The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time
Encyclopedia
The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time (abbreviated TMGLMOAT) is a collection of twenty-four short films from English
alternative rock
band Radiohead
, directed and edited by Chris Bran, one half of the Vapour Brothers.
It was released on DVD
on 1 December 2004. The DVD release contains all four episodes of the original broadcast from Radiohead Television, an online television station, featuring unheard songs from the band, live studio performances, as well as interviews.
The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time is named after a collage by German artist John Heartfield
.
explained on the band’s website.
Instead, the group went on to create an internet TV channel Radiohead Television in conjunction with the release of their 2003 album Hail to the Thief
. Along with the episodes for The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time, other clips including promotional videos, webcast footage from live performances, as well as webcast footage from the studio were broadcast.
On 10 May 2003, a two-minute trailer went live with the promotional video for Radiohead's single "There There
". The site fully launched on 26 May with a 30-minute show.
All four episodes were shown on Radiohead Television, where they could be watched for free in QuickTime
format. Programming started on the hour, with visitors who did not get to the site on time faced with a test card and 1970s-style intermission music.
After running for several months this website was replaced with an advertisement for the DVD.
's performances at the 2005 Ether Festival.
The DVD was self-released, as Radiohead's contract with record label EMI
(Parlophone/Capitol) was fulfilled after Com Lag. It is only available to order through the band's own website, waste.uk.com and a small number of indie music stores.
and Thom Yorke
, under the alias "Dr. Tchock", plus sleeve notes written by Yorke.
The DVD booklet has the title printed on both sides with different artwork. Some speculate that it was intended for the DVD to have two different covers; however, the artwork pattern on the inside cover does not match the artwork in the clear spine.
and Radiohead
, while others were directed by fans who submitted videos that were selected for inclusion by the band.
Producers Rick Hind and Ajit N. Rao created two segments by The Tripti Ensemble Crew
, one called "When an Angel Tries to Sell you Something", and another called "Freak Juice".
The DVD also features interviews with Thom Yorke
and Ed O'Brien
as part of a feature entitled "My Showbiz Life". Yorke's voice is altered to an unnaturally deep pitch, whilst O'Brien responds to questions by emitting braying noises.
or Stanley Donwood
.
Quotes from Chieftan Mews:
Chieftan Mews also "sings" (actually just reading the lyrics) a humorous cover of "No Surprises
" at the end of the DVD, and makes a brief cameo in the 2007 Thumbs Down webcast.
Chieftan Mews appears again before and during the digital and physical release of 8th Radiohead Album "The King of Limbs".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, directed and edited by Chris Bran, one half of the Vapour Brothers.
It was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on 1 December 2004. The DVD release contains all four episodes of the original broadcast from Radiohead Television, an online television station, featuring unheard songs from the band, live studio performances, as well as interviews.
The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time is named after a collage by German artist John Heartfield
John Heartfield
John Heartfield is the anglicized name of the German photomontage artist Helmut Herzfeld...
.
Background
Episodes of The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time were originally developed to be a programme on a regular television channel, or even on Radiohead's own channel. "This was originally meant to be four episodes shown on our very own television channel,” Radiohead frontman Thom YorkeThom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
explained on the band’s website.
Instead, the group went on to create an internet TV channel Radiohead Television in conjunction with the release of their 2003 album Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2003 through Parlophone Records. After two Radiohead albums that featured heavily processed vocals, less guitar, and strong influence from experimental electronica and jazz, Hail to the Thief was seen...
. Along with the episodes for The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time, other clips including promotional videos, webcast footage from live performances, as well as webcast footage from the studio were broadcast.
On 10 May 2003, a two-minute trailer went live with the promotional video for Radiohead's single "There There
There there
"There there." is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, featured on their album Hail to the Thief and released prior to the album as its first single. "There There" reached number four in the UK Singles Chart and number one in Canada...
". The site fully launched on 26 May with a 30-minute show.
All four episodes were shown on Radiohead Television, where they could be watched for free in QuickTime
QuickTime
QuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
format. Programming started on the hour, with visitors who did not get to the site on time faced with a test card and 1970s-style intermission music.
After running for several months this website was replaced with an advertisement for the DVD.
Release
Several of the short films were shown as interval entertainment at Jonny GreenwoodJonny Greenwood
Jonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood is an English musician and composer, best known as a member of the English rock band Radiohead. Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist, but serves mainly as lead guitarist and keyboard player. In addition to guitar and keyboard, he plays viola, harmonica,...
's performances at the 2005 Ether Festival.
The DVD was self-released, as Radiohead's contract with record label EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
(Parlophone/Capitol) was fulfilled after Com Lag. It is only available to order through the band's own website, waste.uk.com and a small number of indie music stores.
Cover art
The DVD cover features original artwork by long-time collaborators Stanley DonwoodStanley Donwood
Stanley Donwood is the pen name of English artist Dan Rickwood. Donwood is known for his close association with the British rock group Radiohead, having created all their album and poster art...
and Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
, under the alias "Dr. Tchock", plus sleeve notes written by Yorke.
The DVD booklet has the title printed on both sides with different artwork. Some speculate that it was intended for the DVD to have two different covers; however, the artwork pattern on the inside cover does not match the artwork in the clear spine.
Episodes
Some of the sections of The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time were created by Chris Bran, Stanley DonwoodStanley Donwood
Stanley Donwood is the pen name of English artist Dan Rickwood. Donwood is known for his close association with the British rock group Radiohead, having created all their album and poster art...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, while others were directed by fans who submitted videos that were selected for inclusion by the band.
Producers Rick Hind and Ajit N. Rao created two segments by The Tripti Ensemble Crew
Tripti Ensemble Crew
The Tripti Ensemble Crew are an English troupe of musicians and puppeteers composed of Rick Hind, Ajit N. Rao, Atul Rao, Dave King, and Lucas Perro. They are most well known for two songs and videos included on a DVD called The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time, released by the English band...
, one called "When an Angel Tries to Sell you Something", and another called "Freak Juice".
The DVD also features interviews with Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
and Ed O'Brien
Ed O'Brien
Edward John O'Brien is an English musician, songwriter and guitarist for the rock band Radiohead. He is also responsible for harmony vocals during live concerts and on many tracks from the band's albums...
as part of a feature entitled "My Showbiz Life". Yorke's voice is altered to an unnaturally deep pitch, whilst O'Brien responds to questions by emitting braying noises.
Chieftan Mews
Each of the four episodes is introduced and closed by commentary from Chieftan Mews, a digitally composited fictional character thought to be portrayed by either Nigel GodrichNigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich, , is a recording engineer, record producer and musician. He is best known for his work with the English rock band Radiohead and is sometimes referred to as the "sixth member" of the band...
or Stanley Donwood
Stanley Donwood
Stanley Donwood is the pen name of English artist Dan Rickwood. Donwood is known for his close association with the British rock group Radiohead, having created all their album and poster art...
.
Quotes from Chieftan Mews:
- Welcome to The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time. All the footage you're about to see has been prewatched...By adults.
- If you are interested in contacting us here at The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth, please send us a letter stating your age... Just your age.
- Please don't fall in love with me. I can't repay you. All my love is used up... On me.
- I've just returned from the screening room, and I'm rigid with excitement. Why? Because I have a banquet of footage for you to feast your eyes on. So sit back, relax, and eat. Eat. Eat.
- Don't let the demons get you. They got me.
- This is a stitch-up. I want my money.
- No Mews is Good News
Chieftan Mews also "sings" (actually just reading the lyrics) a humorous cover of "No Surprises
No Surprises
"No Surprises" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released as the third and final single from the group's 1997 album OK Computer. It was accompanied by a music video that featured a single shot of singer Thom Yorke's head in a plastic bubble filling with water. The single peaked...
" at the end of the DVD, and makes a brief cameo in the 2007 Thumbs Down webcast.
Chieftan Mews appears again before and during the digital and physical release of 8th Radiohead Album "The King of Limbs".
Episode One
- The Cat Girl (directed by Ebba Erikzon)
- The Slave (directed by James Field)
- When an Angel Tries to Sell You Something (directed by Rick Hind and Ajit N. Rao)
- Skyscape (directed by Vernie Yeung)
- Sit down. Stand up. (directed by Ed Holdsworth)
Episode Two
- Lament (directed by Cath Elliot)
- The Big Switch (directed by Chris Levitus)
- The Scream (directed by Paulo Neves)
- Inside of My Head (directed by Ashley Dean)
- De Tripas Y Corazon (directed by Juan Pablo Etcheverry)
Episode Three
- Listen to Me Wandsworth Road (directed by Ebba Erikzon)
- Hypnogoga (directed by Louise Wilde)
- And Murders of Crows (directed by Paul Rains)
- Freak Juice Commercial (directed by Rick Hind and Ajit N. Rao)
- "Running" (directed by Hannah Wise)
- Push Pulk / Spinning PlatesLike spinning plates"Like Spinning Plates" is a song written by the British rock band Radiohead, featured on the 2001 album Amnesiac.The song was first recorded after a failed attempt to record "I Will", a track released on their later album Hail to the Thief. Lead singer Yorke then played the song in reverse, from...
(directed by Johnny Hardstaff)
Episode Four
- Dog Interface (directed by Juan Pablo Etcheverry)
- HYTTE (directed by Gary CarpenterGary CarpenterGary Carpenter is an animation director, comedy writer and creator of King Nutter - The site which monitors eBay items in the news.His animated series Celebrity High for Channel 4 / E4 / Talkback earned him finalist as Director of Best Comedy Series at the 2002 British Animation Awards.His most...
) - Momentum (directed by Camella Kirk)
- Chickenbomb (directed by Vernie Yeung)
- Welcome to My Lupine Hell (directed by Ashley Dean)
- The Homeland Hodown (directed by Jason Archer and Paul Beck)
- I Might Be WrongI Might Be Wrong (song)"I Might Be Wrong" is a song by the English rock group Radiohead from their 2001 album, Amnesiac.-Musical structure:Although the album version is heavily produced by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead, with a more electronic texture, "I Might Be Wrong" is one of the more guitar-oriented songs on Amnesiac....
(directed Sophie MullerSophie MullerSophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...
) - The National AnthemThe National Anthem"The National Anthem" is the third track from the rock band Radiohead's 2000 album Kid A. The song is moored to a repetitive bassline, has a processed electronic production, and develops in a direction influenced by jazz...
(directed Mike MillsMike Mills (director)Michael C. "Mike" Mills is an American film and music video director and graphic designer. He is perhaps best known for his independent films Thumbsucker and Beginners.-Early life:...
)