The Ultimate Tech Celebrity Deathmatches

By Nate Lanxon on 07 March 2008, 8:30am

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Radiohead is a highly successful British rock band. In 2007, the 'Head self-released their seventh studio album on their Web site without any label backing, letting their fans choose what they would like to pay. Fighting them were five lawyers from the Recording Industry Association of America, which since July 2006 has sued over 20,000 music fans, including 12-year old girls, dead women and people who don't own computers.

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It was an emotional scene: 10,000 Radiohead supporters had chosen to pay for entry to the stadium, despite the band charging no fee. They were screaming, chanting and yelling their support for lead singer Thom Yorke. RIAA supporters had been required to pay for entry, and some did so without complaint, but many jumped the fence and bought hundreds of pounds worth of popcorn, fluffy hats and huge foam fists to show their support -- far more than the entrance fee anyway.

The bell rang. "I don't need you anymore and I don't owe you anything," Yorke yelled at the RIAA. "We're not going to fight you," Yorke continued, unfolding a pocket guitar. The RIAA immediately saw they were in danger of losing -- the battle itself was walking away.

It took just 25 seconds for all hell to break loose. Yorke, singing to his fans, his back towards the music industry representatives, ignored the repercussions of his mutiny. In a fit of pique, the RIAA leaped over the ropes and sped towards the stands, lashing out in all directions; their foam-fisted fans were to be annihilated for failing to buy a ticket. Bloodied teenagers threw their tiny wallets at their new enemy, and ran from the stadium knowing they would never again give any of their money to support these people.

Radiohead continued playing until the early hours of the morning and, by passing a bucket round, earned enough money to record their eighth album.
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