Radiohead will not be repeating their honesty box approach to album selling, with Tom Yorke insisting that the decision to let fans choose their own price for In Rainbows was a one-off.
As one of the most innovative bands of the past 25 years, Radiohead’s decision to adopt a new approach to selling records after leaving their label became a massive headline grabbing phenomenom.
However, the band have made little comment as to the actual end-results of this social experiment, or admitted how many people opted for ‘nothing’ as the fairest price to pay.
A pig, in a cage, on antibiotics
"I think it was a one-off response to a particular situation," Thom Yorke told the Hollywood Reporter.
"Yes. It was a one-off in terms of a story. It was one of those things where we were in the position of everyone asking us what we were going to do. I don't think it would have the same significance now anyway, if we chose to give something away again. It was a moment in time."
Given that none of the band are likely to be struggling for a pot to relieve themselves in it would probably be churlish to suggest that, if it had been a roaring financial success, Radiohead would be repeating the one-off for their next album.
In fairness, In Rainbows sold handsomely in both the UK and US when it was finally released in more traditional form.