Pyramid Headliners That Nailed It

[st dan]

After the mixed reactions of all three acts this year, who are the acts that the vast majority agree got it spot on in years gone by? The only ones that spring to mind for me are:

David Bowie '00

Radiohead '03

Blur '09

Stevie Wonder '10 (?)

Obviously there'll always be mixed reactions from playing to so many people, but it's surprising how few are critically acclaimed!

[FloorFiller]

i'd say the Stones nailed it. we were all expecting a bit of a train wreck on here if i remember correctly but it was as far away from that as could be. a real 'fucking hell i can't believe i'm here seeing this right now' set

[Spindles]

REM '99

McCartney (whenever that was, 03/04?)

Stones '13

Chems '00

 

the list is actually pretty endless.

[st dan]

i'd say the Stones nailed it. we were all expecting a bit of a train wreck on here if i remember correctly but it was as far away from that as could be. a real 'fucking hell i can't believe i'm here seeing this right now' set

Ahhhh yeah The Stones of course, can't believe I forgot them!! Don't think that will ever, ever be beaten to be honest.

[russycarps]

Radiohead 97

[ThomThomDrum]

In the minority here probably but the Stones did not nail it for me

[stuartbert two hats]

Pulp 95

Radiohead 97

Most surprisingly, Coldplay in 2011 seemed to get very widely well received.

I actually thought McCartney was the most overrated set ever. A very strong back catalogue, but hearing the horns from Penny Lane banged out on a Casio keyboard was rubbish. Not to mention all the solo songs.

[rubenz]

In addition to the ones you mentioned maybe Neil Young, Mettalica, Rolling Stones , Macca and REM all seemed to get mainly positive vibes.

[Rose-Colored Boy]

Ed Sheeran 2017

[ThomThomDrum]

Mr Young in 09 is held in regard by myself and many others I believe

[stuartbert two hats]

In addition to the ones you mentioned maybe Neil Young, Mettalica, Rolling Stones , Macca and REM all seemed to get mainly positive vibes.

I'd say Metallica was warmly received, but not quite the near universal acclaim from some of the other gigs.

[ThomThomDrum]

Most surprisingly, Coldplay in 2011 seemed to get very widely well received.

Yep

Can not recall any negative reporting by attendees for that one

[Spindles]

In the minority here probably but the Stones did not nail it for me

Despite my near violent dislike for the Who I wandered up as I'd not caught a Pyramid headliner and wanted to enjoy the big spectacle.  The Stones went down a million times better.  30 minutes into The Who and 1/4 of the crowd just upped and left, by halfway through the set I reckon 1/3 to 1/2 the crowd had gone.

 

So in comparison, I reckon the stones nailed it.  

 

Most surprisingly, Coldplay in 2011 seemed to get very widely well received.

 

They just got it right that night.  The running order, the lasers and projections, the fireworks....everything a pyramid show needs at the end of the night, done as well as anyone could do it.  Considering it was Coldplay that was still one of the best nights I have had in that field.

[The Placid Casual]

From what I've seen on there, Rolling Stones in 2013 and Kanye West this year nailed it.

Edited June 29, 2015 by The Placid Casual

[Wooderson]

"Universal Acclaim" from the televised era:

 

Pulp

Radiohead 97/03

Bowie

Macca

Muse 04

Shakey

Blur 09

Stevie

Stones

[GlastoSimon]

Not sure Kanye can't be put into the universally acclaimed 'nailed it' category because of the sheer split in opinion (in fact he'd win the most 'divisive' headliner in recent times I reckon in terms of performance and reaction) both on site and here. Didn't see it myself, but rarely have I seen such a lack of indifference for a headliner. It was either 'shit' or 'incredible'. 

 

Huge difference between the Stones and the Who last night, which I sort of expected. The Who were kind of going through the motions, which was still a good show, but it lacked the spectacle. The Stones were excellent that night, both in musicianship and performance, and it felt like an event too. 

 

Since I've been going, only two have 'nailed it' for me - Stones and Stevie Wonder. Arcade Fire came close, but I think it was just lacking something, still not sure what yet though... Gutted I've missed some, Blur '09 especially. 

Edited June 29, 2015 by GlastoSimon

[The Placid Casual]

Not sure Kanye can't be put into the 'nailed it' category because of the sheer split in opinion (in fact he'd win the most 'divisive' headliner in recent times I reckon in terms of performance and reaction) both on site and here. Didn't see it myself, but rarely have I seen such a lack of indifference for a headliner. It was either 'shit' or 'incredible'.

I was going off my opinion really. I had nothing more to add to the universally acclaimed acts.

[GlastoSimon]

I was going off my opinion really. I had nothing more to add to the universally acclaimed acts.

 

Nah I saw the 'based on what I've seen bit' and realised - was really interested in how it would go down with people though and I wasn't disappointed, will have to watch on iPlayer!

[Bobs]

I think Kanye can't be considered a big success imo.

 

I think basically everyone has said...

 

'Start was brilliant, middle was awful, and the end was good, but was pretty boring overall', to be considered a success, yet alone 'nailing it', they've got to be 100% spot on throughout, which he wasn't. I saw 6-7 songs, and bailed, feels like the right move (I was enjoying it, but i prefered the Mothership!).

 

Kanye had a huge opportunity to showcase that he is actually the biggest rockstar in the world he claimed on Saturday, but his ego got in the way, a few special guests would have made it memorable, but then again, why would Kanye share a stage? Why would he talk to the crowd and get them involved? He's still a Multi-Millionaire, and he's headlined Glastonbury, he can leave knowing that regardless of it being good or bad, he's still a millionaire, and still will get rave reviews from the media kiss arsed like NME.

 

Stones, REM, Radiohead, Blur and Pulp seem the obvious ones here!

[The Placid Casual]

It's opinion based really, I don't think there's much more Kanye could have done, it was an incredible set and I was far from bored during it.

 

From what I've seen on TV, Muse in 2004 is the best set I've seen.

[stuartbert two hats]

It's opinion based really, I don't think there's much more Kanye could have done, it was an incredible set and I was far from bored during it.

From what I've seen on TV, Muse in 2004 is the best set I've seen.

Oh, I don't know - rehearse?

[eddie_corrigan]

Another vote for shakey in 2009. He could have gone off on one and played trans in full. But knocked out it out the field. Still makes me smile thinking about "rockin in the free world" hoping it would never end.

[MEGABOWL]

From what I've seen I'd say REM and Radiohead in 2003, Blur 2009, Stevie 2010, Coldplay 2011, Stones 13. Which only leaves The Who this year, U2 and Beyonce who didn't (and the latter just gets marked down for Tricky and a couple of shonky covers). Out of 9 I've seen 6 were spot on