New Radiohead Material Coming

03/12/09 3:41pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Radiohead will head back into the studio after spending this summer on the road, the band have told England's BBC Radio 1.

"We are working on new material," guitarist Ed O'Brien told the station's Newsbeat program on Wednesday. "We'll be doing some more recording. It's business as usual.

"We've sort of finished the bulk of touring [for 2007's In Rainbows]. We will be doing a little bit of touring in the summer. Watch this space."

O'Brien helped launch the Featured Artists' Coalition on Wednesday. FAC is a group which works to give musicians a bigger voice in major music industry decisions. O'Brien sits on its committee, along with Billy Bragg, Kate Nash and Blur's Dave Rowntree.

O'Brien said FAC wants to ensure the industry makes decisions that will help younger musicians who may be beginning their careers. The coalition also wants to speak for fans, even if they illegally download their favourite bands' music.

"I hope that what the Featured Artists' Coalition will [say to fans is], 'We understand you, we're not trying to criminalize you,'" he said, according to BBC Radio 1.

"I think if we get our act together, we've possibly got a role to play in that as well, being spokespeople for bands and then, leading on naturally from that, for fans as well."

FAC has voted against taking legal action against illegal downloaders, Bragg told British newspaper The Independent.

"What I said at the meeting was that the record industry in Britain is still going down the road of criminalizing our audience for downloading illegal MP3s," he said.

"If we follow the music industry down that road, we will be doing nothing more than being part of a protectionist effort. it's like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.

"Artists should own their own rights and they should decide when their music should be used for free, or when they should have payment."

Chrissie Hynde, Craig David, David Gilmour, Gang Of Four, Iron Maiden, Jools Holland, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Mick Jones, Richard Ashcroft, Robbie Williams, Soul II Soul, Stephen Duffy, The Cribs, The Verve, Travis, Wet Wet Wet and White Lies are among the other artists who endorse the FAC campaign.

Radiohead have these shows lined up:

March 15-16 Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol
March 20 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil @ Pracada Apoteose
March 22 Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Chacara Do Jockey
March 24 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Club Ciudad
March 26-27 Santiago, Chile @ San Carlos De Apoquindo Stadium