Amplive's In Rainbows remixes go free after a stand-off with Radiohead's side

Amplive's Rainydayz Remixes, eight hip-hop reworkings of In Rainbows, are out today as a free download for anyone, after Radiohead's publisher stopped them in December. Amplive is the Oakland producer and DJ who makes up half of the rap duo Zion I.

He had planned to give the record out on 10 January, but only to people who forwarded the order confirmation from buying the album through W.A.S.T.E., the band's shop, a plan first announced in December. A receipt for a donation of any size to Friends of the Earth, the charity Thom Yorke had backed on the band's blog, would also do.

Warner/Chappell sent him a cease-and-desist letter dated 18 December, and on 3 January Amplive asked everyone who had posted the tracks to take them down, saying he would comply because the order came from Radiohead's team. I really feel if Radiohead's team was able to hear these remaining remixed songs, they would feel differently.³

Bryce Edge, Radiohead's manager, told Gigwise the next day that the trouble was the email requirement and a cut-and-paste photo of Yorke on Amplive's site that made it look as if the band were involved. When we heard that you had to send a confirmation email from W.A.S.T.E to get the album, we thought 'That's a bit naughty!'⁵ Amplive had never approached the band, Edge said, though he believed he meant well.

Radiohead had no part in making the remixes, which use only sounds from In Rainbows with new vocals from guests such as Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Chali 2na of Jurassic 5. Amplive now concedes he probably should have asked for their approval first, and after talks with the band's side everyone has agreed the record can go out free.

Rainydayz Remixes tracklist