Phil Selway (Radiohead)
June 2001

It's hard to draw a professional line when you're supposed to be a journalist but the musicians you're writing about are your absolute favorite modern band. That's what writers don't tell you most of the time--they'd like to pretend they're on some sort of untouchable pedestal of Indifferent Objectivism whenever they speak to anyone, regardless of that anyone's level of talent or fame. I'm here to state, proudly, that's bollocks, and that I've been deeply touched by each and every artist I've ever interviewed. It just makes so much sense to me; otherwise, why put time and energy into trying to reach them? And after years of having some incredible discussions with truly amazing people, I reached my personal pinnacle by reaching Radiohead.

Getting to talk to Radiohead may be a fan's most elusive dream, if only because for the past few years the band hasn't talked much. After their grueling tour for OK Computer in 1997-98, Radiohead retreated home--away from stages, screaming fans and stubborn press people--to become human again and to remember perhaps what it was like to be artists rather than performing monkeys.

Yet vocalist Thom Yorke, guitarist Ed O'Brien, bassist Colin Greenwood, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood, and drummer Phil Selway did not shut out the world. They communicated to fans (and anyone else who bothered to pay attention) via the Internet--a medium embraced by Radiohead early on, when the public at large was still unconvinced of its uses or future. Radiohead's official site has long been a bastion of news, historical info and direct communication, all carefully overseen by the band members themselves along with a core group of individuals entrusted with the delicate task of maintaining Radiohead's online presence as one of accessibility.