Entirety of Nigel Godrich’s “From the Basement” series coming to YouTube

By David Icke Turner

Photo courtesy of Alejandro Garcia/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Candid web-series “From the Basement” was created by Nigel Godrich; noted producer of Radiohead, Beck, Paul McCartney, U2, and R.E.M. Filming began in 2006 and lasted until 2009 when it released its final show in 2009. Shot at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, it has a subtle fly on the wall perspective of many of your favorite artists in their natural habitat. Said to be inspired by BBC series The Old Grey Whistle Test and the Rolling Stones ‘Circus’, rare performances show beautifully imperfect songs in rare form. When asked in 2006 what motivated him to create the series, Godrich said “I’m a sad fan trying to bring the magic back to music TV.” 

We did it against all odds.. spanning 3 series.. It was a joy to record and film the likes of The Fall, The White Stripes, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Jarvis Cocker, Beck, Sparks and more. We captured Thom playing unrecorded songs for the first time, and the first TV of Laura Marling

— nigel godrich ? (@nigelgod) May 21, 2020

The series began with Thom Yorke giving sneak peeks into then unreleased  Radiohead songs. Later, Radiohead performed both In Rainbows and King of Limbs in their entirety.  The series runs the gamut of modern artists that are all seemingly in Godrich’s wheelhouse: Queens of the Stone Age, Jarvis Cocker, CSS, Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop, Sparks, Beck,PJ Harvey, The Fall, Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Andrew Bird, Super Furry Animals, Willis Earl Beal, Damien Rice, Eels, Albert Hammond Jr, among others.Godrich has now made public that the From the Basement archives will be hosted on YouTube. The entire catalog “in its full glory” will be available. Currently up are videos from The White Stripes, Willis Earl Beal, Jarvis Cocker, Andrew Bird, Laura Marling, Willis Earl Beal, and a few more.