As the burnt glow of a fall sunset in November fades to black, freelance musician Marc Ziegenhagen, in his 40s, with strawberry blond locks and a manageable girth, pounds out six-note chords on an old upright piano. Ziegenhagen, or Marc Z as he prefers, is a man whose musical ambition sometimes exceeds his comparatively modest stature, and his current mission has him inside the Lake Vadnais church, an off-white chapel tucked between a freeway and a row of mini-mansions and the lake. The church overlooks a trailer park full of little homes placed alongside one another like loaves of bread. Inside the church, tiny electric candles illuminate the windows. It's here where Marc Z will spend the next six hours trying to get inside the mind of Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke.
Surrounding Marc Z are a graphic designer wearing a bandana and baggy carpenter pants, a percussionist in a Captain America T-shirt who substitutes with the Minnesota Orchestra, a jeans-clad database analyst for Wells Fargo, a transportation coordinator in faded black sweatpants, and an accountant wearing his Aeropostale hat backward. They, too, are here to reverse-engineer the songs of Radiohead.
In front of them sit row upon row of empty wooden pews. Earlier in the day, a small congregation gathered in the same location to praise God. In a few minutes, this group will itself show a devotion akin to prayer, albeit with amplifiers and drums.
Marc Z surveys the band and swigs from his ever-present can of Monster energy drink. Each member looks ready to play. But before they start, he leans into his mic and suggests a smoke break. The guys meet his suggestion with eager nods. Soon the church is empty again, aside from the drummer and lead singer, who are still trying to work out an audio problem while puffs of smoke start to appear in the cold air outside.
"You really doing a story on us?" asks the lead singer, a boyish-looking man from North Dakota who sings in the church choir.
"Yep."
"Could I ask why?"
"You're not the normal tribute band. It's one thing to jump around in tight pants playing power chords, but another thing altogether to attempt playing Radiohead."
"Oh," he responds while repositioning his ear piece. "Well, then I hope you like it."
The band walks back into the church and goes directly to their instruments, and Marc Z completes his final checks. "We ready?" he asks the band. "Good. Let's start off with 'Bodysnatchers.'"
The band looks toward the graphic designer, who holds a black Fender Stratocaster that shows its age in scratches. He nods his head. A distorted set of chords jumps off his strings. The sound echoes through the church, vibrating the windowpanes. This intro helped make the song a top 10 hit for Radiohead, and his rendition sounds just as clear. He repeats the chord progressions four times before the accountant leans into his mic, the drummer strikes his crash cymbal, and the band takes flight.
Marc Z shakes his locks from side to side, steps back from his keys, and holds a high note. The shipping manager bounces his head and thumps his bass with cool control. The drummer looks straight ahead while the data analyst stays calm, keeping rhythm on his guitar while the graphic designer spastically twists his right hand over the strings. Meanwhile, the accountant's voice resonates over it all.
The tune causes the Bibles in the back of the pews to vibrate against the prayer cards like applause from an invisible audience.
The song ends as abruptly it started, and as the final chord fades alongside a cymbal crash, you start to realize that these guys don't just play Radiohead: They channel the band's soul.
IN 2006, RADIOHEAD traded the comfy surroundings of a professional recording studio for the dilapidated rooms of a condemned mansion in Marlborough, England. It was there, in a pile of a country house, that their most recent studio album, In Rainbows, finally started to come together.
If such a dreary environment inspired Radiohead, then the room where Marc Z sleeps, works, eats, and practices should win him a Grammy. It's a small converted attic space in south Minneapolis. Garbage bags full of empty Monster energy cans sit on the floor by his bed, a dingy futon mattress. Near this is a cashew container full of cigarette butts and still more empty Monsters, lined up to form a tiny wall. Beside this is his sleep apnea machine, a vacuum-looking device with a small mask at the end of its hose.
"Again, I apologize for the mess," he says.
Inside this room, Marc Z does the repetitive work of learning the Radiohead catalogue by ear. To demonstrate the process, he takes out a cheap Radio Shack keyboard and places it on top of a cardboard box flipped upside down. On each of the keys is a little strip of Scotch tape that says which note it plays: F#-G-A-B-C-Db.
"I really just listen closely to the song about four times on my laptop and then begin banging out the notes," he says.
Its ironic that Tim is speaking so much about God and this band 'stealing' stuff, when he has stole the innocents of young boys. Looks who's getting judged now you sick fuck!
Joey 02/06/2010 4:59:00 AM
It's too bad that some people, such as 'Tim', need to live their lives always being bitter & spiteful. This 'Tim' sounds like he's probably the dude that was kicked out - Marc Z, or Marc Zee, or Mr. Z, or Mr. Zee.
Anytime a group of musicians puts in enough time to warrant an article like this, it is surely a GROUP EFFORT!! Regardless of who starts it, organizes it, or whose vision it is.... At some point it is the property of ALL that are involved. I would have to guess that any big name artist such as Sting, or Bruce Springsteen, or any 'band leader' would be proud to say that it was a group effort. Only when a band is put together as 'hired guns' and all the charts are laid out, no input accepted from players, and they are all paid hourly, would a band leader have the right to call the band 'his & his alone'.
Also, if 'Tim' is actually the guy that was booted, using any reference to God is quite ironic and obtuse. Those that know of him will know why.
Lastly, nobody needs a band member that humps their instrument during their solos. I witnessed it at an O'Garas show. Seriously, no amount of inspiration should bring someone of 'manageable girth' to violate an instrument in that way.
Joe M 02/06/2010 1:17:00 AM
I've seen this band before & after the change. They didn't mention the keyboard player was way too loud and played too many notes. wonktastic is right. kudos to the band for standing up for themselves booting his fat clown ass to the curb!
Keep up the good work guys!
Joe
Just (A Radiohead Project) 02/05/2010 11:42:00 PM
To Tim,
I'm guessing you are Tim the photojournalist, yes?
We were bitter for a moment. And thus lashed out a bit, and do feel a little ashamed of some of our actions. And yeah, we admit he had some good ideas, but he was also quite manic and impossible to deal with. There are also MANY issues that you don't know about and we won't talk about. Walk a mile in our shoes, we're just a bunch of guys trying to have a good time playing music.
Also, any musical arrangements that he came up with were removed or written by Radiohead in the first place. Come to one of our shows, you'll see for yourself how things have changed. And you're totally right, we should write a new Media Kit and we will. We didn't hack any websites, we only took what was rightfully ours to begin with, Nate paid for the hosting & domain name.
You've obviously heard his side of the story. If you want to hear ours, you can email any questions to us or come to a show & we'll chat. We also thank you for the interview, photos & presentation you put together. You did a wonderful job.
Look where we are now... FItter, happier & more productive.
To "NoThom," & "Susan"
I might be wrong but, it sounds like someone is bitter that they were outed, but not brave enough to use his own name on the previous comments. Or his mommy wrote in for him.
It was our band. You were just too stubborn to admit it and were also a gigantic douchebag about everything and thus you were sacked.
& yes this is Thom's first band, but how has it gone to his head? He is the same lovable guy he always was. Nothing has changed him. He is a reasonable man, get off his case.
This whole situation was hard on the entire band, and we are grateful to move forward and have fun playing Radiohead's music. We apologize for any previous slagging of former members, and today's slagging, and look forward to a slag free future.
Thank you all for you interest...
Nater, Thom, Scott, Paul & Imran
Just (A Radiohead Project)
Susan 01/13/2010 1:51:00 PM
That singer sounds like he's never been in a band before, I guess the article mustve went to his head.
Tim 01/03/2010 10:10:00 AM
At least he didn't steal anyone's musical arrangements, promo text, or hack into any websites because he thought it made sense. You guys are theives and God prove it to you through your suffering.
Look at your promo; who wrote that? The guy you're slagging on wrote it! And you ahve the balls to slag on him? Can't you write your own f-ing promo? IS everything you do supposed to be cute and funny? You're all some ugly motherfuckers.
And you kept the name? Only part of it? You guys sure are clever. Sounds like someone had at least one good idea in there for a second. Explain it all you want to. Tell your kids what you did. We all justify the shit we do. But God will judge you. He already has! Too late for you.
Too bad you didn't get interviewed? It wasn't your f-ing band. Someone else had the vision, the drive and the ambition. Just look where you are now. Go and lie it all away. That's what you guys do best.
You should all be ashamed.
NoThom 11/07/2009 11:48:00 PM
http://www.radioheadproject.com/photos.html
Enjoy this documentary by
Tim Nelson. Too bad only one of us got interviewed,
http://www.radioheadproject.com/documentary/tim-nelson.html
Kinda like palm reading -
" I've been in enough bands that have self destructed..." hmm i wonder why?
Rob 02/12/2009 9:08:00 PM
Thanks for another article about local music, however this one I don't like. Because all cover bands suck! Some bands are good for covers(i.e. any blues or jazz musician ever) but Radiohead? No way. They are special for a reason. Only they know how to do it. Same thing with the Beatles. Joe Cocker covered them, but he didn't try and make a band out of it. Do one or two songs "Whats this" dude's, but dont push it.
Matt 02/09/2009 11:47:00 PM
Fuck cover bands! Write your own music.
Ed 02/05/2009 1:45:00 AM
Another great article Bradley - especially enjoyed the video clip segment that provided a rare view into the music. -ued
Scott 02/05/2009 12:56:00 AM
I love radiohead more then anything and I love that there is a radiohead cover band here in town! and I love that the drummer and guitarist and vocalist all sound good!!! But does anyone understand why the keyboard guy Marc Z feels the need to ad wonktastic new parts to the synth sounds??
If you are trying to pay tribute to a great band you shouldn't wreck their great songs with terribly cheesy and inaccurate representations of original album synth sounds.
Seriously, what is the phaser/flanger on the synth from Idioteque doing there? other then perverting a great song that is.
radcliff 02/04/2009 10:04:00 PM
Darn you Citypages! Why did you have to blow the lid off the best kept secret of all hardcore twin cities Radiohead fans.
Now there isn't going to be as much room to rock out at their shows.
Too bad we have to wait til the 25th at the Fine Line to see them.
Jennifer 02/04/2009 8:47:00 AM
Ali, that was the sweetest comment ever. Thanks for posting it.
Ali 02/04/2009 8:15:00 AM
Nate Wycoff is my dad. I get to hear him practicing in the basement, jamming to all these amazing Radiohead songs. What's That? is the closest thing to Radiohead we'll ever come across. The music is challenging, but it's so cool when the members of this project band put all their hard work together. My dad seems to have a lot of fun with the band and the music. It's great to see him act like a kid. Him being in this band brings me closer to him. He's taught me so much with his knowledge in music! A lot of people don't know and don't really get to see what it takes to be a musician and be in a band, but I've been able to see how much time it takes and the engergy and effort that is put into it. All I can say is way to go, guys! And dad, I've never been so proud (thanks for not being an embarrassing dad! I'm so lucky you're actually cool. My friends are jealous!) If you have the time to watch one of their shows, go watch. You will be amazed!
Matt 02/04/2009 8:00:00 AM
Excellent article! Now I know CP has good taste and knows how to track down the good artists.
I've seen this band and I have seen Radiohead live.. and why nobody is saying they are a substitute, they do fill a void and help me to release after a stressful week.
That's really all I can say... its that simple. Sounds like the band members get the same out of it.
Nater is the man! Marc is the Man, Thom is the man.. they all are so great.
You wear me out guys! You wear my v***** out!
