No Radiohead Instore

Police force change of venue

16 Jan 08 - Radiohead won't play their first London in-store in more than a decade this evening. Their surprise ‘first come first served’ free concert at the Rough Trade East record shop in East London has been forced to move to nearby club, 93 Feet East, by the police.

The band announced the instore this morning (16 January), through a message from guitarist Jonny Greenwood on the band’s official website : (it read)

“Short set of In Rainbows material. It's very limited free entry, first come first served. Also, as it might be a little uncomfortable for anyone queuing early, they're planning a numbering system so people at the front of any queue can get snacks and toilet breaks in the store.

"The deal is the band want to be as fair to everyone as possible. If we had the usual guest list for media, probably half the places would be taken up." Spencer Hickman, manager of Rough Trade East

"Good bagels round there. But dress warm. Doors won't open until 7, and we'll play at about 8."

Spencer Hickman, the manager of Rough Trade East, spoke to 6 Music News and revealed that tonight's performance has been in the offing since last year:

"Three or four of us have known since, probably, the first week of November. Its been quite hard keeping it under wraps. I think we've done really well considering how many people need to be involved from the label, to the store, to the live set up, to the security. I think we've done really well to be honest!"

Access to tonight's gig is strictly limited. Fans started queuing before lunchtime in the hope of getting a wristband that will allow them entry to the gig. But its not just members of the media that have been left out. Spencer explained why members of his own staff aren't allowed to watch tonight's performance:

"Not all of our staff can come. I've got to send some home 'cos we're restricted to the amount of staff we can have in the store, because the more staff I have in the store means the less people can actually get in. So we're skeleton staff this evening.

"The deal is the band want to be as fair to everyone as possible. If we had the usual guest list for media, probably half the places would be taken up so that would leave the true fans of the band out in the cold. So what we've said is, 'come along. But you have to queue, 'cos its special.'

 "I'm kinda hoping that after this a lot of bigger artists will want to play as well. The sound's really good and it is very intimate. I don't think Radiohead have played anywhere so small in ten years. If you can get in tonight, then it will be a real historic gig."

Colin Greenwood from the band will co-present the Brain Surgery with Marc Riley on 24 January.

Matt Everitt