Pitchfork

Much as we love the guy, Prince can sometimes be a baby about having his picture taken. That goes double for video footage, and, like, triple-quadruple when that footage winds up on YouTube.

So it's hardly surprising that the numerous videos of Prince's cover of Radiohead's "Creep" at Coachella late last month that popped up on the video networking site-- including the one embedded over in Forkcast-- have been removed by the YouTube powers that be "due to terms of use violation." Which, let's face it, is really just a polite way of saying "due to the wrath of Prince's hordes of bloodthirsty lawyers." (You can't keep a good "Creep" cover down, though. Here's another clip on Dailymotion; we'll see how long it lasts.)

Having footage of his own songs removed is within Prince's rights of course, but where should the line be drawn for covers?

Radiohead, as it happens, feel that right belongs to them. An Associated Press report picked up by Billboard.com today notes comments from a recent Radiohead interview (with the AP, presumably, although the report's not 100% clear on that) that suggest the band isn't pleased with Prince's decision to have those "Creep" cover videos taken down. As the AP report puts it:

Thom Yorke said he heard about Prince's performance from a text message and thought it was "hilarious." Yorke laughed when his bandmate, guitarist Ed O'Brien, said the blocking had prevented even him from seeing Prince's version of their song.

"Really? He's blocked it?" asked Yorke, who figured it was their song to block or not. "Surely we should [have the right to] block it. Hang on a moment." Yorke added, "Well, tell him to unblock it. It's our...song."

The AP report notes that representatives for neither Prince nor YouTube had responded to requests for comment at the time the story was published. Guess the ball's in your court, Purple One.

As for Radiohead, their fave Sonic Youth jam is "Kool Thing" and they have the European leg of their In Rainbows tour kicking off next week, with more dates in North America and a trip to Japan to follow.

Hey! It's those dates again:

06-06 Dublin, Ireland - Malahide #
06-07 Dublin, Ireland - Malahide #
06-09 Paris, France - Bercy #
06-10 Paris, France - Bercy #
06-12 Barcelona, Spain - Parc del Fòrum (Daydream Festival) *#^$
06-14 Nimes, France - Arenes #
06-15 Nimes, France - Arenes #
06-17 Milan, Italy - Civica Arena #
06-18 Milan, Italy - Civica Arena #
06-20 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany - Southside Festival
06-22 Scheeßel, Germany - Hurricane Festival
06-24 London, England - Victoria Park #
06-25 London, England - Victoria Park #
06-27 Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow Green #
06-29 Manchester, England - Lancashire County Cricket Club #
07-01 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Westerpark #
07-03 Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
07-05 Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter Festival
07-06 Arras, France - Main Square Festival
07-08 Berlin, Germany - Wuhlheide
08-01 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-03 Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center %
08-04 Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center %
08-06 Montreal, Quebec - Parc Jean-Drapeau %
08-08 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West Festival)
08-09 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West Festival)
08-12 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center %
08-13 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center %
08-15 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre %
08-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Thunderbird Stadium *
08-20 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre *
08-22 San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park (Outside Lands Festival)
08-24 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl *
08-25 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl *
08-27 Chula Vista, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre *
08-28 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl *
10-01 Osaka, Japan - Municipal Central Gymnasium
10-02 Osaka, Japan - Municipal Central Gymnasium
10-04 Tokyo, Japan - Saitama Super Arena
10-05 Tokyo, Japan - Saitama Super Arena

# with Bat for Lashes
* with Liars
^ with Low, Clinic, Modeselektor
$ with Ensemble Nacional de España de Música Contemporánea, performing pieces by Jonny Greenwood and Radiohead
% with Grizzly Bear