Thom Yorke to go solo

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is set to release a solo album in July, it has emerged.

In a dramatic statement Yorke said the album would be called 'The Eraser' and that its "elements have been kicking round now for a few years." On Friday Radiohead kicked off the UK leg of their European tour, giving fans a taste of six tracks from the forthcoming new Radiohead album.

Yorke's solo album will be produced by long-time band producer Nigel Godrich. According to the statement - which was released to respected Radiohead fan site www.ateaseweb.com - Yorke wrote at the tracks and played all instruments. "I have been itching to do something like this for ages," he said. " It was fun and quick to do. Inevitably it is more beats & electronics. But its songs. Stanley did the cover. Yes its a record! No its not a radiohead record. As you know the band are now touring and writing new stuff and getting to a good space." Yorke also headed off any speculation about the record signalling problems within the band. "I want no crap about me being a traitor or whatever splitting up blah blah... this was all done with their blessing. And I don't wanna hear that word solo. Doesnt sound right. Ok then thats that." He added that XL - the White Stripes UK label - would put out the album.document.write(unescape("