Bands that should never have headlined

[jackarmy]

Travis, Basement Jaxx, Skunk Anansie.

[radish]

Rod Stewart.

[sifi]

Jay Z. That was utter garbage.

[laid back in the sun]

bruce springsteen!!!! and jay zzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!! totally different genres but both equally boring!

[eFestivals]

Basement Jaxx

to be fair to them, they were elevated to be headliner after kylie had to cancel.

[eFestivals]

Never a truer word said. Totally wrong in so many ways. Actually, there was one redeeming feature - I got my best sleep of the festival that year in the crowd while he was on.

Me, I planned to give him at least three songs as a fair chance to impress me.

I bailed out after two songs, after he'd dedicated "the next song to our boys in Afghanistan". It couldn't get any less Glastonbury.

As I walked out of the crowd I bumped into a mate who'd bailed for the exact same reason. We decided to head for Groove Armada or Air (I forget which it was now) who were on the Other Stage, but via Jazzworld to check if St Germain were worth catching instead - which they were, they were stunning! We stayed there.

[eFestivals]

bruce springsteen!!!! <SNIP> boring!

+1.

In fact, I know from talking to people afterwards it was actually plus hundreds if not thousands and thousands.

[sifi]

Me, I planned to give him at least three songs as a fair chance to impress me.

I bailed out after two songs, after he'd dedicated "the next song to our boys in Afghanistan". It couldn't get any less Glastonbury.

[Bradders]

+1.

In fact, I know from talking to people afterwards it was actually plus hundreds if not thousands and thousands.

[lac999]

+1.

In fact, I know from talking to people afterwards it was actually plus hundreds if not thousands and thousands.

[Red_Eye_Jedi]

Bruce Springsteen.

Utter bollocks.

[jackarmy]

to be fair to them, they were elevated to be headliner after kylie had to cancel.

[klb]

Gorillaz

[Nickyboy]

Embrace (in 98 I think) for me.....cobblers

[worthyraver]

Bruce Springsteen was as dull as hell, but with his back catalog what an opportunity to put on a great and memorable show for a festival crowd.

[kpins]

Gorillaz were dire. Even taking into account they were only stand ins.

However I thought Artic Monkeys and Bruce Springsteen were both quality and good bookings.

Each to their own and all that.

Edited September 22, 2010 by kpins

[strummer77]

Gorillaz were dire. Even taking into account they were only stand ins.

However I thought Artic Monkeys and Bruce Springsteen were both quality and good bookings.

Each to their own and all that.

Edited September 22, 2010 by strummer77

[Indiekid]

Guys.. All these headliners are from the last two years have not been that bad when put in historical context. As previously mentioned Rod Stewart was the nadir of the 2000's. This question really needs to be broken up into decades as there has been some awful headliners in the past. The point is that Glasto tickets selling does not rest on having amazing headliners, the variety across the festival is its main selling point, those who buy their tickets for the headliners are missing the point. However I do not deny that sometimes the headliner and the crowd get insync at a "Glasto Moment ^TM" is created i.e. Radiohead (each time they have played). But the majority of the time the PS headliner is an easily consumable sop for the canvas chair brigade, so they can go to bed happy, while the proper party starts in Shangri la/Lost Vagueness

[Craigston]

I was there and was surprised at their headline slot I had never seen them live but was prepared to give them a chance, however Kasabian who played before them blew them away, now whatever you think of their Kasabian's music that was tight and polished performance I was very impressed with that.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Craigston

[eFestivals]

Though let's not start the Bruce debate again! (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/28/bruce-springsteen-glastonbury-review)<<< Though that shows to Neil that some people did enjoy it.

I've never said that that some people didn't enjoy it.

I have said that an awful lot didn't. And it's true.

[Derby_Dave]

It would have been interesting if they'd bumped Flaming Lips to Pyramid and Gorillaz had gone to the Other Stage, although there would still be people complaining about it whatever happened

[Wanderlei]

Bruce Springsteen was as dull as hell, but with his back catalog what an opportunity to put on a great and memorable show for a festival crowd.

[guypjfreak]

jay flipping z

[worthyraver]

jay flipping z

[niceandfriendly]

A well worthy Worthy headliner if you ask me!

They were THE British band of the moment By miles. And Glastonbury is THE British showcase. Biggest selling debut album ever at the time, and on the back of a cracking EP and new album, during a lack of decent rocky, different from the mass indie landfill, with great guitar riffery/hooks and lyrically intruiguing and observantly different from, and better than other bands at the time. And right now I can't think of a better newish band headliner at Glastonbury since. Or new guitar rock since. I am trying to think of the last time I was so excited by a newish headliner.

Oh yeah, and they were as tight as f**k and as well rehearsed as any band could be.

Were you actually there?

Every record label since has been chasing the next Arctic Monkeys. Hence the deluge of crap sounding easily mocked even more of the same but not as good indie landfill since.

Edit: I thought Jay-Z was a bad call. Now I think I was wrong. He gets it.

Edited September 23, 2010 by niceandfriendly