REM?

[Sipperana]

Well be prepared for your last Glastonbury mate. Doesn't sound like they are.

[Porcelina]

Coldplay are bigger now and have been for the past five years than REM were at their peak.

[Toilet Duck]

Coldplay are bigger now and have been for the past five years than REM were at their peak.

[eFestivals]

Really? Viva La Vida is Coldplay's best selling album (hard to believe, but every album has outsold the last)...currently it has worldwide sales figures of 9 million....Out of Time sold 12 million worldwide...Just saying is all.

worldwide has little relevance to the UK.

[Toilet Duck]

worldwide has little relevance to the UK.

[zero000]

REM = headliner, no quesiton. If they were placed anywhere else on a bill I would never buy another Glastonbury ticket again (in fact, I think I'd have to give up music). The only exception to that would be if they did a secret acoustic set somewhere...

Edited January 11, 2011 by zero000

[eFestivals]

Fair enough, REM have had 8 number 1 UK albums...Relevent enough?

not really, not for any comparison of who is currently the bigger between REM and Coldplay.

(I'm not supporting either take btw, I'm just pointing that the basis used is bad).

[Lynne Scratch Perry]

Get a grip, seriously.

Wherever they play it doesn't matter. It's just good they'll be there.

Edited January 11, 2011 by Lynne Scratch Perry

[strummer77]

I'd rather they weren't there at all than 2nd on the bill.

[Toilet Duck]

not really, not for any comparison of who is currently the bigger between REM and Coldplay.

(I'm not supporting either take btw, I'm just pointing that the basis used is bad).

[Milbert]

I'm imagining Michael Stipe reading this thread and thinking "Wow, our fans can be real dicks"

[jimmyt]

Currently Coldpay are bigger...they're more recent and are at their peak. Simple as that, but the point raised was that Coldplay are bigger than REM were at their peak, which isn't really true. The OP was only born when REM were at their peak and it's only natural for them to think that. I certainly remember equal hoopla for REM over the run of albums from Out of Time to Monster as that received by Coldplay now both in the UK and abroad (possibly even greater critical acclaim to be honest as Coldplay get quite a bit of criticism...fairly or unfairly isn't for me to judge)...

[Mardy]

yeah, good post, jimmyt.

[Toilet Duck]

....when they are on means nothing to me until I know who they clash with.

[Guest blackcockerel]

Stipe, like Yorke, has always given the impression he loves Worthy Farm and would be happy to play whenever. Just be glad they are playing (if they are) rather than where. It'll still be brilliant I'm sure.

[MEGABOWL]

I'm imagining Michael Stipe reading this thread and thinking "Wow, our fans can be real dicks"

[MEGABOWL]

Stipe, like Yorke, has always given the impression he loves Worthy Farm and would be happy to play whenever. Just be glad they are playing (if they are) rather than where. It'll still be brilliant I'm sure.

[danbailey80]

There are plenty of people who do not think Other Stage is crappy !

[Milbert]

But the same happened in the Pulp thread, people get very weird about placings on the bill apparently.

[tevaburger]

Yep, this is pretty much where I am. REM are my favourite band, have been for the best part of 25 years, and there's very few bands I'd go and see over them. But I've seen them a lot, so if they clashed with someone I've not seen as often, or not seen at glasto I'd be in a right pickle! No matter where they play it'll be a good show, just hoping Neil's info is good and they do actually play...

Edited January 11, 2011 by tevaburger

[eFestivals]

+1

I went into 2003's festival thinking that REM and Radiohead were the best possible fri/sat headliners back-to-back you could conceivably come up with at a festival at that time. that's how influential both of those bands had been back then, from an 'older guard' and '8-9 years newcomer' perspective. Those were 2 fantastic ways to finish up those nights. stellar sets.

I hope this rumour comes true. I also rather they'd be on the Pyramid, just under U2 or the Stones, or even Radiohead. An Other Stage billing just makes me think they'd be there to draw people away from either of those two bands, and I'd be torn, as my thoughts are that a true fan of music history can't possibly miss the Stones and/or U2 playing their only ever Glasto set, whether you're a fan of those bands or not. REM don't have egos but they have earned some pull with Eavis, who respects them immensely and they can throw that around. Stipe loves the festival (in '03 he was everywhere...Interpol set, side of stage with RHead, etc...) and if he attends this one, he is going to insist he gets his roaming time to be a punter like us all and see U2's historic set, so I highly doubt they'd go up against them. same with Radiohead. possibly the Stones would be the act they'd be billed to go up against, but again, I think Stipey would like to catch that one too.

I also think REM would be given a full 90 mins as a 'special guest' before either of these 2 or 3 bands. Roger Waters is probably the most high profile artist to have been played in the #2 pyramid slot in the past decade and he got 120 mins in '02. It would be good too...i think there's way too much riff-raff 50-minute sets on the pyramid these days, what with the early curfew. Give us less bands, but good proper sets, please. 60 mins minimum for all.

Regardless of "how big/relevant amongst the UK youth" REM might be these days, I still stick to what i've been saying earlier on here that ... at a festival they know to be the most prestigious in the world, Stipe & Co would not take a slot on the same stage where they'd be preceding the likes of Pulp or Arctic Monkeys, or any other similar UK act with little interest outside their own country (add Kasabian to this fray). I'd bet they also wouldn't precede Coldplay or Prince. They'd be happy to go head-to-head against them closing another stage, but not below them on the same stage.

You say "REM don't have egos", and then finish off by saying they have huge ones. Make up your mind!!

Edited January 11, 2011 by eFestivals

[ivan]

+1

I went into 2003's festival thinking that REM and Radiohead were the best possible fri/sat headliners back-to-back you could conceivably come up with at a festival at that time. that's how influential both of those bands had been back then, from an 'older guard' and '8-9 years newcomer' perspective. Those were 2 fantastic ways to finish up those nights. stellar sets.

I hope this rumour comes true. I also rather they'd be on the Pyramid, just under U2 or the Stones, or even Radiohead. An Other Stage billing just makes me think they'd be there to draw people away from either of those two bands, and I'd be torn, as my thoughts are that a true fan of music history can't possibly miss the Stones and/or U2 playing their only ever Glasto set, whether you're a fan of those bands or not. REM don't have egos but they have earned some pull with Eavis, who respects them immensely and they can throw that around. Stipe loves the festival (in '03 he was everywhere...Interpol set, side of stage with RHead, etc...) and if he attends this one, he is going to insist he gets his roaming time to be a punter like us all and see U2's historic set, so I highly doubt they'd go up against them. same with Radiohead. possibly the Stones would be the act they'd be billed to go up against, but again, I think Stipey would like to catch that one too.

I also think REM would be given a full 90 mins as a 'special guest' before either of these 2 or 3 bands. Roger Waters is probably the most high profile artist to have been played in the #2 pyramid slot in the past decade and he got 120 mins in '02. It would be good too...i think there's way too much riff-raff 50-minute sets on the pyramid these days, what with the early curfew. Give us less bands, but good proper sets, please. 60 mins minimum for all.

Regardless of "how big/relevant amongst the UK youth" REM might be these days, I still stick to what i've been saying earlier on here that ... at a festival they know to be the most prestigious in the world, Stipe & Co would not take a slot on the same stage where they'd be preceding the likes of Pulp or Arctic Monkeys, or any other similar UK act with little interest outside their own country (add Kasabian to this fray). I'd bet they also wouldn't precede Coldplay or Prince. They'd be happy to go head-to-head against them closing another stage, but not below them on the same stage.

[judyblue110]

You say "REM don't have egos", and then finish off by saying they have huge ones. Make up your mind!!

[cornelio]

+1

I went into 2003's festival thinking that REM and Radiohead were the best possible fri/sat headliners back-to-back you could conceivably come up with at a festival at that time. that's how influential both of those bands had been back then, from an 'older guard' and '8-9 years newcomer' perspective. Those were 2 fantastic ways to finish up those nights. stellar sets.

I hope this rumour comes true. I also rather they'd be on the Pyramid, just under U2 or the Stones, or even Radiohead. An Other Stage billing just makes me think they'd be there to draw people away from either of those two bands, and I'd be torn, as my thoughts are that a true fan of music history can't possibly miss the Stones and/or U2 playing their only ever Glasto set, whether you're a fan of those bands or not. REM don't have egos but they have earned some pull with Eavis, who respects them immensely and they can throw that around. Stipe loves the festival (in '03 he was everywhere...Interpol set, side of stage with RHead, etc...) and if he attends this one, he is going to insist he gets his roaming time to be a punter like us all and see U2's historic set, so I highly doubt they'd go up against them. same with Radiohead. possibly the Stones would be the act they'd be billed to go up against, but again, I think Stipey would like to catch that one too.

I also think REM would be given a full 90 mins as a 'special guest' before either of these 2 or 3 bands. Roger Waters is probably the most high profile artist to have been played in the #2 pyramid slot in the past decade and he got 120 mins in '02. It would be good too...i think there's way too much riff-raff 50-minute sets on the pyramid these days, what with the early curfew. Give us less bands, but good proper sets, please. 60 mins minimum for all.

Regardless of "how big/relevant amongst the UK youth" REM might be these days, I still stick to what i've been saying earlier on here that ... at a festival they know to be the most prestigious in the world, Stipe & Co would not take a slot on the same stage where they'd be preceding the likes of Pulp or Arctic Monkeys, or any other similar UK act with little interest outside their own country (add Kasabian to this fray). I'd bet they also wouldn't precede Coldplay or Prince. They'd be happy to go head-to-head against them closing another stage, but not below them on the same stage.

Edited January 12, 2011 by cornelio

[tevaburger]

I know the post doesn't seem to make sense, but as a huge R.E.M. fan, it does to me.

The guys are very humble, I know for a fact they hung around for a long time after one of their TITP performances to enjoy the festival (something you of all people must admire, Neil ;-) )

However, they must also be aware that they are one of the world's biggest bands, and wouldn't enjoy playing second fiddle to a band with about a quarter of their age. It's more of a seniority ("we've earned this") thing, than an ego ("we're better than you") thing.

That said, could easily see them playing a smaller stage, as they have done on numerous occasions in recent years, especially at a festival they enjoy so much.