Hi researchers,

I am a big fan of the band Radiohead. I have heard rumours of the
existence of an early live version of the song Paranoid Android (from
the 1997 album OK Computer) which is about 11 minutes long (the
recorded studio version is about 6 minutes long). My question is: Does
this version actually exist? If so would it be possible to provide a
link for downloading. Thanks, atease-ga

PS My own searches have proved inconclusive. I have read references to
it on fan sites but have never been able to uncover a version.

Hello again,

At first I thought that the guitar solo was performed during one of
the 13 shows when Radiohead was opening for Alanis Morissette back in
August 1996, and it very well could be. However, I've found some more
information which indicates that the song was played for the first
time at a show in July:

"06-07-1996    Torhout * Werchter 1996, Torhout, Belgium
setlist unknown, but according to ed paranoid android was played here
for the first time"
at ease | radiohead tour dates @ ateaseweb.com
(http://www.ateaseweb.com/live/1996/index.php)

The song doesn't appear to have been played at any of the concerts in
between this one and the Alanis shows in August, but I've been unable
to find the setlists for a few shows so I can't confirm it.

I also noticed that at the followmearound.com Paranoid Android lyrics
(linked below) the site credits the book Radiohead : From a Great
Height as the source for the comments on the guitar solo. If you can
find it at your local bookstore you might want to check it out.

As for getting a hold of a copy of the song, your best bet would be
probably be asking around fan sites, or finding others on the web who
might have actually been at one of those shows.

I hope this helps! If I come across any more info on this, I'll be
sure to pass it along. Good luck!
Deadlychiapet-ga

Additional links:
Radiohead Gigography 1996
http://www.greenplastic.com/gigography/1996.html

Paranoid Android (lyrics & song info)
http://www.followmearound.com/lyrics/paranoidandroid.html

at ease | radiohead song & lyrics archive @ ateaseweb.com
http://www.ateaseweb.com/songs/paranoidandroid.php

Google search terms used:
Many different combinations of "paranoid android", radiohead, alanis,
jonny solo, 1996, live

many thanks for taking a look, i'll try and find that book you mention.

Hi,

I've managed to get hold of three different "live" versions of
Paranoid Android. Could you perhaps give me a bit more information
about the particular version you're after, or does it just have to be
11 minutes long? As I'm not actually an official Google researcher I
can't actually receive the answer price for this :(

Hi and thanks for taking a look, i believe it would have been one of
the earliest live performances of the song, perhaps from 1996 or even
1995. The main difference from the recorded version is the addition of
a 4-5 minute guitar solo at the end (this is what i'm really
interested in, a 5 minute guitar solo by Jonny Greenwood - i can only
imagine how good it will sound even if it was subsequently cut from
the song). Of course its possible that it may be shorter than 11
minutes, i'm just going from some stuff i've read from various fan
sites over time.

Apparantly it was performed when Radiohead was opening for Alanis
Morissette back in August 1996, which narrows it down to 13 shows that
it could have come from. See
http://www.greenplastic.com/gigography/1996.html,
http://www.followmearound.com/lyrics/paranoidandroid.html, and
http://www.ateaseweb.com/songs/paranoidandroid.php

deadlychiapet-ga, thanks for your info. Feel free to post what you've
found as an official answer, i appreciate your time.

atease-ga