Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

Radiohead Accused Of 'Breach Of Copyright' For 'Burn The Witch' Video

"It is not something we would have authorised."

More Radiohead Radiohead

Staging an elaborate campaign in the lead-up to their ninth record, A Moon Shaped Pool, last week, now Radiohead have copped some criticism for the stop-motion video clip for Burn The Witch from the creators of the iconic '60s children's TV show, Trumpton.

The family of creator, Gordon Murray, have accused the band of breach of copyright for the very similar looking stop-motion characters in Burn The Witch, stating that "Radiohead should have sought our consent as we consider this a tarnishing of the brand."

As reported by RadioX, Murray's son-in-law William Mollet said, "It is not something we would have authorised."

The family have hinted at the prospect of taking legal action, too: "We consider that there is a breach of copyright and we are deciding what to do next." 

Radiohead's characters depict the plague, paganism and witchcraft, as well as allude to the horror film The Wicker Man, with Mollett espousing that he would not be showing his 95-year-old father-in-law the video clip because "Gordon would be appalled". 

Join 'Backstage Pass', our FREE members program for music fans

Trumpton, on the other hand, was a family-friendly children's show that first aired in 1967 on BBC, depicting the small fictional town of Trumpton and its townsfolk — the mayor, Chippy Minton the carpenter, Mrs Cobbit the florist, the fire brigade, etc. — moving about their day.