Radiohead speaks: Ed O'Brien

The famously media shy supergroup Radiohead have given Teletext an exclusive interview explaining the motives behind their rare release of a single.

Guitarist Ed O' Brien says: "We all feel it's the strongest song on the album. When we do release singles, we don't mess about - put your best song out first to let people know an album's on its way." 

This is why there's a new Radiohead single out next week. Pyramid Song is their first since No Surprises in April 1998. 

Ed tells Teletext about the making of Amnesiac and what it's like to be deprived of sunlight... 

According to Ed, the difference between Kid A and Amnesiac is that the former "essentially needs to be listened to in one go as a 42-minute piece of music. It was much easier to work out which songs belonged on Kid A." 

That's partially why there were no singles from it, Ed explains. 

"I grew up as a real singles junkie," he adds. "I'm thrilled we've a new single out, as singles were the way I first got into music as a child." 

For Ed Radiohead's new album Amnesiac is "a more straightforward set of songs than Kid A - each song makes sense in its own right". 

He pauses. "But I've heard some people say Amnesiac is our version of Spinal Tap's Jazz Odyssey, so I won't be surprised if the critics disagree. 

"But, for the first time, we haven't made a huge leap in sound from our last album. Fans who own Kid A should be able to get their heads round it." 

Although Ed jokes about Spinal Tap, can he accept the views of fans who don't like their experimental new sound? 

"I expected the initial hostility to Kid A, as it is so different. But I'm pleased that most people are saying, six months on that they now love it. 

The lenghthy recording of Amnesiac and Kid A were often fraught, not least for guitarist Ed. 

"I'm not a multi-instrumentalist," he says. "So the lack of guitar worried me. Not just at the beginning of the sessions, but in the middle too. 

"Even when guitars were needed, I was bereft of ideas as to what to play. We all were at different times. I really hope that no album we make in future takes so long again." 

For Ed, the low point of recording the last two albums was in winter '99. "We were working so long that we didn't see daylight from one day to the next," Ed says. "And the songs weren't coming." 

Finally, however, the demos took shape. 

"That's when it was worth it, when the early versions started coming together. As for the lack of guitar, and me not being proficient at other instruments, it didn't stop me getting good sounds plinking away at keyboards." 

One of the songs on Amnesiac is a fresh version of Morning Bell, which first appeared on Kid A. Why the repetition? 

"Because we literally forgot about it," Ed admits. "We often record different versions of songs, and the new one is the first time it's been strong enough to bear hearing again. 

"Most of the other versions often get scrapped halfway through. We're saving them for our box set in 20 years when no-one's interested in us any more..." 

With the band only playing one UK gig this year, Ed reveals future tours are undecided after 2000's Big Top shows. 

"Having the same tent every night meant we didn't have to compromise - the sound and lights were amazing, they're the best gigs we've done," Ed enthuses. 

"But I accept tickets were dear. We may go back to Brixton-size venues and only charge half-price. Some people assume we always know 'the right thing to do'. And the truth is, we don't."