Thom Yorke: going solo was 'dull'

Thom Yorke has branded working as a solo artist 'dull'.

Yorke released his solo album ’The Eraser’ last year and was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize.

He said of the experience: "It was kind of dull. It was deeply unsatisfying because you weren't sharing much of the process but then I got back with the band and it was like 'Oh my god, there's all these other other people I have to work with now'."

Yorke also spoke about the lack of promotion the band did following the release of their new album 'In Rainbows' as a download.

He said: “It's very eye opening, liberating. But extremely strange. The day people were downloading it I sat at home and did nothing.”

Bandmate Ed O’Brien defended the release of the album and claimed it wasn’t a reaction against the traditional model.

He said: “This isn't an anti-retail thing. All that we're doing is doing something different.

"It's not a template. You're in a situation when someone suggests to you how about you put it on the web and then people go and listen to it.

“And you say yes, that sounds good. We were messing with the system. Given the opportunity would you or would you not? Of course you would.”

The band also spoke about the possibilities of touring next year. O’Brien said Yorke “needed more persuading” to hit the road.

However, he sounded positive when discussing playing festivals.

Yorke said: "That collective experience. Thousands of people in a field wanting the same thing, going to the same place, with the same mindset. I think that's really important."

To hear the full interview listen to Radio 1's Zane Lowe show tonight (November 20) between 7-9pm.