I’m sort of a new fan of Radiohead. I wasn’t hip to them when they first came on the scene, but I discovered them later. So I went out and bought all their fucking records and now love them all. I probably didn’t get turned onto them until 2001- I guess it had to be Kid A that got me first.

They have the best guitar sounds, regardless of how much techno sonic stuff they have going on around them. I’ve haven’t heard guitar sounds like that in god knows how long. And Thom Yorke has an amazing voice. He has such depth of character and emotional strain. The drummer’s great, the guitar players are great, their ideas are great- they have a wonderful fucking imagination.

Some of the stuff that sounds like straight-form rock’n’roll, they put a twist in it you’d never expect. They are one of those bands who are really prolific. I know they get compared to U2 and Yes, but they really do have a unique thing onto themselves.

There was a point in time where they came out with ‘Hail to the Thief’ which was when this band of mine, Velvet Revolver, were first starting- Hail to the Thief is one of the few records that has come out in the last few years that I’ve bought. There is a mood that goes along with listening to those guys and sometimes it can be a little draining, but I remember driving around in my car with that record on and that led to me to their other records. So for a couple of months I listened to nothing but Radiohead every day. I thought their music was so compelling.

I wouldn’t try to sound like them. I get influenced by people and I try to pick up whatever positive tiny nuance that might be added into my repertoire, I do it subconsciously. I appreciate bands doing something different to what I do, and leave it at that. So I become more of a fan that someone who is trying to alter his life so he can be like them.

Would I work with them? No, no way. I’m too introverted to actually go seek these people out. The closet I came was when I was trying to get to a concert they were playing at the Hollywood Bowl. I’ve never seen them live, only on TV. But the concert on TV was great. I like anything that has sincerity and originality and integrity and some fucking balls. And Radiohead have all those things.

Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke was at the head of the marchers who had found a moorland footpath on an Ordnance Survey map that led to the perimeter fence of RAF Fylingdales, the early warning station.

Mr Yorke said: Since 9/11, the US and Britain can now hide this system under the concept of defence against rogue states. The legacy for our children if this Star Wars system is allowed to happen is absolutely terrifying.
Retaliation

I don't know how Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who has authorised this work, can sleep at night. Apparently, there may be some jobs in it, so that's all right then.

Dave Knight, of the Global Network Against Weapons, praised Mr Yorke for making a stand. So many celebs don't put their head over the parapet because they are worried it will affect their careers. So congratulations, Thom.

There's a sample on the record where Nixon says, 'I have never been a quitter.' I feel a bit of empathy with that. It's the idea of the ugly duckling. Radiohead are Kennedy, Manic Street Preachers are Nixon. He laughs, unfurling his mile-wide grin. Further on [I[Radiohead and Blur and Oasis are a group of individuals, says Bradfield. Even to Middle England, Thom Yorke is recognisable. But I've heard so many times, 'There's that bloke from the Manic Street Preachers.' [thanks Marjorie>

The Flaming Lips don't really go out of our way to be commercial or to get on the bottom rung of mainstream music. People think of us in this realm of progressive rock, the way maybe Radiohead is, and I try and remind people: the difference between us and Radiohead is I believe Radiohead could make a record that was more mainstream. They could get played on the radio and they could be on MTV but they purposely go the other way.

The Flaming Lips are just doing whatever we can. It's not like we say: let's be weird! We kind of just end up being whaaa!, you know, whatever we are. If you like The Beatles or Stockhausen, we're like a little bit of both, but I'm always surprised when we get on MTV or we get played on the radio. It's wonderful. What a great life!