The Phillovers

phillovers phorever!

2010-08-27T01:36:00.002Z

Philfork Interview

2010-07-28T04:30:00.001Z

Pitchfork was honored to interview Our Phil.

We're used to seeing Philip Selway behind a range of drums and cymbals as the unswerving and inventive back beat to Radiohead. But on his forthcoming solo album, Familial, Selway steps away from the kit, singing and playing acoustic guitar on 10 hushed folk songs in the shadowy tradition of Nick Drake. The album is quiet, but there's an unnerving sense of dread that connects the material to his main gig; it's music for a foreboding twilight. Guests including Wilco's Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, and veteran singer-songwriter Lisa Germano. (The album's out on August 31 in the UK via Bella Union and a day later in the U.S. through Nonesuch.)

We recently met up with Selway at a posh downtown Manhattan hotel. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of some rare NYC greenery outside. Inside, the drummer/singer/songwriter was thoughtfully polite and casual in a fuschia t-shirt and brightly striped socks that could've been on loan from a pre-teen's dresser. He talked about what it feels like to be the guy answering all the questions for once:

Pitchfork: How long have you wanted to do your own record?

Philip Selway: I've been playing guitar and writing songs since I was 15 but I started really thinking about making an album around four years ago. But I didn't know I'd sing on it; I didn't feel I had a convincing voice at that point. It took four years of trial and error to find out the stretches I could make. It's a bit of a leap of faith. The first time I actually heard my voice coming back in the studio was when I thought, "OK, maybe I can do this." Even so, you do feel very vulnerable. When you're singing, it sounds a particular way in your mind-- like how you think your speaking voice sounds like James Earl Jones in your head but it's really more like Mickey Mouse. [laughs]

Pitchfork: Do you feel like listening to Thom Yorke live and in the studio made it easier or harder for you to feel comfortable singing?

PS: Both. It's a very high bar to have hanging over you. But, over the years, everybody has very much developed their own voice in what we do.

Pitchfork: Another surprising thing about your album is how little drumming is on it.

PS: And the drumming that is on there is mostly by [Wilco's] Glenn Kotche. He's fantastic. He took drum parts and mixed in all these delicate layers which throw things off kilter. For me, if Jonny [Greenwood] played drums, he'd be Glenn. They work in very similar ways. It was a revelation working with Glenn on the material because, in my mind, I hadn't heard any drum parts on these songs at all. If you're working on more of a muted, delicate level, it's very easy to end up sounding too tasteful, so finding somebody who could scuff up these really rich sounds was great. I just sat there with my notebook.

Pitchfork: What really drew me into the album were the disquieting, atmospheric touches you're talking about, which make the record more than a singer-songwriter-type thing. I also feel like that slight creepiness offers a continuity with your work with Radiohead. How much did you think about that off kilter element?

PS: Quite a lot, actually. Because I knew if I over-prettified the songs it'd be really precious or saccharine. And, lyrically, that's not what's going on.

Pitchfork: Yeah, like "The Ties That Bind" seems to be about hoping your son doesn't make the same mistakes you did. Do you feel you've made a lot of mistakes that way?

PS: Every family has their eccentricities, and you pass them on down through the generations. When you see the potential for the less functional side of yourself coming out in your kids, it's unnerving. There's a sense that you have to actually resolve something within yourself.

Pitchfork: Were you a troublesome kid yourself?

PS: Not at all. I was quite self content in lots of ways, so it would be very easy to look at me and think everything was all going along swimmingly. But show me a teenager where that's the case. [laughs] It just doesn't happen like that, does it?

Pitchfork: What were some of your more angst-y traits as a teenager?

PS: I have this bizarre see-saw thing with confidence. I was perfectly happy to get up and play drums for the first time during my first gig, but then there would just be this distinct lack of confidence in other areas. As a teenager, I was kind of prone to my periods of gridlock where it was very difficult to access what was really going on. I had very strong instincts about stuff, but couldn't verbalize the thought processes behind them. As a grown up, I've been picking away at that and actually trying to make connections a lot more.

Pitchfork: Do you remember what opened you up to the dark line that runs through this album? A lot of it reminds me of Nick Drake.

PS: Oh, I love Nick Drake. Five Leaves Left has been a constant companion over the years. But I think also working in Radiohead does all of that, too. It has its own very lovable dark side to it. You get carried along in the push and pull.

Pitchfork: It's funny because the common perception of Radiohead is how Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood are these weird geniuses, and you, Colin Greenwood, and Ed O'Brien are more normal and down-to-earth. But then your album has this strange side. And I'm sure Thom has his moments of sentimentality, too.

PS: [laughs] I think he's probably always been combating against that one. As you go on in a band you do have the caricatures which people apply to you. It always feels a bit more complicated when you're in the middle of it. [laughs]

Pitchfork: I'd imagine so. Was part of the inspiration behind this album to flesh out that caricature?

PS: Possibly. I suppose part of it is trying to paint a fuller picture. I am one of the more shadowy figures in Radiohead-- which is a great place to be. As a drummer in a five-piece, you can easily get bound up in this rather distasteful shout for attention but, in some ways, a drummer is there to do a job and doesn't really need to speak. Inevitably, you are going to be the bottom of people's list for things like interviews. You can try and kick against it, but that's just not me.

Pitchfork: How do you feel about doing all the talking in interviews about this album?

PS: It's a different kind of talking. When you're talking in a Radiohead interview you're always talking on behalf of everybody else. But now I'm just talking about myself, really. [laughs] There's a part of me that shudders at the thought. It's not how I was brought up. But I think it fills in some of the blanks on my record so I'm happy to do it. I listen to the record and feel that it's actually a genuine representation of me. That sounds horrendously egotistical; it probably is.

Pitchfork: I'm pretty sure I know what the answer to this last question is, but I'd probably be fired if I didn't ask it...

PS: [The new Radiohead album] is not finished yet. [laughs] So you didn't even have to ask it.

Pitchfork: I appreciate that.

PS: We're still writing-- slap dab in the middle of it.

phree single from phamilial

2010-07-01T13:20:00.004Z

Our Phil is releasing his first track "By Some Miracle" as a free download! Check out his shiny new website at http://www.philipselway.com/.

His site also includes a few more dates on his European tour. The complete list as of now is:

* 26.08.2010 Duo Music Exchange
* 27.08.2010 Club Quattro
* 04.09.2010 Electric Picnic Festival
* 10.09.2010 End Of The Road Festival
* 11.09.2010 Bestival
* 13.09.2010 London - Bush Hall
* 14.09.2010 London - Royal Festival Hall (SOLD OUT)
* 15.09.2010 Newcastle Academy (supporting Wilco)
* 16.09.2010 Glasgow - Barrowland (supporting Wilco)
* 20.09.2010 Amsterdam (show details still to be confirmed)
* 21.09.2010 Brussels - AB Club
* 22.09.2010 Paris - Le Boule Noire

phacebook phan and phollow phil

2010-07-01T13:18:00.001Z

become a facebook fan: http://www.facebook.com/philipselway

and I'm sure all of you phans are already following him on twitter: http://twitter.com/philipselway

uk tour

2010-06-24T05:50:00.001Z

September
4 – Stradbally, Ireland @ Electric Picnic
11 – Isle of Wight, England @ Bestival
12 – Wiltshire, England @ Larmer Tree Gardens, End Of The Road Festival
14 – London, England @ Royal Festival Hall
15 – Newcastle, England @ Academy
16 – Glasgow, Scotland @ Barrowland

[via paste]

phinally!

2010-06-12T22:48:00.005Z

Mark your calendars: August 30th for Phil's album Familial, reports One Thirty BPM.

Photos of Phil in Italy

2010-04-11T18:20:00.002Z

Great photos from phil's Milan set from a phan.

phollow phil on twitter

2010-03-01T23:34:00.001Z

http://twitter.com/philipselway

it's phinally here!! phil tours europe!

2010-02-03T17:51:00.001Z

via pitchfork:

03-27 Turin, Italy - Spazio 211 *
03-28 Florence, Italy - Sala Vanni *
03-29 Ferrara, Italy - Sala Estense *
03-30 Bologna, Italy - Covo Club *
03-31 Rome, Italy - Circolo Degli Artisti *
04-01 Milan, Italy - Tunnel *
04-03 Barcelona, Spain - La (2) de Apolo *
04-04 Valladolid, Spain - Auditorium *
04-05 Puerta de Santa Maria, Spain - Mucho Teatro *
04-06 Lisbon, Portugal - Aula Magna *
04-07 Porto, Portugal - Casa da Musica *
04-08 Vigo, Spain - Museum of Contemporary Art *

* with Lisa Germano

7 Worlds Collide in London photos

2009-09-23T13:38:00.003Z

wonker:

7 Worlds Collide Live reviewed

2009-09-23T13:22:00.002Z

About Last Night wrote a nice and lengthy review of the 7 Worlds concert on August 11, 2009.

Here are the philtastic excerpts:

Phil returned to his percussion palace, but only to grab a chair and bring it towards us. Neil officially welcomed him to the front of the stage, “making his UK debut.” And in case we got worried when he disappeared from view, Neil pointed to the Argos keyboard and said he would be just there, “just so you know”. Phil sat down with an acoustic guitar and praised the “sitting down time,” then looked at the pathetic sweaty standing mass in front of him and said, “why don’t you join me?” I’m sure we wished we could.

As Phil started plucking the strings of his guitar, I saw that Neil was also playing an acoustic guitar rather than the keyboards beside him. The two played an introduction that initially reminded me of the Hunters and Collectors much covered song (including by Finns; it was written by Mark Seymour, brother of Crowded House’s Nick) Throw Your Arms Around Me. Rather than some subtle sign that it was time to add vocals, Phil just asked Neil if he were ready, and Neil replied with exaggerated gusto “oh, yeah!” They performed The Ties That Bind Us ...

As John beamed at the back of the stage, Neil asked Phil if he had another tune for us, insisting “I think you have!” Phil appeared from wherever he had been and sat centre stage with an acoustic guitar, with Neil returning to the keyboard. Phil said it was quite fun up front and he and Neil kidded that there was no going back now that Phil was getting a taste for it. It was a joke but I think most people present would encourage him to write more and provide lead vocals more often in the future, as he’s a wasted talent just tucked at the back with drums, no matter how amazing a drummer he is. [Phil doesn’t seem to have been involved in as many projects as some of his Radiohead colleagues, although he did work on the McCusker/Woomble/Drever album Before the Ruin, which is funny as he not only reminded me a bit of John McCusker, but that John played at the last gig I saw. Phil also appeared with Jarvis Cocker as a band member in a Harry Potter film (Goblet of Fire) and played his (animated) self in an old South Park episode, plus does amazing work with the Samaritans. So an all around interesting and surprisingly outgoing person.)

More mobile phone interference right when a soft song was about to begin had much of the audience grumbling “Turn it off!” but Neil just referred to Phil having offers pouring in now, and they did not let it disturb them. Phil sang a heavenly song he had written, The Witching Hour, in a wispy, beautifully delicate voice, with Neil accompanying him on electric piano. The tune was easy to love, and snippets of the lyrics were “Take me, take me out into the night”, “hold me, hold me, I am like a child” and “those I love carry me home, carry me home”. Neil joined in on some truly haunting harmonies at the end, and the song was certainly one of the many highlights of the evening. Glenn and John’s constant smiles had competition from the audience who had fallen under Phil’s bewitching spell.

7 Worlds Collide double album is available

2009-09-23T13:14:00.003Z

But I'm sure you've already shown your support for Phil and Oxfam, right?

Lisa Germano Contributes To Radiohead's Phil Selways And Neil Finn Projects

2009-09-23T13:11:00.000Z

Lisa Germano recently spent time in England contributing to recordings by Radiohead drummer Phil Selway's solo project.

The recording was reportedly done in Radiohead's Oxfordshire studio. Besides Lisa Selway's collaborators were - Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, and former Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinber (who also appears on Lisa's latest solo offering).

All of these musicians including Germano collaborated on Neil Finn's recent Seven Worlds Collide project, including a charity album, The Sun Came Out.

(via antiMusic)

Still holding for Solo Album

2009-09-15T16:24:00.002Z

Well, it's not news to any of us Phillovers, but here's the NME's attempt at aligning themselves with the Philness.

Radiohead drummer Phil Selway to release solo album

Selway has taken his hand to singing for new effort

Radiohead drummer Phil Selway has announced that he is set to release a solo album.

Selway, who sings on the album, is currently in the process of recording the as-yet untitled record in his band's Oxfordshire studio.

He enlisted the services of Wilco members Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone to play on the project, and multi-instrumentalist solo artist Lisa Germano and bass player Sebastian Steinberg have also contributed.

The Radiohead man debuted a solo song, 'The Family Madness', live in Auckland in January, playing guitar and singing. The show was for the 7 Worlds Collide project, which the musicians working on his album are also part of.

Selway is yet to reveal the release date - and crucially as a member of Radiohead - the method by which his solo album will come out.

The Ties That Bind Us

2009-09-09T02:04:00.000Z

Worlds Collide comes to London for special one-off gig

2009-08-04T13:28:00.001Z

Via the myspace page:

7 Worlds Collide comes to London for special one-off gig
Neil Finn is bringing the 7 Worlds Collide project to London for a very special one off show at Dingwalls in Camden.

The exclusive and intimate show will take place on August 11th, and will feature Neil Finn, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead and Glenn Kotche and John Stirratt of Wilco. Together they will be premiering tracks from the forthcoming album The Sun Came Out.

Tickets go on sale Monday 3rd August at 9am and cost £25. Get them from Live Nation online, or by calling 0844 576 5483.

phil drumset in charity auction

2009-06-22T16:31:00.002Z

Some lucky Phillover is going to be able to own one of Phil's drum kits.

Radiohead memorabilia goes under the hammer

A drum kit belonging to Radiohead drummer Phil Selway will be among the lots in the Pop Culture sale at Christie’s, in London, on July 1.

The drum kit has been autographed by Abingdon-born Mr Selway and other members of the Oxford band, who met while pupils at Abingdon School, and is expected to fetch £4,000.

The Premier rosewood and cherry red lacquer kit was used to record the 1997 album OK Computer, which went triple platinum in the UK, and double platinum in the US.

Mr Selway, 42, was last year voted the 26th-best drummer of all time by online music magazine Gigwise.

He gave away the drums as a prize in a charity draw seven years ago in aid of the Samaritans charity, which he has worked for as a helpline volunteer.

(via Oxford Mail)

tumblr phil

2009-06-22T16:28:00.002Z

Phillovers, check out this philtastic tumblr: http://philselway.tumblr.com/

one phil of a surprise

2009-06-22T01:40:00.003Z

A group of generous Chileans thought they were just meeting with a Radiohead manager to welcome the band to Chile, but then had the surprise of a philtime. Phillover Coni was there and reports about the meeting:

At the hotel, we sat down and started chatting and suddenly one of my friends looked somewhere, shocked. I turned around... and Phil was there. I'm still shocked. He was absolutely amazing, so calm and educated.

The welcoming committee:

Phil opens gifts:

Oh yes, the cupcakes I made... Phil wasn't going to share with anyone.

2009-06-19T18:13:00.001Z

from the NME:

Radiohead and Johnny Marr releasing new material on charity album

'The Ties That Bind Us' sees Phil Selway's solo vocal debut

Radiohead's Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway and The Cribs' Johnny Marr have all contributed to 'The Sun Came Out' - a double album of original material that will raise money for Oxfam.

The album, co-ordinated by Neil Finn, will be released on August 10.

Drummer Selway makes his recorded vocal debut on the record on the song 'The Ties That Bind Us'.

Selway made his live singing debut at a gig in Auckland, New Zealand in January at a gig organised in conjunction with the project.

The album also sees collaborations between Marr and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy on 'Too Blue', and KT Tunstall and Neil Finn of Crowded House on 'Hazel Black'.

'The Sun Came Out' tracklisting will be:

Disc 1
'Too Blue'
'You Never Know'
'Little By Little'
'Learn to Crawl'
'Black Silk Ribbon'
'Girl, Make your Own Mind Up'
'Run In The Dust'
'Red Wine Bottle'
'The Ties That Bind Us'
'Reptile'
'Bodhisattva Blues'
'What Could Have Been'

Disc 2
'All Comedians Suffer'
'Duxton Blues'
'Hazel Black'
'Riding The Wave'
'The Witching Hour'
'Over And Done'
'Change of Heart'
'Don't Forget Me'
'Long Time Gone'
'The Cobbler'
'3 Worlds Collide'
'The Water'

2009-06-18T13:54:00.000Z

2009-05-23T16:58:00.001Z

Happy birthday to our dearest Phil.

phil photo

2009-04-08T17:55:00.001Z

Phil Interview

2009-04-08T03:46:00.003Z

Interview with Phil over at ExitMusic Argentina.

Q: There are rumours that you are working on a solo project, produced by John McCusker. Is that true?

It's true that I've been working on solo material over the past year or so. I'm working with Ian Davenport. We've been working in the gaps in the Radiohead schedule - it's been quite a busy few years for the band so progress has been gradual.

Q: Can you give us some sort of update about where in the development process the album is?

Well, bar a few lyrics, all the songs are written. I'm getting together with some of the musicians from the Seven Worlds Collide project, later in the year, to record them all.
...
Q: What music excites the two of you right now?

Phil: Currently listening to The Hazards of Love by The Decembrists.

Radiohead on tour in South America

2009-03-13T22:55:00.003Z

Hopefully all of the South American Phillovers will get a chance to come out and show their phlove throughout the month of March.

Sun 15
Foro Sol
Mexico City
Mexico

Mon 16
Foro Sol
Mexico City
Mexico

Fri 20
Praça Da Apoteose
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil

Sun 22
Chácara Do Jockey
São Paulo
Brazil

Tue 24
Club Ciudad
Buenos Aires
Argentina

Thu 26
La Pista Atlética del Estadio Nacional
Santiago
Chile

Fri 27
La Pista Atlética del Estadio Nacional
Santiago
Chile

Phil Selway, Future Frontman? “Family Madness”

2009-02-19T17:07:00.000Z

from PopMatters

Radiohead fans that call drummer Phil Selway their favorite member of the group, form a small but dedicated minority. As Tobias Fünke might say, “There are dozens of us. Dozens!” When I heard the news early last month that Selway was debuting some new material as part of Neil Finn’s Oxfam-supporting 7 Worlds Collide project, I was glad to hear that one of rock’s most reliable pacesetters would have a chance to do flex his creative muscles outside of the yeoman’s work at his world-famous day job.

Last year’s In Rainbows provided ample evidence that Selway is in many ways his band’s secret weapon, but his guitar playing and lead singing at this year’s 7 Worlds Collide reunion reveal that he might have more tricks up his sleeve than even his hardcore fans suspected.

Thankfully, YouTube user Schro23 uploaded a video of Selway’s original tune “Family Madness”, as performed in Auckland last month. The song—a slow number reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Follow Me Around”—manages to out(Fleet)fox the Fleet Foxes, as late-oughts harmony-laden folk tunes go. Not a bad start, Mr. Selway!

The song should appear on the upcoming 7 Worlds Collide album, which follows Finn’s 2001 live album of the same name.

And the Grammy goes to ...

2009-02-08T22:34:00.008Z

Congratulations to Radiohead for their "Alternative Album of the Year" Grammy win!!

Album of the Year
Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon

Best Rock Song
Girls In Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen

Best Alternative Music Album
In Rainbows - Radiohead

Best Short Form Music Video
Pork And Beans - Weezer

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
In Rainbows - Radiohead [Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell & Xian Munro, art directors]

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Rick Rubin

Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
The Dark Knight - James Newton Howard & Hans Zimmer

Good luck Phil at the Grammys

2009-02-07T06:11:00.004Z

Phil may or may not be in LA this weekend for the awards show, but we Phillovers would like to say "good luck" to Phil and all his phriends on Sunday night.

Coverage for the non-televised portion, hopefully including Jonny's category, starts at 4p NYC time / 9p London time over at the grammy site, with the televised portion beginning at 8p NYC time on CBS. Radiohead are rumored to be opening, so do as Phil would do: set your watch a few minutes fast so you don't miss a moment.

phinally! it's phil!

2009-01-07T17:23:00.002Z

Not the best of recordings, but have a look! Thanks, britbomber!

Jan 06 2009 - Phil Selway, 7 Worlds Collide

second night at 7 Worlds, second night for solo Phil

2009-01-06T18:07:00.002Z

Although the song was on the setlist on the first night as "Family Madness," this time around it was listed as "The ties that bind us."

Phil Selway Tribute

2009-01-06T00:21:00.002Z

While we wait for Phil's song to surface, enjoy this tribute from nubialondon.

solo song debut!

2009-01-06T00:03:00.008Z

Yesterday marked the first of a series of 7 Worlds Collide concerts and Phil sang one of his solo songs.

We Phillovers are phervently hoping for more Phil songs at the next few concerts!

The New Zealand Herald reports.

Review: Neil Finn's 7 Worlds Collide
7:41AM Tuesday Jan 06, 2009
By Russell Baillie

It had variety. It had comedy. It had songs by the greats - Radiohead, Wilco, Crowded House, er, Thunderclap Newman.

But most of all this Neil Finn-facilitated dream-team line-up had a couple of things you don't see at big shows.

Like risk-taking, spontaneity, genuine surprises, and a great fat wodge of heart.

Yes it might have been a spin-off to the album Finn and his musical mates exotic and domestic are recording in his Auckland studio for Oxfam, as well as a follow-up to the first series of Seven Worlds Collide concerts back in 2001.

But this first night of a sold-out three-night blast at the Powerstation was anything but a predictable charity bash or dull supergroup jam.

Nor was it a case of Neil-and-friends.

He took a backseat for the first half of the show and much of the second. Though the night didn't lack for Finn presence with sons Liam - now established as a brilliant solo act - and younger brother Ellroy roped in. When he wasn't being the night's most valuable player, Liam also provided comic foil.

"Get over it Dad," he quipped as Finn snr pondered aloud yet again on what the assembled band should be called.

"You're 25 now, I guess you can say that to me," answered his father.

"You can hit me now," quipped Finn jnr once more.

'"Well I could always stop feeding you," finished Finn snr.

We're sure he didn't mean that. But if he did, Oxfam do a very good job of helping the starving...

Anyway, it was a show of two neatly unpredictable robust halves. After opening with an all-in swing through Crowded House's Distant Sun, The first was mostly of a tag-team effort with songs old and new each from Don McGlashan, Bic Runga, Liam Finn, Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and former Smiths super-guitarist Johnny Marr while backed by various combinations of the dozen or so other musicians.

That included four members of American rock wonders Wilco and - returning from duties on the first Seven Worlds Collide series - Radiohead's Ed O'Brien and drummer Phil Selway.

The second half largely belonged to a combination of the Wilco and Radiohead songbook, a match seemingly made in rock-crit heaven.

It also provided the night's biggest wobble. Finn snr wrestled manfully with the vocal to Radiohead's Bodysnatchers, but couldn't quite pin Thom Yorke's original hyperventilations over its monster riff. Not one for the live concert DVD perhaps.

Otherwise, the depleted-to-four-piece Wilco and ring-ins kicked almost as hard as their last Auckland show in March. Their short bracket included oldies including Woody Guthrie's California Stars, a freshly recorded newie while later frontman Jeff Tweedy made a fine job of Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees, even if beforehand he worried out loud "this is going to be like Paul Rodgers fronting Queen."

Radiohead's drummer Phil Selway delivered one of the night's nicest surprises in what was his live singing debut of a rather lovely self-penned song destined for the album.

Elsewhere, among the smattering of new numbers, Tunstall and Runga delivered a co-written impressively gothic murder ballad to give the feelgood meter a brief respite - but that gauge stayed pretty much in the red zone for the remains of the night.

That was especially when Finn and Marr lead the ensemble through the Smiths' There is a Light that Never Goes Out (reprised from the 2001 7WC shows), or exuberant high harmony jangles through Finn's Four Seasons in One Day and She Will Have Her Way. And best and most disarming of all - was Thunderclap Newman's Something in the Air in the night's encores.

It helped make for a sweetly funny ending to this first night marking a project which Finn snr describes as a "splendid expedition of ours".

Sure was good to be there for this early part of the ride.

There was video montage of the supergroup rehearsing posted on youtube. You can see our Phil on a guitar at about :27.

Lucky Auckland

2008-12-27T16:55:00.005Z

Phil's currently in New Zealand, working on the 7 Worlds Collide project with Neil Finn and a bunch of others. Check out his portion of the interview below or the whole thing here.

The first concert will be Monday, January 5th.

Grammy nominations suck slightly less this year

2008-12-04T08:07:00.009Z

Congratulations to Phil and his phriends for their Grammy nominations!

Album of the Year
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay
Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
Year Of The Gentleman - Ne-Yo
Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows - Radiohead [Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer]

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Rock N Roll Train - AC/DC
Violet Hill - Coldplay
Long Road Out Of Eden - Eagles
Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon
House Of Cards - Radiohead

Best Rock Song
Girls In Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen
House Of Cards - Radiohead
I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie
Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
Violet Hill - Coldplay

Best Alternative Music Album
Modern Guilt - Beck
Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie
The Odd Couple - Gnarls Barkley
Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
In Rainbows - Radiohead

Best Short Form Music Video
Honey - Erykah Badu
Who's Gonna Save My Soul - Gnarls Barkley
Another Way To Die - Alicia Keys & Jack White
House Of Cards - Radiohead
Pork And Beans - Weezer

Other nominations in the Philoverse:

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
Ghosts I-IV - NIN
In Rainbows - Radiohead [Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell & Xian Munro, art directors]
Poems & Songs - Wu Sheng
Pretty. Odd. - Panic At The Disco
@#%&*! Smilers - Aimee Mann

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Danger Mouse
Nigel Godrich
Johnny Karkazis (Johnny K)
Rick Rubin
will.i.am

Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
The Dark Knight - James Newton Howard & Hans Zimmer
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull - John Williams
Iron Man - Ramin Djawadi
There Will Be Blood - Jonny Greenwood
Wall-E - Thomas Newman

[check out the grammy site here]

Another tease about Phil's solo album

2008-11-30T09:19:00.002Z

thisisnottingham reports that John McCusker has worked on 20 tracks with our Phil.

Under One Sky - A folk "suite"
Friday, November 28, 2008, 07:30

Before Graham Coxon goes back in the studio with the newly re-formed Blur, he'll be joining Idlewild's Roddy Woomble and a host of folk musicians at Nottingham's Albert Hall for Under One Sky. SIMON WILSON spoke to John McCusker about the folk "suite" and his work with Paul Weller, Mark Knopfler and Radiohead...

WHY is Graham Coxon involved in a folk "suite"? Blur and his grittier solo material never showed much of a leaning towards storytelling acoustica.

"Both he and Roddy Woomble have grown up playing rock music but they've both got a great love for folk music," says John McCusker, creator of Under One Sky.

"That's how I know Graham. He came to folk concerts that I was involved in. And we became friends."

McCusker, who has worked with Paul Weller, Mark Knopfler, Ocean Colour and Radiohead's Phil Selway as musician and producer, was commissioned to write an hour-long piece to celebrate two British folk festivals: Cambridge and Celtic Connections.

The idea was also to bring together English and Scottish folk musicians.

McCusker says: "Undeniably there's a divide between Scotland and England but I'm not sure how real it is. People talk about it more than anything.

"Musically it exists as Scottish musicians tend to play traditional Scottish music and likewise with the English.

"I don't think a piece of music like this will bring two nations together but it gave the musicians a better understanding of each other's music.

"Watching them have a laugh and make music together and really buzz of each other's music was fantastic. I know it's a cliche but music is an amazing universal language.

He wrote pieces with all of the musicians, including Gaelic songstress Julie Fowlis, balladeer John Tams and rising star Jim Causley.

The hour-long concert will feature all 12 of them.

"There are seven pieces of music in that hour. But it's not like a set list. It's evolving all the time.

"You never know what's going to happen. Which adds to the excitement.

"It's certainly the highlight of any musical experience I've had."

As well as choosing the musicians, McCusker has been responsible for getting it rehearsed and recorded, even booking flights and coaches for the tour.

"It's quite a lot of work but it's my baby. It'll be worth it in the end."

Other musicians taking part include: Andy Cutting (diatonic accordion), Ian Carr (guitar), Emma Reid (fiddle), Iain MacDonald (bagpipes/whistles/flute), Ewen Vernal (bass) and James Mackintosh (percussion).

McCusker, who has also worked with Patti Smith, Teenage Fanclub, Steve Earle, Roseanne Cash, Linda Thompson, the Waterboys, Jools Holland and Billy Connolly, grew up in Bellshill, near Glasgow.

He joined Scottish folk outfit The Battlefield Band from the age of 17 and toured the world with them for the next decade.

After two solo albums he produced several albums for Kate Rusby, who he married in 2001.

In 2003 he was named Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

This year he's been on tour with Mark Knopfler and Paul Weller.

Next up he'll be playing on the new Teenage Fanclub album and has been working on the debut solo offering from Radiohead drummer Philip Selway.

"It's in limbo just now because he's been so busy with Radiohead but we did 20 tracks at their studios in Oxford for a month."

He adds: "It's 18 years that I've been doing this and I'm still as excited about it as when I started out. There are loads of exciting stuff happening."

Phil joins Seven Worlds Collide again

2008-11-17T09:09:00.004Z

DAS reports that New Zealand will be hosting a very special drummer soon.

Ed & Philip will join the new Seven Worlds Collide project

Ed and Philip will rejoin Neil Finn in a follow up to the acclaimed Seven Worlds Collide project at the end of the year. Together with members of the original line up and other artists, the ‘supergroup’ will record an album of entirely new material in support of international development organisation Oxfam.

The original Seven Worlds Collide line up was Neil Finn, Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway, guitar supremo Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, songwriter and violinist Lisa Germano, and Liam Finn. Other artists joining the project include Jeff Tweedy, John Stirrat, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone from Wilco, and New Zealand songwriters Bic Runga and Don McGlashan. Behind the mixing desk will be master recording engineer Jim Scott. More names will be added to the lineup in the coming weeks.

The album will be recorded over the next few months in Auckland and is due for release in 2009. Like its predecessor, the project will also see a series of concerts featuring many of the artists included in the line up. The shows will take place in Auckland early in the New Year. Details will be announced soon.

Neil Finn said “Seven years ago I invited a few friends and fellow musicians to do a special series of concerts in New Zealand under the banner Seven Worlds Collide. The concerts were an amazing experience for all of us and we are delighted to have found an opportunity to gather again, this time to expand the concept and the line up too. What will make these sessions particularly meaningful is that all the proceeds of this recording will go to support the continuing great work of Oxfam International.”

Head to youtube to see Phil in action during Hole in the Ice.

Julie Fowlis gains the best phan ever

2008-11-07T16:42:00.009Z

Folk singer Julie Fowlis is lucky enough to get the Phil seal of approval, reports The Sentinel.

Girl from a small island proud to show off roots
Friday, October 31, 2008
With famous fans ranging from Ian Rankin to Jools Holland, BBC Radio 2's Folk Singer of the Year Julie Fowlis is sure to be a crowd pleaser at Biddulph Town Hall, writes Tamzin Hindmarch.

GROWING up on the small Outer Hebridean island of North Uist amid a Gaelic-speaking community, it's tempting to say Julie Fowlis had music in her blood from the start.

But the 29-year-old, who can also count Björk, KT Tunstall, Ricky Gervais, Radiohead's Phil Selway and Mark Radcliffe among her diverse range of famous fans, avoids over-romanticising her Scottish roots.

"I suppose, as any child would be, I was not really aware of what was around me at the time," she says.

"It's only as an adult, looking back, that I see my incredible upbringing differently and realise how instrumental it was in what I ended up doing in my life for a job.

"I was a bilingual child, always hearing the two languages, Gaelic and English, and singing or speaking in them at school and at home. And in our community especially, there is a lot of piping, so I started to play the chanter when I was very, very small before learning to play the full bagpipes.

"I didn't really think anything of it until I was much older and moved away and realised not everybody does that."

Entering national Gaelic singing competitions as a girl and singing at a ceilidh here and an old people's home there, she soon developed her voice, later gaining national recognition with the band Dòchas at the 2004 Scots Trad Music Awards in 2004, where she was also nominated for the Best Gaelic Singer award.

These early successes were only a taster of what was to follow.

In 2005, her first solo album, Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is) soon earned her international acclaim.

Meanwhile the 2007 follow-up, Cuilidh, became a worldwide bestseller in both the traditional and world music charts, earning her a nomination at the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Folk Singer of the Year – the title which this year she won.

Among the latest music that can be downloaded from her website today is the newly-released album Dual and her cover of the Beatles's Blackbird, recorded for Mojo Magazine.

With another full-length album in the pipeline and presenting slots on BBC Scotland's Travelling Folk and Global Gathering programmes, Julie has become something of an unwitting ambassador for both the kind of music she sings and the language she sings it in.

"It's very important that the Gaelic tradition is continued," she says.

"I feel quite frustrated that I went through the whole school system knowing very little about the language, where it came from and its history, and I think it's very sad, actually.

"I hope that's something that is going to change, and I think now is a very exciting time for the language.

"We are definitely on an upward curve, albeit still quite far down it.

"So I'm really happy if I can do anything that can further the language.

"It feels like a weight on my shoulders, in a good way, knowing that each time I go to a place and perform there will be people who have never heard it before. With that comes a responsibility to do right by it by presenting it in the right way."

Anyone curious to see who Phil's been praising, check out the singer's 2007 Jools Holland appearance over on youtube.

Phil's album is phinished

2008-10-16T18:07:00.005Z

This was spotted by Caristopholine, who took a break from her normal Ed-loving duties to alert the Phillovers of some great news:

From an article about the 'Before the Ruin' album, in Properganda magazine:

Phil Selway's involvement in the album is particularly fascinating. A fan of Kate Rusby, the Radiohead man met McCusker at a couple of Rusby gigs, struck up an email contact and they started hanging out. McCusker remembers with pride the night Selway came to see the John McCusker band playing at the Nettlebed Folk Club in Oxfordshire. "He joined the folk club and everything. At the end of the night he was helping to put the chairs away!" when Selway decided to make a solo album of his own songs, he asked McCusker to produce it and put a band together. "It hasn't come out yet but it's a great album. He has a gorgeous voice, not that different to Thom Yorke's voice. I don't know when it's coming out, it's difficult with all the Radiohead projects - he's deadly serious about it and doesn't want it to be the Radiohead drummer's token solo album. When we were doing this I just called him up and he was delighted to help. He loves Kris and he loves Roddy and he came up and recorded the drums in the engineer's living room. Wish I'd taken a picture"

phedora phil

2008-09-22T13:44:00.005Z

Many thanks to Colin for posting this phetching photo of Phil on DAS:

The phollowing were created by phellow Phillover Erik. Thanks, Erik!

Before the Ruin - Phil's tracks

2008-09-22T13:40:00.002Z

The tracks the Phillovers will be listening to the most are:

6. Rest on the Rock
7. Out of Light

jonny's photos of phil

2008-09-11T20:12:00.003Z

Occasionally Jonny stops taking self-portraits long enough to capture the genius behind Radiohead.

From Jonny's waste-central profile:

Before the Ruin

2008-09-07T13:48:00.007Z

Before the Ruin is the upcoming album by Kris Drever, John McCusker and Roddy Woomble. Theywent for extra awesome points and sought the help of drummer extraordinaire, Phil. The album is out Sept 15. Not that I need to remind the Phillovers, but McCusker is the one that's producing Phil's eagerly anticipated solo album.

Track Listing:

1. Silver And Gold

2. Into The Blue

3. All Along The Way

4. Before The Ruin

5. Hope To See

6. Rest On The Rest

7. Out Of Light

8. The Poorest Company

9. Moments Last Forever

10. Stuck In Time

Alan Baillie's of www.subba-cultcha.com review of the album:

The perfect soundtrack for any comedown

Roddy Woomble (Idlewild) teams up here with John McCusker, a Scottish folk musician renowned for his work with Eddie Reader, Tim O’Brien and Kate Rusby. Completing the trio is contemporary musician Kris Drever who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut album Black Water. As a wonderful consequence we get this quite special album.

Understanding fully the dynamics of music is quite likely what makes Drever, McCusker and Woomble capable of bringing this record together in the short time they did. It was written over the course of several afternoons then demo-ed onto a laptop before being transferred to the studio. Though there is nothing flamboyantly grandiose about the tracks on this record, and it will never be considered to be cutting edge it does have some very good songs within. ‘Into The Blue’ and ‘Moments Lost Forever’ are stunning compositions. Woomble has always been blessed with the kind of voice tailor made for these situations and indeed it is him who takes on the majority of vocal duties. And his work with Idlewild probably ensures this record will appeal to both folk and rock genres. Though make no mistake, there does exist some real depth here.
It’s a fresh, contemporary beauty and it will seep into your psyche for all the right reasons with its settling haze of floaty acoustic majesty. And if the quality of this threesome was never going to be enough they brought in a collection of talented pals to further enhance things just incase, including Donald Shaw (Capercaille), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Philip Selway (Radiohead). It’s a large library of experience they borrow from, and the end result is very pleasing. Filled with soul and full of heart this is a record that will introduce the temporary trio to a much wider audience than they probably expected.

das phil

2008-09-07T13:25:00.003Z

Happy Philday

2008-05-23T09:01:00.003Z

Happy 41st birthday to our favorite drummer. May his birthday be full of cupcakes and other delicious things.

Drowned in Sound interview

2008-04-07T02:30:00.006Z

Better-received albums may have been released in 2007, but Radiohead’s In Rainbows (collective reader review), the Oxford-based quintet’s seventh long-player, was certainly the most significant addition to the end-of-year best-of charts given its method of delivery.

No physical CD found its way to high street stores, initially; instead, a box-set (‘diskbox’) was made available via mail order and a pay-what-you-will download was provided. Between 60,000 and 80,000 special two-disc sets were ordered, with many more copies downloaded (figures of a million-plus were published, before being called out as “exaggerated” by the band’s management). The release sent shockwaves through the industry, and since then, October 2007, many other acts have been reported as ‘doing a Radiohead’.

In Rainbows, DiS readers’ album of 2007, ultimately found its way to traditional distribution channels after the band signed with XL, following the end of their contract with Parlophone/EMI (1992-2005), and went straight to number one on the UK albums chart. This, despite the many copies already sold via the band’s original methods. Now, the band – Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Phil Selway (drums, programming), Colin Greenwood (bass), Jonny Greenwood (electronics, keys, guitar) and Ed O’Brien (guitar) – are to tour In Rainbows across the world, with UK dates scheduled for June.

But you know all of this: Radiohead are one of the biggest bands in the whole world, whose influence on the likes of similarly massive bands like Muse and Coldplay can’t be ignored and whose accolades are stacked higher than Perez Hilton's ego. They’re also maybe my own favourite band of all time, so speaking to Phil Selway was obviously A Big Deal. Share my nervousness.

Hi Phil. We’ve heard that you’re already planning to head back to the studio to work with Nigel Godrich. What’s the plan there?
Well, we’ve just been doing our tour rehearsals, and there are ideas coming through. We’re playing well, and I think we’re looking for times for when getting into the studio might work while we are touring, or just after touring. There’s nothing firm as yet, but there are ideas – it’s about actually catching yourself unawares rather than this whole thing of thinking, “Here we start working on new material, in this new session”, which can sometimes feel a bit daunting. So we’re trying to catch ourselves on the fly, and see what comes out of that. We’ll see what happens – if it happens, for starters. If it does, we’ll have limited time to do it which will provide focus, and hopefully it should be fun.

Your tour dates take in the States and Japan, as well as the UK – how do you find life on the road these days? Is it more difficult with band members having families these days?
Having families certainly puts a different complexion on it, but that’s a logistical thing, working out how you all get around together – it’s a slightly different approach to touring. But the whole thing of playing shows and actually getting to play, as ever, we really look forward to that and relish it, actually.

You don’t suffer any burnout any more?
I think if we were out playing 300 nights a year we’d possibly start to pale a little bit, but we’ve a very civilised tour schedule these days. We’re gentlemen of a certain age these days, quite!

Past tours seemed to have got to the band – thinking back to the OK Computer cycle of 1997 and ‘98, and the Meeting People Is Easy video, you seemed a little worn out.
That’s certainly one side of touring that year. That’s worryingly a long time ago now, ten years. I think so much at that period happened in a really short space of time – in some ways it’d been a slow burner for us, from the first album up to that point, but then everything seemed to go full steam ahead. There was a lot to take on board that year, so it did get a little tiring at points. I think where frustrations with touring in the past have come, it’s because it has actually got in the way of us getting on with new material, because you follow that process, that classic process, of recording and releasing the album and then going out and touring it for a year and a half. Hopefully, I think we’ve kind of stepped out of that cycle now.

There’s certainly a suggestion that the band’s enjoying greater freedom than it ever has, around In Rainbows.
Yeah, whether it’s the reality or not, I don’t know, but it does feel like that and it feels good!

Presumably XL aren’t being too pushy with you?
They’re probably listening in, so no! They’ve been fantastic, actually.

Was it refreshing, or simply nice, to be courted by a number of labels once the Parlophone deal was up and you were looking to put In Rainbows out in a ‘proper’ way?
Yeah, that was interesting, to be getting feedback on different approaches people would have taken with us. There were many really interesting ideas that came along, and fortunately for us XL seemed to be really in tune with what we were wanting to do, and they also great ideas and a lot of enthusiasm. So it’s worked out very well for us.

And In Rainbows reached number one, even after all the downloads. Was that a surprise, at all? Did you think that maybe it’d creep out, perhaps sell in the supermarkets but not rocket to the top of the chart?
I think the way that we originally released the record, via the download, in our minds we’d stepped out of the whole process of aiming towards the first week of sales, when you’ve the big push for the chart position. So we were out of that mindset really, so to then go through the process and go to number one, I suppose it did catch us by surprise a little bit. The whole thing with In Rainbows, up to now, has been the reaction rather than… Well, there were always plans for the download but we didn’t know how that would go, so we’ve been reacting to how that’s been received as we’ve been going along.

Something of a new learning curve for the band…?
Oh, we need it.

Was there ever any expectation within that band that the download of In Rainbows would send such significant waves through the music industry? That so many others would now be seen as ‘doing a Radiohead’?
Erm, no – I don’t think we ever expected that. The release did seem to gather a head of steam that was in some ways way beyond the release itself. I don’t think we could ever have predicted that (the impact). When we finally decided to release it as a download, which was only a week and a half, or two weeks, before announcing it, there was that moment where we thought: “Will anyone be interested? Will anyone care about it?” That was exciting, because it felt slightly risky, and also it seemed a very proactive way of getting music out to as many people as possible.

Seemed to work – no doubt the distribution and ease of access aided its critical reception. Our readers voted it their album of 2007.
Aw, bless them…

It must’ve been nice, though, to have the album praised by critics, given that some could have anticipated a collection of odds and sods rather than a ‘proper’ album, given its means of release?
Um, yeah… The record spent three years to make, so it had a long gestation and a short labour. When you’ve put that amount of time into working on something – and it was a very painstaking approach – it was very gratifying to find that there were decent reviews for the music itself. Did you say ‘gimmicky’ earlier on?

Not exactly, but yes: In Rainbows could have been received as a gimmick.
It could have been taken on that level, yes. We felt we’d done the best work that we could at that point, so we were as confident as you ever can be before a release, with the music itself. But it was great to get positive feedback.

Have you ever felt any trepidation prior to an album’s release? I recall some lukewarm reviews for Kid A (2000).
Well, I suppose by the time you get to the end of the record, you’re in two minds: you’re committed to it, and you’re attached to it, feeling pretty confident about it; but at the same time because you’ve been so close to it for so long you don’t know how objective your view of it is. There’s always that slight trepidation, therefore – it’s been in amongst the group of you for some time, but you might have lost complete perspective on it as you’ve made it. It might be a complete pile of pants! I suppose with whatever record you release there’s always the slight realisation that you might have got it wrong.

What was your first impression of Kid A? Were you worried you’d take a back seat, of sorts, in the band when the song ideas were being developed, as the electronica aspects seemed to be at the forefront of all the reviews?
It was an interesting thing – going back to the learning curve thing, it was an interesting curve for us all there. We’d worked in a particular way as a band ‘til that point for what was over a decade, since the first album, and any kind of change was slightly worrying. But also, it’s how you continue to develop as a musician; it’s important to have that uncertainty. For us, as a band, the songs themselves have always been paramount – we work as a group of five people, and with Nigel, in trying to find the best or most appropriate way to bring those songs out. That’s your focus, rather than thinking about it too individually.

Band members, particularly Thom and Jonny, have worked on solo projects, yet Radiohead seems as tight as ever. How does the band stay a healthy one? Do you need as much time apart as you do together to keep going, to maintain that group mentality when it comes to write and record?
Oh, this is sounding like Trisha now, isn’t it?! It’d be great if we were up on stage, having a big fist-fight and getting pulled apart. But probably, yes. I think it’s being as brutally honest as we can with each other without bringing the whole thing down. It’s a fine line to tread, but I think we get there sometimes.

I guess any reservations about speaking your mind in the studio were laid to rest some time ago.
Oh, they’re still there. We all tread lightly with each other, but at the same time you recognise that if you don’t broach certain subjects then they’re likely to trip the whole project up. Compromise is a good thing, isn’t it? Every band is a compromise.

These tour rehearsals – apparently you’ve been practising some 70 songs?
It started out there, but we’ve now trimmed it down to 55.

Oh, only 55 eh?
Yeah, only 55. The songs are from across the catalogue.

A broad selection then, but these dates aren’t to be ‘greatest hits’ affairs, are they?
Certainly not! Oh God, the thought of us on a greatest hits tour… I couldn’t see that somehow. I think, actually, the (wealth of material relates to the) whole thing about keeping some momentum to the shows, having that breadth of material means you can change the set so much, and that keeps it vital for you as you’re going along.

And the In Rainbows material presumably fits well with older songs? After all, you’ve been playing a number of the ‘new’ tracks live for some time. (New single ‘Nude’ dates back to the OK Computer tour, for example.) I think you choose material that goes together well, and we’ve not actually done too many sets yet. We’ve the Radio 1 thing this week.

You’ll be able to see the whites of your audiences’ eyes…
And they can see the fear on our faces! No, that’ll be good fun.

Just before our time’s up, I want to mention the recent Skins trailer featuring ‘Nude’, and your involvement with licensing decisions. You seem like the sort of band to be quite in control of what your music can be used to promote.
There are certain things where there are blanket agreements, like on television, which you have little control over, but elements we do have control over we do get involved in. But the trailer you’re talking about, the one for Skins (watch), the song was brilliantly used, and that feeds back into the music itself. When you see it happening in places like that, everybody benefits from that one.

Too true. It gets the kids out there into the band, too, like it’s 1994 all over again…
Nostalgia time!

Well, sort of. Put it this way: play ‘High & Dry’ on the tour and I’ll be singing along.
It’s not on the list I’m afraid! It’s wearing jeans and can’t get in I’m afraid.

Ha ha… no trackie bottoms allowed either. Well, that’s too bad, but thanks loads for your time Phil.

Available here.

Phil dancing during webcast

2007-11-26T09:22:00.003Z

Recently Radiohead did a webcast and it didn't surprise us Phillovers that after Phil did his DJ set people were talking about it around the world. Message boards, music sites and even newspapers showered him with praises.

Here's Phil dancing to Colin's set:

What price did you choose?

2007-11-26T08:59:00.002Z

Recently a survey was made following the release of Radiohead's 7th LP, In Rainbows, where people shared information on how much they had payed for the album.

Here are a few examples of what people said:

£40.00 (United Kingdom)
Discbox. I've never come across a Radiohead album that i didn't like so i
don't think i'm taking much of a risk paying full whack. I think other artists
who think they've got a massive fanbase (50 cent for one) still wouldn't have
the balls to do something like this, besides it's not really about the money
with Radiohead and that's what i respect about them. I've bought many albums
this year which i regret, paying about a tenner for 3 good singles and umpteen
shoddy/rushed/lazy 'filler' tracks is a joke.

£2.50 (United States)
I payed 2.50, but I'm still undecided about getting the
discbox. If I don't, I'll pay them more. If the album's especially awesome, I'll
pay them even more. I love the concept of 'tipping' a band, being able to show
support in a more intimate way, even for a band as big as Radiohead.

£2.00 (United Kingdom)
the price they would receive through standard distribution of their record
after the appropriate deductions, plus a litte bit more (i think)

£0.00 (United Kingdom)
I'm not even sure I like Radiohead, I found OK Computer really hard going.
So I'm taking a (free) punt and seeing what it's like, either I'll become a new
fan or continue on my way.

£7.00 (United States)
pay up. this means more than just a price of a cd.

£3.00 (United Kingdom)
Seems like a fair price with low overhead of distribution. They're happy,
I'm happy, we're all happy.

£0.01 (United Kingdom)
I'm going to get the box set later in the year, so I don't feel guilty at
all paying 1p for it.

The survey has been closed now and various magazines have used its results.

For more details go to

http://www.whatpricedidyouchoose.com/

If you didn't get a chance to participate in the survey The Phillovers would be delighted to hear how much you payed in the comments for this blog.

Thanks to Phil McKenna for the tip

the reviews are in: phil kicks ass

2007-10-22T00:26:00.002Z

Finally a few critics have noticed the most important part to Radiohead.

"The synthesis is much more complete here, though, since the band road-tested these tunes on a short tour last year and drummer Phil Selway – who freakin' owns the album – operates on an utterly inhuman level throughout, bringing captivatingly erratic, "organic" accompaniment to 10 songs that give Thom Yorke's singular voice and warm instrumentation (acoustic guitars, strings, piano) played by human beings precedence over the machines."

…

"'Reckoner.' Tell me the last time you heard percussion recorded this well. All hail Phil Selway!"

~Ben Rayner, The Star

"Perhaps more than anything, In Rainbows succeeds at showing Selway’s talent…"

~Matthew Fiander, PopMatters

femme_bastet draws Phil

2007-04-23T23:03:00.001Z

The legendary ateaser femme_bastet drew all 5 band members, but obviously Phil's came out as most beautiful.

2007-04-23T19:36:00.001Z

Due to global warming and the war in Iraq, we haven't been able to update this blog. We have now though.

After VAlthough Daniel Craig did ok as James Bond, Phil could replace him in the next Bond movie. And we can see why.

San Fransisco to Amsterdam
As best dressed member of Radiohead, Phil tries to influence the other band members. It's going in the right direction, but it's clearly not perfect yet.

There's a debate going on about this picture. Some people think it's Phil himself, but we from The Phillovers are convinced this is a wax statue that will be revealed at Madame Tuso in a couple of days.

visit sunny somerset
When Phil goes surfing, he doesn't use a surfboard. He uses a rock. Phil likes vintage.

Winter 07
People are whispering that Phil is urinating in Ed's shoe. Phil is a very tidy man and he would never do such a thing.

Studio photographsHe clearly lost some weight. He's watching/learning how to play the piano it seems.

A big fan of the congoesAfter Thom stole his drums, Phil had to settle for congoes. He's still the best looking member by far though.

Winter 07 LondonPhil is browsing through Atease, checking the Phil appreciation thread.

Ed and Phil
This is Ed, almost blocking the view on Phil.

in the room
Find Wally. (<- orders from hildur) Over your sholder...
Quatre mains: Phil and Thom

Phil and John McCusker to produce album

2007-02-14T07:59:00.001Z

In an interview with newspaper The Scotsman, Scottish producer John McCusker said he's going to produce an album with our favorite drummer Phil Selway later this year.

more news will follow

Cupcakes

2007-01-21T17:35:00.001Z

Deerhoof are releasing their new album, 'Friend Opportunity' next week. Drummer Greg Saunier talked to JunkMedia about their tour with Radiohead last year. You have been playing quite a few high profile shows lately. What was it like for the band to open up for Radiohead?

Greg Saunier: "Everybody knows what an uncommon live group they are, and even with years of buildup and knowing there was no way they could live up to the legend, they were so much better than even my highest expectation that my whole outlook on the world had to be immediately revised. But what people might not know is that they are so great in person. All five of them, and everyone in their enormous crew, were all so sweet to us. They really supported our music. If one of John's pedals got busted, someone from their crew would immediately offer to help. Someone from the band watched us from the side of the stage almost every night. Phil brought us cupcakes. Jonny brought us champagne and offered to play on our album, until he heard some rough mixes and said it already sounded done. Jonny did our light show in Amsterdam. He even used the strobe light which wasn't allowed. Ed asked us how we got our guitar tone, [because] he wanted to steal it. When Radiohead had a night off in Dublin, and Deerhoof had our own show in a small club, how did Thom spend his free time? He came to our show and danced like crazy. Colin kept taking our picture and posting pictures of us on Radiohead's website, and he'd imitate Satomi's dance during their show. Jim Warren, who does their sound mix, said he'd be happy to do ours as well and went and studied one of our albums to research what we wanted our mix to sound like. I do not expect this sort of treatment from any band, let alone a band on the level of Radiohead. They are disproving every truism about how famous people are supposed to act, and that taught us a beautiful lesson."

We, from 'The Phillovers', knew Phil was an expert in the field of cupcakes. He often makes them for our Phillover Fan days. Those on that picture are the ones he made for our last meeting. Phil promised to bring the cupcakes for our next Phillover Fan days in Iceland. This will be the first fan meeting where the other Radiohead band members will be present.

The Official Phillover logo

2007-01-19T00:25:00.001Z

Phil posts on Dead Air Space again

2006-11-09T03:06:00.001Z

Late tonight Phil posted these seven pictures on Dead Air Space from "the seaside and elsewhere"

Pictured above is Ed trying to find his long lost pet seahorse.

Nigel Godrich (producer) hopefully speculating the release date of ep7 with Jonny. This is no time to talk about the weather.

Jonny sitting in the studio, looking pretty.

Ed and his plant sit in studio, looking pretty as well.

Colin likes rock and water. Especially when they are together.

Phil titled this picture as "shadow of my former self". The man keeps getting slimmer. Looking good there, Phil.

Stanley, supposedly painting new artwork for Radiohead's upcoming release. It looks wonderful and reminds of the Kid A and Amnesiac landscape artwork.

I see you Phil.. shaking ya ass, shaking ya ass, shaking ya ass!

2006-11-01T10:07:00.001Z

Phil's Booty Dance is back!

Woo!The cult video of Phil shaking his booty has returned to its praisers.

Thanks to Robin :)

phil with hair

2006-09-03T23:05:00.001Z

ok.......after abuse from goudvis......and er........atease crashing i thought i'd bring a very important point forward.....

me and fellow phillovers have been musing over what phil would look like with a substantial amount of hair....the following conclusion was reached

pretty huh?

Radiohead at Sziget Festival, Budapest: An encounter with Phil

2006-08-15T18:43:00.002Z

On her trip to see Radiohead at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary, the lovely 27 year old Natasha tells us the story of how she met Phil :

We were walking around city all day.One of the bridges across Danube was closed for traffic and we decided to go there. There was a lot of things going on, from folk dancing to preparing food. There in the crowd i spot Phil. He was with some friends. I started shaking. My friends thought that i should aproach to him but i was to scared. So we followed them accross the bridge.When we reached the other bank, Phil noticed that im staring and gave a a big smile. My friend aproached to him and told him that i wanted to talk to him but that im to shy. He looked at me and said "awwwwwwwwwww" biggrin.gif. That was so cute. So he gave me his autograph and we talked a bit. I told him that i brought some drawings and a letter for Thom. He was all like "oh cool you can give it to me then" ----but you see im an idiot. I didnt have them on me.I have left them in the bus........im such an idiot. So i aked him will it be possible to give it to Thom after or before the gig and he said something like "Yeah,it is possible,but it does not depend on us but the organizers. If they would let you in. We would." And i said that ill try. And he said OK. So he took my hand and told me that hes glad he met me, i said the same and he went off. After that, i had the feeling that everything is just perfect. I thought that i was gonna explode from happiness.

thank you, Natasha.

A big day for The Phillovers

2006-07-12T18:48:00.001Z

Not today, but a few days ago. I'm not quite sure how many days ago but that's not the point. The point is: there's a link to this Phillovers site on the official Radiohead fan site: Waste.

The link page: here. But don't forget to come back here afterwards.

This means we're officially accepted as Radiohead lovers. Which we already were, unofficially.

Links to other Radiohead blogs & sites

2006-06-29T10:53:00.001Z

This will be updated regularly. There's a link to this post in the sidebar :-> (Links to other RH sites)

1=2, Greek RH site
Air Radiohead, french RH site
Antibiosis
Atease, the biggest and best fan site and the biggest RH message board
Bearhunt, foto RH site
Climbing up the walls, RH site
Cloud cuckoo land, a RH site with multimedia
Green Plastic, big RH and Mortigi Tempo, a message board
Radiohead Chili
Revolving Blog and Revolving Doors Chili
Ed O'Brien fan site

Phil talks to Billboard!

2006-06-15T07:38:00.002Z

After the first show in New York(June 13th) Phil speaks to Billboard
He said the band is aware that fans are flying in for the shows from all over the U.S., due to the brevity of the tour and its concentration in major markets. "Plus, we are playing so many new songs", he said. "We are very lucky that our fans will allow us to do this".

He also confessed being a fan of Thom Yorke's The Eraser and confirmed that there is no fixed date for LP7 to come out to the market, due to the fact that they have no contract with a label yet.

(More of Phil's sexy biceps. Tight black shirts suit him and accentuate his class.)

Thanks for the great pics, love tchock!

New pictures posted on DAS.

2006-06-05T17:56:00.001Z

Here's one of the photos posted by Jonny on Dead Air Space.
On this one, all of us can notice that Phil works out and enjoys fully drinking coffee.
First, the booty shaking and now giving us some bicep action. Phil is tight, fit, and surely shows now what a 'Mad dog' is all about !

Sit & enjoy:

Phil's Sexy Dance

2006-06-05T13:33:00.001Z

Have you ever wondered how Phil's booty looks like when he's shaking it?

Check this out:

'Sexy' had no meaning before this.

Thank you, love_tchock!

Interview with Phil (and Jonny & Colin) on Arte

2006-05-26T13:08:00.001Z

They did this interview when Jonny and Thom played at Le Réservoir in Paris (3 July 2003).

Part 1
Part 2

Our spies are everywhere

2006-05-25T13:27:00.002Z

07 june 2003 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, USA
Thanks 'Love tchock'!

Do you have a Phil movie? Or a picture with Phil and yourself? Mail us! Phillovers@gmail.com

Phil posts on DAS

2006-05-23T23:29:00.001Z

Our hero has posted on Dead Air Space:

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for their messages of condolence and support over the past few weeks - they really have been a great help. I have also really appreciated the respectful silence on DAS.... well, it's either that or nobody's had anything to say for a week and a half which, in my experience, is unlikely. See you in America.

Phil

Despite the obviously unfortunate reasons for why Phil has posted on DAS lately we're all glad to hear from him, hope he is recovering from his loss and that he will soon post again for more fortunate reasons.

We're proud of Phil and yes, we'll see him in America!

Happy 39th bithday, Phil!

2006-05-23T01:14:00.001Z

On this day, May 23rd, in the lovely year of 1967, Phil selway, genius, English teacher and a musician was born.
We'd like to wish Phil a happy birthday and
we hope he can spend this day with the ones he loves and that he won't mind the late arrival of his birthday present from us Phillovers.
We congratulate him on being 39 years old and may he have many more birthdays to come!
He certainly deserves it!

Phil is fancy-fancy
and he makes us want to dancy-dancy!

Wikipedia

2006-05-22T23:09:00.001Z

The Phillovers are trying to create and update the Phil Selway pages on Wikipedia.

So far we've got:
Wiki in icelandic
Wiki in dutch
Wiki in english
Wiki in spanish
Wiki in french
Wiki in german
Wiki in hebrew?
Wiki in russian?

If you speak an other language(s) and you've got a lot of respect for Phil, could you please translate his biography into the language(s) you speak? Of course you can add or complete the information on the existing pages. If you made a translation but you don't know how to get it on wikipedia, send it to us (phillovers@gmail.com). We'll put it on line.

Birthday

2006-05-22T19:15:00.001Z

Dear Phil,

You might receive this after your birthday and we apologize deeply for that.

Because we know what honey means to you and because we know that other Radiohead members steal your honey when you're not there, we want to make sure you've got your honey always with you. That's why we give you this honey Phillovers T-shirt.

And remember: no matter how many radiohead members start drumming in your songs you will always be our one, true radiohead drummer!

The Phillovers

http://www.phillovers.blogspot.com

Biography

2006-05-22T18:08:00.002Z

Philip "Phil" James Selway (born May 23, 1967 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England) is the drummer of Radiohead. His precise timing and varied drumming helps to give the band its distinct sound. He is a year older than the other members in the band and people think he's unkind because he's bald. Of course it's not true, but that's why the other members of the band call him Bald Member (~bandmember). He joined Radiohead because their primitive drum computer broke down and they couldn't afford a new one. Before Radiohead became succesful, Phil studied English and history at Liverpool Polytechnic. He had worked for various touring musicians and worked as an English teacher as well. Phil has a wife, Kate, and three sons: Leo, Jamie, and Patrick (to whom Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief were dedicated, respectively).

Unlike bandmates Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, Phil has not had much involvement with projects outside of Radiohead. Nevertheless, in recent years he has taken a more active role in collaborating with other artists. He has been associated with the Samaritans as a devoter and member for years. Phil also performed with the band Dive Dive in March 2005 and appeared in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as a member of the band "The Weird Sisters" along with Radiohead bandmate Jonny Greenwood and Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.

The Phillovers

2006-05-22T16:33:00.002Z

Is the Phil Selway fanclub.

The members are: Hildurutvarpshaus, Tigmoni, and Walvis