozy. Then she talks about the non-commercial follow-up to ”Ok Computer” – ”Kid A”. And a bit about the concerts. Including the one in Sweden (where she did the interview). Ika tells us that Swedish radio was heard at the concert when Jonny played around with his transistor on stage – which leads to Yorke talking about Jonny’s use of the thing.

Speak 2: A bit about the previous ”tent tour” which came closest to Sweden when the band put up their tent for two nights in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sigur Ros opened, the tent was logo-free and ”Kid A” hadn’t been released so the audience didn’t know many of the songs. 

--- Part 2 – 06:26 ---
Speak 1: About the Radiohead backlash before and after the release of the electronic and experimental ”Kid A”. And about Oasis (among others) slagging off Yorke & Co for making the album that way.

--- Part 3 – 10:47 ---
Speak 1: A presentation of the bandmembers and their album history (you all know that). Leading on to the pressure Thom felt on the ”OK Computer” tour (as seen in the ”Meeting People Is Easy” film).

Speak 2: Radiohead is a political band. Thom has many links on the bands webpage and he was involved with Jubilee 2000. His lyrics are often political, but not very ”clear” (overt?). And Thom didn’t want to print them in the album booklets.

--- Part 4 – 10:37 ---
Speak 1: Thom’s done coverwork with Stanley Donwood. Ika cites words from the cover. About being in the spotlight and the media. Thom just wants to perform his music for those who’ll listen.

--- Part 5 – 13:51 ---
Speak 1: It’s so obvious that Thom is feeling better now than before. He joked with the Swedish audience and backstage he wasn’t at all the tormented man we had seen before. It has to do with the fact that he really believes in his music and has become proud of it. But also because he has become a father.

Speak 2: Ika wanted Thom to pick out a track that was very influential to him in the making of ”Kid A” and ”Amnesiac”. He thought about for quite a while and answered. Even got up to get a beer before he answered.

Speak 3: That was the end of the one-hour Thom Yorke Special.