R.E.M.

[rexclark]

Weren't they briefly rumoured for '08 as well?

[olly!olly!olly!]

Would really like this.

Out of all the bands that have been mentioned I think REM are the only ones who could come close to pulling off a performance as good as Radiohead last year.

[Vieuphoria]

I'd prefer the Cure to headline

[rexclark]

I'd prefer the Cure to headline

[Lithium05]

I'd prefer the Cure to headline

[Messiah Jason]

Not sure who I would prefer out of R.E.M or The Cure, can't we just have both?

[judyblue110]

I wouldn't. Never liked them. R.E.M. are much better and always have been.

I would even argue that The Cure aren't a headlining act anymore.

[rockinthecasbah]

or at best, opening the main stage.

[judyblue110]

but at the very least they're 2nd top mainstage

[Lithium05]

Aye I would say 2nd/3rd on main at best. Looking at some of the bands who have appeared in non headlining slots at Download, if you think of Reading being to bands like The Cure what Download is to the likes of ZZTopp (3rd on the bill), Whitesnake (2nd), Motorhead (3rd), Judas Priest (2nd). A lot of the bands regarded as big hitters in their prime aren't considered big enough draws to headline nowadays, no matter how rose tinted your specs are.

Having checked on Wikipedia I see they've been releasing albums every four years or so, (none of which have registered on my radar) so it's not like they would have "the power of the comeback" behind them either.

[judyblue110]

Having checked on Wikipedia I see they've been releasing albums every four years or so, (none of which have registered on my radar) so it's not like they would have "the power of the comeback" behind them either.

[VCK]

The Cure could easily headline.

[thomasowen]

The Cure could easily headline.

[Ringo_Spar]

Aye I would say 2nd/3rd on main at best. Looking at some of the bands who have appeared in non headlining slots at Download, if you think of Reading being to bands like The Cure what Download is to the likes of ZZTopp (3rd on the bill), Whitesnake (2nd), Motorhead (3rd), Judas Priest (2nd). A lot of the bands regarded as big hitters in their prime aren't considered big enough draws to headline nowadays, no matter how rose tinted your specs are.

Having checked on Wikipedia I see they've been releasing albums every four years or so, (none of which have registered on my radar) so it's not like they would have "the power of the comeback" behind them either.

[anothernumber]

If the Cure played, they would headline. And they would be a fantastic headliner cos they're great live and have a brilliant back catalogue.

They'd be far better than REM anyway.

[rexclark]

I'm getting dejavu.

[Lithium05]

If the Cure played, they would headline. And they would be a fantastic headliner cos they're great live and have a brilliant back catalogue.

They'd be far better than REM anyway.

[scottt]

I'm getting dejavu.

[judyblue110]

This would be those rose tinted specs I mentioned earlier. Take them off and realise that entire post is wrong.

[beau1]

I think a lot of you are underestimating The Cure here.

Realistically The Cure have never been that big. They've had ONE number 1 album back in 1992. They've always been a cult band as far as CD sales go. They are utterly huge on a touring scale though compared to CD sales, during their dream tour of 2000 they played to 750,000 people, on the more recent 4tour 2007-2008-2009, the number was 900,000. Not huge compared to the stones or U2 but huge compared with their CD sales which is why they do and always have headlined festivals.

So its really a pointless exercise trying to say they aren't a headlining band due to not selling a lot, they are these days a legendary band. Have a look where Neil Young's 4 albums placed in the chart... The Cure headlined Glastonbury 3 times, 1986, 1990 and 1995, none of which were off the back of massive albums.

Again they've headlined Coachella twice, 2004 and 2009, once again not off massive albums. Benicassim and Sziget in 2005. Werchter in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004. Etc. If they are not a headlining band then why do they still headline so many festivals inbetween the years they are not touring?

This disscussion came up a while back and I think it was thomasowen (?) that stated they would not headline due to not having a number 1 album recently, which is something I agree with in regards to Reading/Leeds however if The Cure were booked then this unwriten rule would go straight out the window as there isn't a chance in hell they would play but not headline.

The Cure have a bit of an odd relationship with British audiences here at the moment though, since 1996 when they had an awful tour, they have only played 1 show here per tour. They're last touring gig here, in 2008 at the Wembley Arena sold out in 5 minutes and the estimates of demand suggested that they could have easily booked another 2 nights. It was the same throughout the whole tour in Europe, every date bar 3 or 4 sold out but they didn't not book extra dates to meet demand. The last two 'near home' festivals they player in the UK were Move and Oxygen in 2004 so its about time they played a festival here again.

Edited January 31, 2010 by beau1

[beau1]

It's amazing how far they're stock has fallen since they signed the then biggest deal in history at $80m.

They've never been that huge in the USA, and they're only playing indoor shows over there these days. Only in Europe have they ever really been massive, playing big outdoor shows. However, they struggled on their last European tour, including moving the 60,000 Millenium Stadium gig into the Cardiff Arena.

If they were invited to Reading/Leeds I don't think they'd be offered much more than 3rd down the bill now, enough bands around now with a greater status, and worthy of it too.

[rexclark]

This would be those rose tinted specs I mentioned earlier. Take them off and realise that entire post is wrong.

[Ringo_Spar]

Eh? I'm guessing you're talking about R.E.M here rather than The Cure which is what the post you've quoted was about.

[thomasowen]

I think a lot of you are underestimating The Cure here.

Realistically The Cure have never been that big. They've had ONE number 1 album back in 1992. They've always been a cult band as far as CD sales go. They are utterly huge on a touring scale though compared to CD sales, during their dream tour of 2000 they played to 750,000 people, on the more recent 4tour 2007-2008-2009, the number was 900,000. Not huge compared to the stones or U2 but huge compared with their CD sales which is why they do and always have headlined festivals.

So its really a pointless exercise trying to say they aren't a headlining band due to not selling a lot, they are these days a legendary band. Have a look where Neil Young's 4 albums placed in the chart... The Cure headlined Glastonbury 3 times, 1986, 1990 and 1995, none of which were off the back of massive albums.

Again they've headlined Coachella twice, 2004 and 2009, once again not off massive albums. Benicassim and Sziget in 2005. Werchter in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004. Etc. If they are not a headlining band then why do they still headline so many festivals inbetween the years they are not touring?

This disscussion came up a while back and I think it was thomasowen (?) that stated they would not headline due to not having a number 1 album recently, which is something I agree with in regards to Reading/Leeds however if The Cure were booked then this unwriten rule would go straight out the window as there isn't a chance in hell they would play but not headline.

The Cure have a bit of an odd relationship with British audiences here at the moment though, since 1996 when they had an awful tour, they have only played 1 show here per tour. They're last touring gig here, in 2008 at the Wembley Arena sold out in 5 minutes and the estimates of demand suggested that they could have easily booked another 2 nights. It was the same throughout the whole tour in Europe, every date bar 3 or 4 sold out but they didn't not book extra dates to meet demand. The last two 'near home' festivals they player in the UK were Move and Oxygen in 2004 so its about time they played a festival here again.

[VCK]

They could (many bands could) but they never would. Lithium put it best when he said they are the equal of Motorhead and ZZ top for Download - they used to be big, were hugely influential and still have a dedicated following. But they could no longer headline a festival like this.