Thom Yorke Teams With Flea For New Side Project

After releasing a new single last week, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke announced he has joined forces with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, drummer Joey Waronker and percussionist Maruo Refosco to form a new as yet untitled live band.

Yorke broke the news this morning on Radiohead’s Dead Air Space Web site, writing, “In the past couple of weeks I’ve been getting a band together for fun to play The Eraser [Yorke’s 2006 debut solo album] stuff live and the new songs etc. to see if it could work!”

Waronker has toured and recorded with artists such as R.E.M. and Beck. Refosco, who has recorded with artists such as David Byrne, Steward Copeland and They Might be Giants, is the founder of New York band Forro in the Dark.

The new band is set to play Los Angeles’ 1,970-capacity Orpheum Theatre Oct. 4 and 5.

“We don’t really have a name and the set will not be very long cuz … well … we haven’t got that much material yet! But come and check it out if you are in the area. We’ve also got locals Lucky Dragons playing,” Yorke wrote.

Photo: AP Photo

Grammy Awards, Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Tickets went on sale today at 10 a.m. PST through Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are available for $47 each (plus service charges), although it appears both shows are already sold out.

Yorke released a limited edition 12-inch vinyl single of “FeelingPulledApartByHorses” along with its B-side, “The Hollow Earth” Sept. 21. Fans that pre-ordered the single were also able to download the tracks for free. The tunes will be released as a paid download Oct. 6.

He explained in a post on Radiohead’s Web site that the tunes are “loosely under the Thom Yorke name this time, although these days it’s all getting kind of blurry.”

“FeelingPulledApartbyHorses” was written and performed by Yorke and Radiohead guitarist/keyboardist Jonny Greenwood. Yorke said the song “is a radical rework of an old tune that’s been kicking around without a home since 2001.” Rolling Stone pointed out that fans might recognize the tune from one of Radiohead’s live shows as the song first appeared on the live lineup around 2001. The tune was originally titled “Reckoner,” but RS clarifies that it is completely different from the “Reckoner” featured on Radiohead’s 2007 release In Rainbows.

Yorke described “The Hollow Earth” as “a bass menace,” writing that the B-side “was born out of the Eraser period but needed a little more time.”

Both songs were produced by Nigel Godrich.

Yorke most recently performed a solo gig July 19 at Latitude Festival in Suffolk, United Kingdom.

Click here for Radiohead’s Dead Air Space Web site.