Radiohead toys with Tokyo

GlobalPost

Radiohead is used to turning out large crowds.

But usually the large crowds get to see the band perform. Not so in Tokyo.

An enigmatic tweet, written in terse Japanese, from the British band's official Twitter account read simply: “Hachiko Square Shibuya, 59 minutes 18 Friday.” Nobody knew what it meant, but by golly, it must mean something. Radiohead fans were all a-frenzy.

Ultimately fans decided that the band would be playing an impromptu gig at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Tokyo (the one made famous in Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation") ahead of the launch of their new album "The King of Limbs."

The band moved to dispel rumors, but die-hard fans would not be dissuaded. They fell upon Shibuya’s Hachiko Square with hope in their hearts and a firm belief in the good of the universe. Only to find, well …

Nothing.

So, was it a PR stunt all along? Was there ever anything planned?

Either way, it was a small consolation when Radiohead decided to release its new album, "The King of Limbs," early. Here's the track, "Lotus Flower":

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.