Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Radiohead Stuns With Anthem for WWI Vet

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2009 7:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – Radiohead made waves when they let fans download their last album for whatever price they wanted, yet a new online-only track has been released in the past week to far less fanfare. "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" commemorates the last British veteran of World War I, who died last month aged 111, and proceeds from downloads are going to a military charity. The lush, orchestral song is a "masterly achievement" far from their traditional sound, writes Wall Street Journal critic Jim Fusilli.

The song uses Patch's own words as lyrics, drawing on a 2005 interview given after 80 years' silence about his experiences in the trenches of Passchendaele. Over Thom Yorke's "childlike falsetto," Jonny Greenwood unfurls "what is by turns a eulogy and an anthem," leaving out the band's normal rhythm section for echoing strings. Even after all their high-concept songwriting, writes Fusilli, "there is nothing as elegant as what the band is doing here."

Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs at Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park on Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.
Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs at Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park on Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)
Radiohead band members, from left, Ed O'Brien, guitar, Jonny Greenwood, lead guitar, Colin Greenwood, bass guitar, Thom Yorke, lead vocalist, and Phil Selwayan, drummer.
Radiohead band members, from left, Ed O'Brien, guitar, Jonny Greenwood, lead guitar, Colin Greenwood, bass guitar, Thom Yorke, lead vocalist, and Phil Selwayan, drummer.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Thom Yorke, lead singer of the British band Radiohead, performs on stage at the 15th Rock Oz'Arenes music festival, in Avenches, Switzerland.
Thom Yorke, lead singer of the British band Radiohead, performs on stage at the 15th Rock Oz'Arenes music festival, in Avenches, Switzerland.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron, file)
The coffin of Britain's last World War I infantry veteran, Harry Patch, is carried away after his memorial service at Wells Cathedral in Wells, England, Thursday, August 6, 2009.
The coffin of Britain's last World War I infantry veteran, Harry Patch, is carried away after his memorial service at Wells Cathedral in Wells, England, Thursday, August 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Gordon Brown and the Duchess of Gloucester talk to World War I veterans Bill Stone, 108, Henry Allinghan, 112, and Harry Patch, 110. All three veterans died this year.
Gordon Brown and the Duchess of Gloucester talk to World War I veterans Bill Stone, 108, Henry Allinghan, 112, and Harry Patch, 110. All three veterans died this year.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, pool)
The last surviving British World War I veteran, Harry Patch, died Saturday, July 25, 2009. He was 111.
The last surviving British World War I veteran, Harry Patch, died Saturday, July 25, 2009. He was 111.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
"Harry Patch (In Memory Of)," a new song by Radiohead commemorating the last British veteran of World War I, was released quietly on the band's website last week.   (jackshinta)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
bewilderbeast
Aug 11, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
Love the surprise discovering artists with hidden, different abilities. And with a heart, to boot! Also, they recorded "Hail to the Thief" which says it all for Bush's presidency. Good guys.
cognitivefilter
Aug 11, 2009 6:25 AM CDT
radiohead for president ?
chas_m
Aug 11, 2009 1:02 AM CDT
Lovely music, not mad about Thom's voice on this one ... but the sentiment is noble and I guess that's all that matters.

More Newser Stories

Last Known WWI Vet Dead at 110

Last WWI Combat Vet Dead

Last US WWI Vet Dead at 110

Radiohead's 'Genius' Again on Display in King of Limbs

New Radiohead Album Hits Web Saturday


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne