Main Index Pablo Honey The Bends OK Computer Kid A Amnesiac Hail to the Thief In Rainbows The King of Limbs A Moon Shaped Pool Thom Yorke Jonny Greenwood Ed O'Brien Colin Greenwood Philip Selway
'Planet Telex' was written in the studio, born out of an experiment with a drum loop from the first version of 'Killer Cars', which is perhaps the same version that was released on the Just single as 'Killer Cars (Mogadon Version)'.
This audio file is an attempt to illustrate the process, starting with the end of that 'Mogadon Version', slowed down here by two semitones, and crossfading to the beginning of 'Planet Telex'. Keep in mind that only a sample from the drum track of 'Killer Cars' was used for 'Planet Telex':
The song was included on this august 1994 work-in-progress tape compilation. The handwriting is Thom's. Since a note like "rough" or "not finished" is not written next to the title, the cassette appears to contain the finished version of 'Planet Telex':

'Planet Xerox' was this song's original title, and that's how it still appears on this tape. But because "Xerox" was a copyrighted name, Radiohead would later change it to 'Planet Telex'.
Planet Telex' was premiered live during a session for the French Radio station Inter, the 'Black Session', on february 21st 1995:
Several remixes have been made of this song. Two were released as b-sides on the Planet Telex/High & Dry single, yet another appeared on the Just single.
Phil: We used up some leftovers to create the drum loop - we cut up and re-arranged the outro section from the first version of 'Killer Cars', - Steve Osbourne remix is great.

Ed: A drunken evening that spawned probably my favourite track. Thom's one-take vocal crouching in the corner was particularly memorable, he May have been unable to stand. Love Colin's bass groove thang on this.

Jonny: This was the only song written in the studio - I remember helping Thom to write the verse, but not having the stamina to stay for the debauched recording session.

Colin: e r r...w h o o s h y ? Sitting in T.V. room at RAK studio whilst Thom, Ed and Leckie were working on it, thinking... 'what is this old bollocks?' ...then putting bass on, thinking... 'Oh yess, oooh yess, I like it!'
Thom: The product of a single sex education, romantic novels and art college. (And sensi?)
Thom relaxes in his chair, and picking up his glass, savours the bouquet of his very good red wine. Then he belts it down in one. I figure I can slip in a music question.

Q: "Thom, did you or did you not, as the intro to 'Planet Telex', nick the middle eight to Paul McCartney's 'Live And Let Die'?"

Thom: "Whaaaaaat?"

Q: "'Live And Let Die'. You did, didn't you?"

Thom: "No, let's be very clear where we nicked things from. We nicked 'Planet Telex' from 'Tago Mago' by Can. So fuck off, we are arty us."

Thom grins.
The only loop on the album is on 'Planet Telex'. "It can be an exiting and fast way of working," Phil states. "Just throw a load of your drumming on tape and spice it up. I suppose some people would think that I was bit of a cheat, but what's a cheat if you can respond emotionally and it's good music?"
'Planet Telex' was not performed during the Amnesiac tour.
Following a long break, 'Planet Telex' was reintroduced to the band's live sets at the end of touring for Hail to the Thief in 2004:
  Hail to the Thief tour (2nd half) sept. 2003 october 2003 november 2003 dec. 2003 april/may 2004
Planet Telex [6] 15 17 18 23 26 01
Fake Plastic Trees [18] 26 01 02 06 09 15 10 17 19 22 24 26 30 03 14 17 24 26
Just [17] 28 01 04 10 11 15 17 23 24 26 27 29 30 03 04 17 24
My Iron Lung [20] 23 26 02 09 15 10 13 19 22 24 26 30 01 03 15 18 23 24 26 01
Street Spirit (Fade Out) [12] 25 04 10 11 15 19 22 26 29 14 18 01
Live performances #203 during the making of The King of Limbs:
203. august 6th 2010 Big Chill Festival Ledbury UK Link
Live performances #204 to #206 during the touring for The King of Limbs:
  The King of Limbs tour (1st half) 09/'11 02/'12 march 2012 april 2012 05/'12 june 2012
Planet Telex [3] 11 12 17
Street Spirit (Fade Out) [7] 28 29 01 13 17 10 15
Live performances #207 to #219 during the touring for The King of Limbs:
  The King of Limbs tour (2nd half) july 2012 september 2012 october 2012 november 2012
Planet Telex [13] 25 29 22 23 25 26 29 06 09 12 16 12 17
Street Spirit (Fade Out) [8] 11 15 26 09 11 16 09 13
  2016 A Moon Shaped Pool tour may 2016 06/2016 july 2016 august 2016 sept./oct. 2016
Planet Telex [4] 26 26 27 03
Fake Plastic Trees [2] 04 07
My Iron Lung [10] 20 23 26 17 08 27 29 08 03 07
Street Spirit (Fade Out) [11] 21 27 03 02 08 26 29 04 21 11 30
  2017 A Moon Shaped Pool tour march/april 2017 june 2017 july 2017
Planet Telex [1] 11
Fake Plastic Trees [13] 30 03 05 08 17 21 09 14 16 20 23 04 07
My Iron Lung [6] 01 17 21 20 30 02
Street Spirit (Fade Out) [12] 01 05 09 14 18 07 09 11 14 18 23 28