Radiohead producer and Atoms For Peace/Ultraista member Nigel Godrich has a brand-new role, in an unlikely but highly coveted turn as a stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (read our review).
The producer, a vital component of Radiohead’s sound as well as his two remarkable other project, is reportedly listed on IMDB as playing FN-9330.
Four Tet initially tweeted Nigel to congratulate him on the cameo role, which would’ve gone undetected onscreen to even the most savvy fans. Stormtroopers wear full white helmets and body armor, making them indistinguishable from one another.
Shaun Of The Dead director Edgard Wright has subequently claimed that he helped Godrich secure his role in the film.
@stereogum @nigelgod @starwars I am happy to say I got Nigel the gig. I owed him one and this was my return gift.
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) December 17, 2015
In other Radiohead news, frontman Thom Yorke took the opportunity to unveil the acoustic skeletons of two new songs, “Desert Island Disk” and “Silent Spring,” last week in concert. Watch them here. At the 2:28 mark of the latter, Yorke can be heard saying, “This is Johnny’s bit,” boosting confidence that these are in fact new Radiohead songs. But more importantly, perhaps most importantly, is the thread of crucially necessary protest uprising weaving through the track, particularly on the 2:40 mark: “Call upon the people – people have the power…” followed by “the numbers don’t decide, the system is a lie / the river run dry, the wings of a butterfly”
A pedestrian protest line, but one desperately needed with the gravity of Yorke’s voice in our modern times. Especially when he promises that we’ll “take back what is ours”.
The tracks join two others among our favorites as potential inclusions on Radiohead’s forthcoming new album, including the incredible “Identikit” and “Cut a Hole”.
