Radiohead release OK Computer archive after threat from hackers

Thom Yorke with Radiohead headlining the first day of TRNSMT 2017 (Gary Mather / Live4ever

Radiohead have eliminated the possibility of a blackmail by themselves releasing 18 hours of demo footage from the archive of their celebrated 1997 album OK Computer.

Writing on social media, the band revealed that material stolen from a mini-disk was being threatened by hackers to be shared online unless $150,000 was handed over, so they’ve instead taken matters into their own hands. “We got hacked last week – someone stole Thom’s minidisk archive from around the time of OK Computer, and reportedly demanded $150,000 on threat of releasing it,” the message reads.

“So instead of complaining – much – or ignoring it, we’re releasing all 18 hours on Bandcamp in aid of Extinction Rebellion. Just for the next 18 days. So for £18 you can find out if we should have paid that ransom.”

“Never intended for public consumption (though some clips did reach the cassette in the OK Computer reissue) it’s only tangentially interesting. And very, very long. Not a phone download. Rainy out, isn’t it though?”