The Who

[neil999]

I agree with this. It's strange. It also paves the way for repeat bookings for the likes of paul mccartney, u2, bruce springsteen etc.

I thought all those kinds of acts would be "once in a lifetime" type gigs.

The irony is the one old act we want to return is the only act who very definitely will not play again! (bowie.)

maybe they really are running out of headliners...

[GlastoSimon]

Even though I wasn't there in '07, is it weird to still be quite underwhelmed by this? I just can't imagine they will hold up to any expectations re: live performance these days.

A case of 'depends what else is on' to be honest.

Edited May 5, 2015 by GlastoSimon

[Pinhead]

Read something the other day where Eavis was saying he feels that he's nearly exhausted all the big band headliners that would realistically want to play the festival, and if anything wanted to move away from focussing on booking the big acts. Stands to reason then perhaps that there's a bit of recycling going on...

[russycarps]

Read something the other day where Eavis was saying he feels that he's nearly exhausted all the big band headliners that would realistically want to play the festival, and if anything wanted to move away from focussing on booking the big acts. Stands to reason then perhaps that there's a bit of recycling going on...

I guess the alternative was booking florence and the machine or noel gallagher.

You can understand the dilemna: repeating decent old acts, or promoting new shit acts. It's a tough one.

The answer of course is for good new bands to emerge, but it seems that's asking too much of the younger generation.

[Brave Sir Robin]

I guess the alternative was booking florence and the machine or noel gallagher.

You can understand the dilemna: repeating decent old acts, or promoting new shit acts. It's a tough one.

Agreed. And if they've booked Noel as a sub then they've managed to cover both bases.

[Alan_C]

Were Blur just impossible for them to book then? If they were gonna recycle an old act then Blur make a lot more sense. At the peak of their powers live and a quality new album. I don't think they've exhausted the list of bands that could headline. You have The Libertines and The Strokes who aren't everyones cup of tea, and some would argue they aren't Pyramid headliners, but if they were actually booked I think it makes more sense than The Who considering they only played in 2007 and haven't done anything of note since to warrant playing again. I really do think if the festival asked Pulp if they would headline, they would do it. They seem like a band who aren't interested in recording anymore, but will do odd gigs here and there in the future.

[The Placid Casual]

i accidentally negged this, sorry! monday morning tired fingers!

i agree completely, really lazy booking.

I think he thought it was me

[blackred]

I guess the alternative was booking florence and the machine or noel gallagher.

You can understand the dilemna: repeating decent old acts, or promoting new shit acts. It's a tough one.

The answer of course is for good new bands to emerge, but it seems that's asking too much of the younger generation.

Promote the new shit acts, otherwise they are left with an ever diminishing pool of headline status act.

As for asking too much of the younger generation, there are plenty of bands that aren't quite headliner status that would have been given the opportunity to step up - but since the recession/festilval crash the big 3 have all become incredibly risk averse and will chose the most stale shite over giving a newer band a shot.

Edited May 5, 2015 by blackred

[MEGABOWL]

I guess the alternative was booking florence and the machine or noel gallagher.

You can understand the dilemna: repeating decent old acts, or promoting new shit acts. It's a tough one.

The answer of course is for good new bands to emerge, but it seems that's asking too much of the younger generation.

I think they should go for it next year. No more pensioners. It might look horrible when it's Ed Sheeran, Biffy Clyro and Emile Sande but sod it. Line in the sand.

[ClementsMike]

ME has stated, as others have said, that big headliners are running thin, so if you get the chance to book a massive heritage band, and it appears it is likely to be the last opportunity to do so, then I guess it makes sense to take it. Especially as they have real 'pop festival' heritage. Whats maybe important as well is booking bands like this that reeally want to play the festival, which they clearly do.

I dont know what the stats would be on the percentage of people that attended in 2007 to those who hold tickets in 2015, 'relatively' small Id guess? And I'd further assume that long time festival attendees will be much less phased by who and who isnt (no pun intended) playing a headline slot on the Pyramid.

Personally, I like The Who, I saw them in about 2000(?) when Entwhistle was still alive. It was good to see them but I wasn't blown away. I'm looking forward to this now though, ffs, we were considering a Chris Martin and Gwen Stafani double act till recently!!

[blackred]

I think they should go for it next year. No more pensioners. It might look horrible when it's Ed Sheeran, Biffy Clyro and Emile Sande but sod it. Line in the sand.

Can't stand any of them but it looks like a reasonable set of headliners. Not sure how big Emile Sande is but no doubt Ed has the record and ticket sales and Biffy have been headlining elsewhere.

[Avalon_Fields]

I'd agree, may as well dive in and get newer acts as headliners (I agree with Russy's comments too), it's important the festival moves forward, otherwise in 5 years it will be depressing if we have to rely on the same old oldies.

Better to leave the great rock bands as memories in their prime (Thankfully Robert Plant resists the temptation!). I was lucky enough to see The Who at Glasgow's Parkhead 1976, I'm not a massive fan, but it was the best live performance I'd ever seen at that time, but I'm not intending to see them again...

[Spindles]

Were Blur just impossible for them to book then?

Glastonbury, on the whole, has always avoided booking the same headliners as other large uk festivals (this is different if you count the BST era gigs in fields as being festival headliners, which I don't myself). They often have an act the year before or after another major festival. I suspect that this is basically gentlemen's or business agreement between the large festivals. I'm sure there have been a small number of exceptions to that rule, but it's pretty much held as I have noticed.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Spindles

[MEGABOWL]

Can't stand any of them but it looks like a reasonable set of headliners. Not sure how big Emile Sande is but no doubt Ed has the record and ticket sales and Biffy have been headlining elsewhere.

Yeah I thought I'd go for a female act. Foals could do it if she's not big enough. You get the idea though. They need to get away from the heritage act thing, I'm not sure it'll make that much difference to ticket sales

[ghandi]

I have to say that that is a good set list, my initial 50/50 might now have turned into a 70/30 in favour of seeing them

[incident]

Glastonbury, on the whole, has always avoided booking the same headliners as other large uk festivals (this is different if you count the BST era gigs in fields as being festival headliners, which I don't myself). They often have an act the year before or after another major festival. I suspect that this is basically gentlemen's or business agreement between the large festivals. I'm sure there have been a small number of exceptions to that rule, but it's pretty much held as I have noticed.

I don't think this is entirely accurate.

Glastonbury has rarely shared headliners with Reading/Leeds/V in recent years, but that's about it and is almost entirely down to those festivals wanting exclusivity for their top acts. In the past before those events got so hung up on exclusives, it used to be a lot more common.

Even if you discount day events like IOW, BST, and in the past Hard Rock Calling and Wireless as being legitimate festivals, there's still been plenty of headliner overlap with TITP over the years who don't tend to book acts as UK exclusive.

Either way, my understanding is that it's never been a case of Glastonbury avoiding booking acts who are playing elsewhere - just that often those acts are unavailable due to the terms of their contracts at Reading/Leeds/V.

[Spindles]

I see what you mean about TiTP. I wasn't aware that they had shared headliners quite as often over the years as they have.

[The Nal]

I think he thought it was me

Wouldn't care if it was but theres an upvote for you from me anyway.

The Who will be decent. Lots of tunes people know and they play A Quick One which is superb. But they sort of sound like Dire Straits playing Who songs these days. Its all very clean and nice well tuned Fender Stratocaster sounding stuff.

[The Placid Casual]

Wouldn't care if it was but theres an upvote for you from me anyway.

The Who will be decent. Lots of tunes people know and they play A Quick One which is superb. But they sort of sound like Dire Straits playing Who songs these days. Its all very clean and nice well tuned Fender Stratocaster sounding stuff.

A Quick One being in the set gets me even more excited. I'm really excited for the set, it'll be my first time seeing them.

[The Nal]

A Quick One being in the set gets me even more excited. I'm really excited for the set, it'll be my first time seeing them.

Hopefully that will be similar for a lot of people. Great for you if so. I've seen them 3 times, including 07, and they've been great every time.

Its just the same setlist for me.... again..........

[neville]

I totally agree: when you've booked a solid rock headliner, a hip-hop/pop star like Kanye West, a massive heritage band like The Who fits totally with a well balanced headliners' lineup.

ME has stated, as others have said, that big headliners are running thin, so if you get the chance to book a massive heritage band, and it appears it is likely to be the last opportunity to do so, then I guess it makes sense to take it. Especially as they have real 'pop festival' heritage.

[CaledonianGonzo]

It was lucky that Ivor ended up getting a job as an Engine Driver - there's nothing worse than having a job that doesn't rhyme with your name.

[Stu H]

Just my tuppence worth...

First off, I've never seen The Who and for me (a big Townshend and Moon fan) (yes I appreciate one is dead!), it's a brilliant way to end the festival.

But I appreciate what people are saying about repeat bookings. But we've had repeat headliners numerous times.

It seems they've repeatedly gone after the Prince and Fleetwood Macs of this world to no avail. It doesn't leave a huge amount of options, in terms of who would actually want to play and who is going to do it on the cheap.

You need a band available (or willing to make themselves available, as in this case!), who are already touring (or at least gigging, you can't just put a band back together for one show, it'd be rough at best), who want to do it and whose management are ok with the financials.

That doesn't leave a huge amount of bands.

That set-list looks immense. Can't wait!

[craigyb31]

It was lucky that Ivor ended up getting a job as an Engine Driver - there's nothing worse than having a job that doesn't rhyme with your name.

Used to have a manager at an old place of work who's name was Ivor Payne, name didn't rhyme but it fit that's for sure.

His parents must have had a wicked sense of humour because his 2 brothers were called Terrance and William.

Shorten the brothers names and you got Ivor Terry Bill Payne, thought it used to be a piss take but they went to school with my first mother in law

[bellboy]

I am still struggling to comprehend all of this!! Cancelled gigs, have recently played before, no new material to promote, another "rock" act - it all goes against what we were led to believe (or made ourselves believe). There must be some kind of back story here. The "other shows to sell " line doesn't hold up because the other show is on the Friday of Glastonbury but I guess the "have other shows to cancel" line was a non-starter. All very, very odd.

Having said all that they usually put on a great show. They also have a bit of a history with working with special guests (e.g. Tommy, Quad and Royal Albert Hall 2000 performances). Could this explain some of the other comments from Michael/Emily and Chris Martin's involvement?

Don't expect "a just like the record" performance though. Daltrey will forget words to songs, Townshend will go off and do his own thing, change endings etc. One thing it won't be is dull!!