Most Unpopular Headliners in Recent Years

[Hugh Jass]

Chickenfeed compared to the year that Bowie pulled out of T in the Park and they didn't even replace him, just bumping The Darkness up to headline.

That sounds like the worst thing in the history of music.

[russycarps]

damn and I thought snow patrol taking over most of blur's set at TITP the other year was bad!

[st dan]

damn and I thought snow patrol taking over most of blur's set at TITP the other year was bad!

They also took over from Oasis at V when they split up!

[CaledonianGonzo]

how late did he pull out?

From memory it was weeks rather than days, but it was in the near run up.

I thought snow patrol taking over most of blur's set at TITP the other year was bad!

Blur still played 90% of their set, though. They dropped a couple of the MLIR nbumbers, but otherwise it was near identical to the Glasto setlist.

[Matt - Ed Banger Records]

Just taking a look at some of the older line ups, Ash headlined in '97, and Kula Shaker played 2 big slots that weekend. Thats absolutely woeful.

[CaledonianGonzo]

The late 1990s was a real nadir for popular music in the UK. Travis encored their headline set with their "ironic" version of Baby One More Time...

[Matt - Ed Banger Records]

I was there as a 13 year old in 1998, just looking back and a bit gutted I didn't catch any of the headliners - my mum was running a stall with some friends in the Green Futures field so I was only ever bothered going as far as the Jazzworld stage at night.

[mozzy]

Just taking a look at some of the older line ups, Ash headlined in '97, and Kula Shaker played 2 big slots that weekend. Thats absolutely woeful.

Only because Steve Winwood had a note from his mum saying he was too poorly to headline: Ash were bumped up & Kula Shaker stuck around from the previous night & took their place.

[Spindles]

Skunk anansie were poor, but how is no one mentioning Shakespeare's sister and Rod Stewart. I mean, think about it....Rod Stewart.

[eFestivals]

Metallica. Jay-Z. And it was harder to get tickets for the next festival after both.

Bullshit.

It was easier to get tickets for this year, after Metallica. They're a band that have managed to take Glasto headliner expectations back down to earth.

[FloorFiller]

Bullshit.

It was easier to get tickets for this year, after Metallica. They're a band that have managed to take Glasto headliner expectations back down to earth.

didn't tickets sell out faster than ever this year? i didn't get one, anyway!

[cossie]

Just taking a look at some of the older line ups, Ash headlined in '97, and Kula Shaker played 2 big slots that weekend. Thats absolutely woeful.

to be fair 97 was meant to be Neil Young but he pulled out late through injury and Ash and Kula Shaker filled his slot on the Sunday night having already played Other Stage on the Friday/Saturday. I think other Pyramid headliners that year were Radiohead and The Prodigy

[russycarps]

Skunk anansie were poor, but how is no one mentioning Shakespeare's sister and Rod Stewart. I mean, think about it....Rod Stewart.

I didnt see Rod but just looking at the setlist now and it's not all bad......a couple of Faces songs, a couple of Tom Waits covers...

[mozzy]

to be fair 97 was meant to be Neil Young but he pulled out late through injury and Ash and Kula Shaker filled his slot on the Sunday night having already played Other Stage on the Friday/Saturday. I think other Pyramid headliners that year were Radiohead and The Prodigy

Neil Young was meant to be on before Steve Winwood, sadly both stacked it but Winwood cancelled even later than Shakey.

[st dan]

Bullshit.

It was easier to get tickets for this year, after Metallica. They're a band that have managed to take Glasto headliner expectations back down to earth.

So after this Kanye announcement would you expect it to be even easier to get tickets next year?

[Boopickledaddy]

I didnt see Rod but just looking at the setlist now and it's not all bad......a couple of Faces songs, a couple of Tom Waits covers...

I was hoping for a fun sing along, but the band sounded terrible. It was so bad......just thinking about that poor end to the festival...

I'm going off to find a dark corner to have a little cry

Edited March 17, 2015 by Boopickledaddy

[Spindles]

I didnt see Rod but just looking at the setlist now and it's not all bad......a couple of Faces songs, a couple of Tom Waits covers...

How about if I insinuated he was friends with Dave Grohl?

[andyhh]

Verve?

[russycarps]

Verve?

They surprised me how good they were. Really nailed it in my opinion, especially considering they were following one of the all time great performances (admittedly I was on a massive high after leonard cohen so probably would have enjoyed anything).

I dont think there was much of an outcry when they were announced either, just a standard headliner reaction.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Restrospectively though, it's a terrible booking, done on the back of a comeback album that tanked and as the entire nation are still wading through the piles of copies of Urban Hymns that clutter up every record shop and jumble sale in the land.

[Boopickledaddy]

I didnt see Rod but just looking at the setlist now and it's not all bad......a couple of Faces songs, a couple of Tom Waits covers...

Yeah the setlist wasn't bad, but as I said earlier the sound was poor.

Did you Roger Waters though, thought he was great :-)

[LondonTom]

Bullshit.

It was easier to get tickets for this year, after Metallica. They're a band that have managed to take Glasto headliner expectations back down to earth.

I dunno, it seems like more 'regulars' didn't manage to get tickets this year? Admitedly the sample size isn't great, but it seemed like more people didn't manage this year.

Edited March 17, 2015 by LondonTom

[stardustjunkie]

Thanks for the Skunk Anansie replies, they were as I expected!

They actually played in a pub in my little seaside town a couple of years ago for a Mardi Gras festival. Everyone went crazy, I was interested to see them but couldn't even get in the pub, the queue went round the whole building.

[wirralchris]

I didnt see Rod but just looking at the setlist now and it's not all bad......a couple of Faces songs, a couple of Tom Waits covers...

For the record, Rod was shite! a total let down of a headline performance after a spine tingling set fro Mr Pink Floyd.

[wirralchris]

So after this Kanye announcement would you expect it to be even easier to get tickets next year?

I'd imagine that Kanye's 120 minutes of Glastonbury fame will be heavily publicised by the BBC across the pond this year, I reckon there'll be a surge of rich yanks trying for 2016 tickets

Edited March 17, 2015 by wirralchris