At a small house show in Guelph, ON, over the weekend, Matthew Friedberger (of the Fiery Furnaces) attempted to clarify some of the comments he made about Radiohead recently, which resulted in some outlets declaring a "feud." After a Saturday night (November 7) performance in Toronto just days before the release of their new self-covers record, Take Me Round Again), Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger, drummer Bob D'Amico and bassist Jason Lowenstein (of Sebadoh) played CFRU personality Peter Bradley's attic, en route to their Sunday gig in London.
Bradley documented the whole thing for his Friday morning radio show, including an impromptu Q&A with the 30 or so people. At some point, the supposed feud was brought up and Friedberger only partially backed down from what he'd been quoted as saying about Radiohead.
"It's just kinda nonsense," he said. "I was saying, 'Can you be negative about other bands? And which bands would you pick to be negative about where it wouldn't hurt their feelings or influence them?' And I said, 'Well, Radiohead would be one. No one would care. It wouldn't affect them if you said Radiohead sucked.' And then I went on to say how you might say Radiohead suck. And I actually don't like Radiohead. Personally, just between you and me. I mean I don't have any regard for them, positive or negative. Which, I guess is negative.
"So, I said that but, of course, that was quoted as an individual story - just me saying those things. And it's not that I didn't say them - I did. But once it got quoted, I didn't wanna say, 'Oh, I'm sorry. I was misquoted. It's all a misunderstanding.' That's no fun. You have to say, 'Radiohead, yes, they do stink!'
As the Q&A, went on, Bradley asked about Matthew's "retraction" amid the Harry Partch/Harry Patch confusion that was part of this whole Radiohead debacle. Eventually Matthew outlined a plan he proposed to FF's publicist, where a press release would be distributed stating he was entering rehab and that his comments stemmed from his being under the influence. "Oh, you've blown it now," Eleanor responded, but Matthew playfully continued on with the anecdote.
You can hear this part of the exchange right here.
Bradley documented the whole thing for his Friday morning radio show, including an impromptu Q&A with the 30 or so people. At some point, the supposed feud was brought up and Friedberger only partially backed down from what he'd been quoted as saying about Radiohead.
"It's just kinda nonsense," he said. "I was saying, 'Can you be negative about other bands? And which bands would you pick to be negative about where it wouldn't hurt their feelings or influence them?' And I said, 'Well, Radiohead would be one. No one would care. It wouldn't affect them if you said Radiohead sucked.' And then I went on to say how you might say Radiohead suck. And I actually don't like Radiohead. Personally, just between you and me. I mean I don't have any regard for them, positive or negative. Which, I guess is negative.
"So, I said that but, of course, that was quoted as an individual story - just me saying those things. And it's not that I didn't say them - I did. But once it got quoted, I didn't wanna say, 'Oh, I'm sorry. I was misquoted. It's all a misunderstanding.' That's no fun. You have to say, 'Radiohead, yes, they do stink!'
As the Q&A, went on, Bradley asked about Matthew's "retraction" amid the Harry Partch/Harry Patch confusion that was part of this whole Radiohead debacle. Eventually Matthew outlined a plan he proposed to FF's publicist, where a press release would be distributed stating he was entering rehab and that his comments stemmed from his being under the influence. "Oh, you've blown it now," Eleanor responded, but Matthew playfully continued on with the anecdote.
You can hear this part of the exchange right here.
