Here’s one for the 27 club: On this date back in 1995, Radiohead dropped by Cambridge’s iconic Fort Apache Studio to play a private show for WFNX Radio and its listeners. Thanks to Northeastern University’s archives of the Phoenix Media Communications Group’s full historical records, we can sit here nearly 30 years later and listen to the show.
Former Phoenix EIC Carly Carioli tweeted about it earlier today, noting its anniversary: “Sound quality’s just okay, but here’s the full audio of Radiohead’s secret show for a handful of @WFNX listeners at Cambridge’s legendary Fort Apache studios.”
(Note: Some online sources say this show was October 3, 1995; and if that’s true, just come back on Monday).
Fort Apache’s Camp Street location is where Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie mixed The Bends, (the pair co-produced 1993 debut album Pablo Honey) which Radiohead released earlier that year in March. The WFNX show at Fort Apache favored that record, as the band performed, in order, “Bones,” “Just,” “High and Dry,” “Lucky,” “Anyone Can Play Guitar,” “Fake Plastic Trees,” “Street Spirit,” “(Nice Dream)”, and the title track.
Listen to the performance here: https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:m0411d39