2009: The Year Everyone Turned on Radiohead
12/31/2009 By Josiah Hughes

Just like they did in the '90s, Radiohead topped a bunch of decade lists with their '00s albums Kid A, Amnesiac, Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows. As the decade comes to a close, however, the band's universal acclaim is waning.

In 2009 alone, everyone from rappers to tween pop stars to indie rock legends have found a reason to complain about the UK experimental rockers. From whining about Thom Yorke's lack of award-show schmoozing to the band's pay-what-you-want model, nearly everyone has had something bad to say about Radiohead.

With the band scheduled to enter the studio in January, there are few signs that Radiohead will be slowing down in years to come. But next time around, they might not be topping the decade-end lists with this kind of reputation.

Here are eight examples of Radiohead hate in '09.

EMI reissues classic Radiohead albums after the band refuses to renew contract with the label

The first major “fuck you” came to Radiohead from their long-time label, EMI. When the band opted not to re-sign after their contract expired, EMI went ahead and reissued all their previous albums. It was a shameless cash grab, and one that the band probably wouldn't have endorsed.

Miley Cyrus disses Radiohead after Grammy snub

After the 2009 Grammys, tween pop sensation Miley Cyrus tried to hang out with Thom Yorke and co. backstage. When they refused, she lashed out to the media, calling them “stinkin' Radiohead.” In their defence, Cyrus is easily the most irritating human being on earth.

Kanye strikes out at Radiohead in his VH1 Storytellers appearance

Cyrus wasn't the only one to get snubbed at the Grammys, however. Kanye West also got a cold shoulder from Yorke, which led him to diss the band during his VH1 Storytellers appearance. The diss didn't air on TV, but it will be included on the DVD of the performance, due in February.

Radiohead management advises them to break up

The Radiohead hate was coming from inside the camp, too. In May, it was revealed that the band's own management advised them to break up instead of releasing In Rainbows. Might want to hire some better representation, gents.

Kim Gordon slams the Radiohead pay-what-you-want model

Radiohead's pay-what-you-want model for In Rainbows attracted a lot of attention across the globe. But if anyone deserved to call bullshit on it, it was Sonic Youth vet Kim Gordon, who called the move a “marketing ploy,” plain and simple.

DJ Paul Van Dyk blasts the Radiohead pay-what-you-want model

At the opposite end of the musical spectrum, DJ Paul Van Dyk had similar sentiments about the pay-what-you-want model, saying that the idea was “very selfish.” That means the band managed to piss off legendary post-punks and trance club dudes in one fell swoop!

Fiery Furnaces' Matthew Friedberger hates on Radiohead

This diss from the Fiery Furnaces' Matthew Friedberger sort of backfired. The outspoken musician lashed out at the band for their song about WWI vet Harry Patch. Thinking they were associating themselves with music theorist Harry Partch, he lashed out at the band and spent the next month back-pedalling.

Spin suggests that Radiohead “kinda blow”

The most ridiculous of the Radiohead disses came from alt-rock rag Spin. The magazine, which has hosted the band on its cover several times, sought web traffic with a ridiculous editorial in December, suggesting that, among other things, the band “kinda blow.”



More News: << Previous Story | Next Story >>
Do you have a news tip for us? Did anything crazy happen at a show? Got any inside info on a band? Click here to let us know!
• Arcade Fire Take Us Behind The Suburbs, Tegan and Sara Announce The Official Vinyl Collection, and Nardwuar Takes on Drake in This Week’s News Roundup
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Wavves, Seu Jorge, Chromeo and More Fill Exclaim!’s Hot-off-the-Presses August Issue
• Charles Manson Announces New Four-Album Series
• Holy Fuck Plot Cross-Canada Fall Tour
• Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino Talks Converse Collab with Kid Cudi and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij
• Confirmed: Brian Eno Preparing Album for Warp Records
• Animal Collective's Avey Tare Announces Solo Full-length
• The Posies Team Up with Broken Social Scene’s Lisa Lobsinger for New Album
• New Michael Jackson Album Due This November
• Bad Religion Unveil The Dissent of Man Cover and Tracklist, Plot Massive Canada/U.S. Tour
HRDVSION
When IDM-techno producer HRDVSION (aka Nathan Jonson) hit the stage at this year's Mutek Festival, he was not only opening for like-minded international contemporaries like Mouse On Mars and Nathan Fake, he was also introducing Canadian audiences to a new live set and a new means of performing it.... Read More
Maestro Eyes the Prize
Already a Canadian hip-hop icon whose foray into acting recently nabbed him a Gemini nomination, the man known to Canadians for letting his backbone slide is now adding author to his resume, with a book entitled Stick To Your Vision: How to Get Past the Hurdles and the Haters to Get Where You Want to Be hitting stores in early August.... Read More
The Runaways [Blu-Ray] Dir. by Floria Sigismondi
The year is 1975, and a young Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) wants to play electric guitar just like the boys, showing that girls can rock just as hard with the same musical prowess, irreverence and countercultural rage. Enter eccentric music producer Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon), a glam-ed up, phoney ... Full Review
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
• Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the October 2007 Issue: • Contents Page • News • Click Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front  •  Points  •  Comics  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Research  •  Timeline  •  Videogames  •  Conversations • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  TIFF  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Label Life  •  Meet & Greet  •  Need to Know  •  What I Play • Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio • Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue • Browse Issues • Privacy Policy