Melvin's Interview

[Bobs]

He knows doesn't he.

Theres people i speak to who pay £200 to go on the piss for 5 days. 'I don't like the lineup, but we can burn shit and it's fun', if there's 35,000 people who wanna do that, there theres 35,000 who like the lineup it's gonna sell out. However, you have the 35,000 who wanna burn stuff and go to get smashed buying, it seems as if the fans who buy it for the lineup aren't there, there's gonna be at least 10,000+ tickets left for Leeds at least because they are advertising it on Seetickets still.

It's blown up in his face and i for one am delighted. Maybe next year he will put more effort into it, whilst it's gonna be my first time at R+L, i'm happy to be seeing Enter Shikari, but for regulars what is it, 3 years in a row? Where's the originality?

[onemangang]

at one point the interviewer asked mr benn, "so why is reading and leeds festival much better than the other festivals" mr benn reply's: "o well we have the best tickets sales, and we have the best acts in all of europe" WHAT ABOUT US... THE FANS???

the guy is a joke, he dosen't even seem to no what the hell he's saying. stuttering and taking ages over explaining each and every queston. TIT

[onemangang]

I don't care how many times they say 'Muse', they're doing nothing more than featuring a headliner that has repeatedly played everywhere else for the last 2 or 3 years. Testament to Muse's live capabilities, sure - if you like light shows - but it's a safe booking certain to raise less than a few eyebrows and it ultimately undermines the festival's credibility. As if they are running out of options or seeking to clutch at the leftovers.

Pulp and My Chemical Romance are probably the most daring bands to be at that festival this year, and the tent for Jane's Addiction will be virtually empty anyway. It's just not a great line-up, and from what I gather the underlying feeling I get from people keen to defend it is that they're going because they can't picture a year without Leeds or Reading. That's the only reason. People might as well set up a camp on the outskirts of Leeds with a banner that says 'Leeds Festival' over it - no bands, just a few empty fields, a few barbecues, and people would still flock to it by that logic.

But like I say there's no point complaining about it anymore. It is what it is, the line-up is good to some and painful to others, and a punchline to just about every other festival promoters joke...

No sarcasm intended but I wish to extend my best wishes to everybody on this board attending Leeds and Reading this year. Hope you make it a good one!

every year there's bands we dont like that play, but do we see a bigger majority not liking the line up this year? how much more will the avid festivel goer take before saying enough is enough?

Edited March 23, 2011 by onemangang

[luckysalt]

The interview on efests is a joke too! Festival exclusives- muse, yeah ok. Strokes are a festival exclusive (even tho theyre at oxegen and not headlining), my chemical romance, same at titp and oxegen, not headlining.

Then the others, pulp a northern england exclusive. Jesus! And BMTH, how are they exclusive? Theyre at download!

[mrtourette]

All those bands are clearly R&L exclusives, you won't find them anywhere else on the R&L line-up. I heard Saturday was livid at missing out on Muse but them's the breaks.

[Jaybles]

I still think its an excellent line up.

If you want the 'BIG 4' then go to Sonishpere.

Reading for me has always been great because of its diversification. Not going to please everyone but it will please more than enough people to make it a great weekend as usual

[jump]

at one point the interviewer asked mr benn, "so why is reading and leeds festival much better than the other festivals" mr benn reply's: "o well we have the best tickets sales, and we have the best acts in all of europe" WHAT ABOUT US... THE FANS???

the guy is a joke, he dosen't even seem to no what the hell he's saying. stuttering and taking ages over explaining each and every queston. TIT

[RichieParf]

Who knows what the future holds?

However, one thing is certain, this year is definately when Sonisphere rolled out the major plan from the start, having the "Big 4" of thrash on Knebworth turf. Audacious, Brilliant and bound to sell a bucket load of tickets.

Although It pains me to admit it, Melvin does have a point in the interview regarding the Big 4. How on earth do they top that next year?

[Jaybles]

at one point the interviewer asked mr benn, "so why is reading and leeds festival much better than the other festivals" mr benn reply's: "o well we have the best tickets sales, and we have the best acts in all of europe" WHAT ABOUT US... THE FANS???

the guy is a joke, he dosen't even seem to no what the hell he's saying. stuttering and taking ages over explaining each and every queston. TIT

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

When he says BMTH are exclusive with the original line up he clearly means Taking Back Sunday, now wether that was his f**k up or just mixed up in write up I dont know.

[jump]

So to summarise he booked some bands, realised no one else has booked some of them and then started randomly calling them exclusives.

[rexclark]

Fair enough Melvin does come across as a bit of a tosser at times. But in his defence, he did come down during the riots in 05 and try to calm everyone down at Leeds. Poor sod got a punch in the gob for his troubles. (Sorry if this is inaccurate, i'm just going by something I remember hearing a few years ago.)

[5co77ie]

When he says BMTH are exclusive with the original line up he clearly means Taking Back Sunday, now wether that was his f**k up or just mixed up in write up I dont know.

[Paul ™]

His job is to book the bands and run the festival.....not give a perfect public speech.

[Mega Ross]

His job is to book the bands and run the festival.....not give a perfect public speech.

[Rudzkii]

Organising festivals for 10's of thousands of peoeple, he doesn't need to be good at public speaking?

You don't need a masters in business to know that your statement is retarded, it's part of his job description.

He f**ked up, he can't justify his actions so he's pretending he did it on purpose. Simple as really.

That is human nature, if you f**k up pretend you meant to do it and hope no one notices.

[harderfaster]

re: origin of symmetry...

Saying they'll be playing songs off that album makes it a lot bigger draw.

Edited March 23, 2011 by harderfaster

[jump]

re: origin of symmetry...

realistically though, what are we going to see? an extra 3 songs off the album that they have dropped from their latest set but which they probably played last time they were here. they're scraping the barrel here.

[Jaybles]

Organising festivals for 10's of thousands of peoeple, he doesn't need to be good at public speaking?

You don't need a masters in business to know that your statement is retarded, it's part of his job description.

He f**ked up, he can't justify his actions so he's pretending he did it on purpose. Simple as really.

That is human nature, if you f**k up pretend you meant to do it and hope no one notices.

[onemangang]

Why do you keep talking about the fans, you've only ever been once for the day and didn't even go in the campsite.

[jump]

its not about me.. its about him not appreciating the fans, of coures im a fan i payed my money. i when to reading ,i felt the love for bands, i felt the hate for bands, im going again this year.

how many times do you have to go to be a fan??

i will answer that for you 0 times

because

you can be a fan on many levels you no. you can be a fan by sitting in your arm chair if you wanted. its just like watching your football team on the t.v and never going to the ground. you still love them all the same, its no different than seeing your favourite band on t.v at reading you still love them.

its the same with r+l festival or any festival as a hole, you can still be a fan & love the fest all the same without actually going.

[Yellow_Fellow]

its not about me.. its about him not appreciating the fans, of coures im a fan i payed my money. i when to reading ,i felt the love for bands, i felt the hate for bands, im going again this year.

how many times do you have to go to be a fan??

i will answer that for you 0 times

because

you can be a fan on many levels you no. you can be a fan by sitting in your arm chair if you wanted. its just like watching your football team on the t.v and never going to the ground. you still love them all the same, its no different than seeing your favourite band on t.v at reading you still love them.

its the same with r+l festival or any festival as a hole, you can still be a fan & love the fest all the same without actually going.

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

I believe he said that - but should I alter it?

[kaosmark2]

re: origin of symmetry...

realistically though, what are we going to see? an extra 3 songs off the album that they have dropped from their latest set but which they probably played last time they were here. they're scraping the barrel here.

[mattl]

True enough. They're not going to be as good as they were back in the pre-BHAR superstardom days, unless they somehow pull another masterpiece out of their pretentious arseholes, it bombs astonishingly, and they go back to playing decent sized venues.