Kanye West

[eFestivals]

And again, regardless of whatever the end result, if the festival's going to have any sort of longevity in the years to come, artists like Kanye should at least be given a shot at it. It can't just rely on heritage acts.

while I agree with the general sentiment, I'm still not sure I see a place for Kanye as headliner. His own history says he can't do it.

[FloorFiller]

With good reason. The intro aside, he was abysmal.

If he'd been any good I suspect the likes of kanye, eminem and the other pop-rappers would have headlined by now.

Thankfully he stunk the place out.

Similarly, Beyonce was terrible (thouhg I didnt watch her I must confess), hence the reason there has been no rhianna/katy perry/lady gaga headliner since.

I suspect when metallica perform to a rapidly emptying field, they will not pave the way for iron maiden and the like to headline in future.

These sorts of acts always get found out on the biggest stage.

what, so in the four Glastonburys since Jay Z headlined (and one since Beyonce headlined) you think Eavis should've booked Eminem, Kanye, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to headline, and in not doing so he's admitting that both Jay Z and Beyonce were failures? jog on

[russycarps]

Regardless of my own opinion of it, I don't think Beyonce's appearance was anything other than a success.

And again, regardless of whatever the end result, if the festival's going to have any sort of longevity in the years to come, artists like Kanye should at least be given a shot at it. It can't just rely on heritage acts.

but if she was successful why has there not been a hint of someone like gaga or rhianna playing since? It seems to me whenever the festival takes a "risk" they never follow it up by booking more acts of that type.

Likewise I'm sure if jay z had been deemed a hit kanye would have been booked by now.

I agree with your point though, but the problem is there dont seem to be many bands coming through that can match up to the heritage acts. Arcade fire seems to be the first one in ages that does.

The fact bands like elbow are even being discussed as possible headliners says it all.

[russycarps]

jog on

Have I stepped into a football hooligan movie?

[eFestivals]

what, so in the four Glastonburys since Jay Z headlined (and one since Beyonce headlined) you think Eavis should've booked Eminem, Kanye, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to headline, and in not doing so he's admitting that both Jay Z and Beyonce were failures? jog on

he's certainly made statements that strongly suggest he regards Jay-Z as a failure.

It's more around the financial aspect of the fest only just selling out that year than what happened on stage, but he's said he's not keen to book an act of similar genre in the near-future because he doesn't wish to go thru those worries again.

[Cornelius_Fudge]

Yeah, it's been widely publicized that Beyonce was a success, alongside one of the biggest TV audiences the BBC has had since coverage began.

Iron Maiden aren't as accessible, but to say they and Metallica would get found out on the biggest stages is a little exaggerated considering they've been selling out arenas and festivals around the world for years.

[russycarps]

Yeah, it's been widely publicized that Beyonce was a success, alongside one of the biggest TV audiences the BBC has had since coverage began.

Iron Maiden aren't as accessible, but to say they and Metallica would get found out on the biggest stages is a little exaggerated considering they've been selling out arenas and festivals around the world for years.

they are niche acts though. Metal is something you either like or you dont.

I watched that metallica gig someone on here linked the other week, it was horrendous. I know there is a market for that stuff, but it is not going to appeal to the casual listener. No chance.

When do you ever hear metal played, outside of metal specialist radio/tv/clubs?

There is no broad appeal.

Edited March 6, 2014 by russycarps

[CaledonianGonzo]

while I agree with the general sentiment, I'm still not sure I see a place for Kanye as headliner. His own history says he can't do it.

Yeah - I can't really comemnt from that perspective. I've not seen him live and am only really familiar with bits and bobs of his work.

But I really like the one with the King Crimson sample - and Yeezus is a pretty demented and contrary. I'll take a grandstanding, hubristic folly from someone with a point to prove than some anonymous beard-dudes playing bro-rawk.

[eFestivals]

Yeah, it's been widely publicized that Beyonce was a success, alongside one of the biggest TV audiences the BBC has had since coverage began.

Iron Maiden aren't as accessible, but to say they and Metallica would get found out on the biggest stages is a little exaggerated considering they've been selling out arenas and festivals around the world for years.

Measured against the TV figures for as-mainstream-as-it-gets Beyonce, I can only think that metal bands would class as a huge failure.

[Mr.Tease]

The man is a grade A, delusional prick.

Where do you get that impression from?

[FloorFiller]

they are niche acts though. Metal is something you either like or you dont.

I watched that metallica gig someone on here linked the other week, it was horrendous. I know there is a market for that stuff, but it is not going to appeal to the casual listener. No chance.

When do you ever hear metal played, outside of metal specialist radio/tv/clubs?

There is no broad appeal.

…Glastonbury is a music festival. do you honestly think that Metallica, the biggest metal band with the most crossover appeal, won't be able to pull and keep a sufficient crowd for their headline performance? it's not like they're setting up in the middle of a little quaint village. it's a music festival! if bands like Fucked Up can pull sufficient crowds for the stages they're sizeably suited for at Glastonbury then why on earth would you think Metallica couldn't?

[eFestivals]

Yeah - I can't really comemnt from that perspective. I've not seen him live

I've seen Kanye at a fest, and masses of people were streaming away.

The only time I can remember seeing something similar was Oasis at Reading - they're both acts people will be likely to give a chance even if not warm to them from hearing them, and both are acts who will fail to win those waiverers over because they care much more about their own posing than attempting to please the audience.

Add to that that Kanye doesn't shift tickets well for camping fests, and it gets hard to see how he fits on a considered basis.

[russycarps]

…Glastonbury is a music festival. do you honestly think that Metallica, the biggest metal band with the most crossover appeal, won't be able to pull and keep a sufficient crowd for their headline performance? it's not like they're setting up in the middle of a little quaint village. it's a music festival! if bands like Fucked Up can pull sufficient crowds for the stages they're sizeably suited for at Glastonbury then why on earth would you think Metallica couldn't?

The metal fans at glastonbury will love it. 99% of the non metal fans will not. (well, the proper metal fans wont like it, but they wont be at glastonbury anyway)

They wont be able to hold the attention of the casual pyramid stage listener. You are insane if you think metal has broad appeal.

I'll definitely go and watch them though, that intro they do is ace

Edited March 6, 2014 by russycarps

[eFestivals]

They wont be able to hold the attention of the casual pyramid stage listener.

I disagree with that.

The casual Pyramid headliner will stand there and lap up any old shite, on the basis that because it's on the main stage it must be good.

[Mr.Tease]

but if she was successful why has there not been a hint of someone like gaga or rhianna playing since? It seems to me whenever the festival takes a "risk" they never follow it up by booking more acts of that type.

Likewise I'm sure if jay z had been deemed a hit kanye would have been booked by now.

I remember reading an interview when they talked about the Jay-Z booking afterwards, and I think Emily said that when they decided to have some rap music as the headliner, someone went through a list of names and suggested Kanye, but she said they decided to go for the biggest/best and target Jay-Z, so maybe they've always seen Kanye as crapper.

Jay-Z was pretty crap from what I saw- but to be fair, so were all the headliners I saw that night! walked from Jay Z to Massive Attack (sleepy), then to the Ethiopiates (hardly anyone there, and just not very gripping). I'm still glad they had Jay-Z, because in amongst all the debate as to whether the was any good or not, was some racism, so I thought it was good that was challenged a bit.

I think the Jay-Z booking seems to have more of an impact on West Holts- it seemed to embrace rap music and hip hop a bit more following 2008 (though it's always had some like the Roots, Ozomatli, Spearhead etc)

[russycarps]

I disagree with that.

The casual Pyramid headliner will stand there and lap up any old shite, on the basis that because it's on the main stage it must be good.

even metal though?? Jay z is at least on radio 1 etc. But metal is something else. Will be interesting to see what happens.

[eFestivals]

I think the Jay-Z booking seems to have more of an impact on West Holts- it seemed to embrace rap music and hip hop a bit more following 2008 (though it's always had some like the Roots, Ozomatli, Spearhead etc)

nah, that's more to do with a change of booker for West Holts than anything else.

[Mr.Tease]

I disagree with that.

The casual Pyramid headliner will stand there and lap up any old shite, on the basis that because it's on the main stage it must be good.

Just out of interest, has there ever been a Pyramid headliner that had the crowd leaving in droves- usually they just seem to go silent and still- has any headliner ever triggered an exodus?

[dentalplan]

The metal fans at glastonbury will love it. 99% of the non metal fans will not. (well, the proper metal fans wont like it, but they wont be at glastonbury anyway)

They wont be able to hold the attention of the casual pyramid stage listener. You are insane if you think metal has broad appeal.

I'll definitely go and watch them though, that intro they do is ace

Nah. You know yourself how watered down Metallica are, so even people who have no interest in even learning of another metal band than Iron Maiden, Metallica and Black Sabbath can enjoy it.

Edited March 6, 2014 by dentalplan

[eFestivals]

even metal though?? Jay z is at least on radio 1 etc. But metal is something else. Will be interesting to see what happens.

I've not listened to R1 for years so I don't know how it might apply now, but Metallica are a band that would get enough daytime airplay for a lot of people to be familiar with a song or three (even if they don't realise they are).

I guess how well it might work would depend on how aware they were on them playing to a different audience to their norm. Like so many bands in the past, if they believe themselves able to carry any crowd with a normal set, they're likely to blow it.

[russycarps]

I remember reading an interview when they talked about the Jay-Z booking afterwards, and I think Emily said that when they decided to have some rap music as the headliner, someone went through a list of names and suggested Kanye, but she said they decided to go for the biggest/best and target Jay-Z, so maybe they've always seen Kanye as crapper.

Jay-Z was pretty crap from what I saw- but to be fair, so were all the headliners I saw that night! walked from Jay Z to Massive Attack (sleepy), then to the Ethiopiates (hardly anyone there, and just not very gripping). I'm still glad they had Jay-Z, because in amongst all the debate as to whether the was any good or not, was some racism, so I thought it was good that was challenged a bit.

I think the Jay-Z booking seems to have more of an impact on West Holts- it seemed to embrace rap music and hip hop a bit more following 2008 (though it's always had some like the Roots, Ozomatli, Spearhead etc)

in fairness to jay z, I just think hip hop doesnt really come across well live. But from where I was stood he did hold the crowd, I didnt see that many people leaving the field.

You're spot on about the racism thing. It was a good booking for the festival, especially considering the other 2 headliners were that year were the most typical "white boys with guitars" you could ever wish for

[eFestivals]

Just out of interest, has there ever been a Pyramid headliner that had the crowd leaving in droves- usually they just seem to go silent and still- has any headliner ever triggered an exodus?

I wouldn't really know, as I've see so few headliners.

Probably the quietest I've seen it for a headliner was Rod Stewart and I left after two songs ... I certainly wasn't the only one doing that, tho it wasn't masses that were leaving.

[russycarps]

Just out of interest, has there ever been a Pyramid headliner that had the crowd leaving in droves- usually they just seem to go silent and still- has any headliner ever triggered an exodus?

From posts on here, I remember people saying U2 had a lot of leavers.

Nah. You know yourself how watered down Metallica are, so even people who have no interest in even learning of another metal band than Iron Maiden, Metallica and Black Sabbath can enjoy it.

I just remember how people were saying that the mumford and sons thought nick cave was heavy metal and they couldnt bear it. If he was too heavy for them, surely metallica will kill them?

I've not listened to R1 for years so I don't know how it might apply now, but Metallica are a band that would get enough daytime airplay for a lot of people to be familiar with a song or three (even if they don't realise they are).

I guess how well it might work would depend on how aware they were on them playing to a different audience to their norm. Like so many bands in the past, if they believe themselves able to carry any crowd with a normal set, they're likely to blow it.

<insert bruce springsteen insult here>

cue tonyblair in 3.....2.......1......

[eFestivals]

From posts on here, I remember people saying U2 had a lot of leavers.

it's a bit different when the weather is like it was that night, I'd say.

[FloorFiller]

I just remember how people were saying that the mumford and sons thought nick cave was heavy metal and they couldnt bear it. If he was too heavy for them, surely metallica will kill them?

those people were Mumford & Sons fans. the less we hear about their opinions the better