Radiohead play “Fake Plastic Trees” to Top of the Pops from Connecticut

Radiohead are on Top of the Pops on BBC One tonight with “Fake Plastic Trees”, at number 20, sent by satellite from Center Church on the Green in New Haven, Connecticut. The band are on tour in America. They played Toad's Place in New Haven on Tuesday, and tonight they are at Tramps in New York. Parlophone's fan newsletter, Flavour of the Label, has Radiohead confirmed for R.E.M.'s show at Milton Keynes Bowl on 30 July.

The single entered the chart at number 21 on 21 May and climbed one place a week later. beatwax, the agency taking it to radio, sold it to stations as a ballad and no dancefloor filler, and ran a competition for radio staff to guess where it would enter.

Parlophone released it on Monday 15 May, the next from The Bends after “High & Dry” / “Planet Telex”. The first CD has two songs nobody had heard. “India Rubber” was recorded on the band's recent UK tour, and “How Can You Be Sure” comes from the first demo sessions for The Bends. A second CD followed on 22 May with acoustic versions. The band first played “Fake Plastic Trees” live on 21 February 1994, at the Royal Berks Hospital Social Club in Reading.

In America “Fake Plastic Trees” is the first single from the album. Thom Yorke told Melody Maker in March that Capitol had remixed it for American radio, and that the band would not let the remix out).

Tracklist