The people saying "WHOS THE ARCADE FIRE WTF LOL!" ....

[gr4h4m]

are probably the same people who said "WHOS TEH RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!" "WHOS PEARL JAM!" "WHO SMASHED PUMPKIN?!"

Simply non-music enthusiasts.

You dont have to like Arcade Fire but at least accept they are reasonable headliners. Are the people bitching essentially those false pretentious indie girls who go to festivals becasue its the thing to do?

[ShockTK]

I'm not sure what a R & L band is anymore after witnessing some of the really piss poor crowds for bands like NIN, Faith No More, Dinosaur Jr etc in the past few years and I can see Arcade Fire also having a very small crowd at Leeds on the Friday.

I would say most of the bands that have been announced on the NME Stage are the current popular R & L bands, like Klaxons, Pendulum, The Drums etc and on the main stage Libertines and Lostprophets will have the biggest crowds at the main stage over the weekend.

[she bangs the drums]

People miss the point here. It's not that Arcade Fire are not a worthy headliner, it is not that they are not capable of headlining it is the simple fact that they are NOT a massive act. Headliners for the big 4 festivals tend to be massive selling acts, Arcade Fire simply don't fit that bracket.

[Kyelo]

Thats a fair point.

I'm going to Leeds with 10 friends who are ranging from 20-45 years old who are all into different types of music, some of them read NME others Kerrang and some of the elder members Classic Rock but none of them could name more than 3 Arcade Fire songs in fact I bet some of them couldn't name one.

I bet most people who attend R & L can name 3 Blink 182, Guns n Roses, KOL, Radiohead, Metallica, RATM, The Killers or Arctic Monkeys songs?

[tdrules]

How can you laugh at my opinion that Just Like Honey is the greatest song ever made? It's Phil Spector meets Brian Wilson on a speed freak trip through the distortion pedals of The Velvet Underground. You plain and simply cannot fault its value as a great big f**k off to the history of music.

Such is the value of intelligence when people laugh at preferences others have, and you backed up your argument by posting a video of a band that somebody else had the originality to post before. How clever. What's next? Shorthand? A 'your mum' insult? Go play with the seals, you organic beach ball.

[rexclark]

The thing is they're not your Radio 1 Indie Pop type of act but none the less they are very popular amongst people who like music,the fact that they're headlining means Radio 1 will take more notice and play more of there music thus putting them out to a wider audience.

They are a very worthy headliner and I personally cannot wait.

[2reese2]

Arcade what?

[Poop_Pants]

People miss the point here. It's not that Arcade Fire are not a worthy headliner, it is not that they are not capable of headlining it is the simple fact that they are NOT a massive act. Headliners for the big 4 festivals tend to be massive selling acts, Arcade Fire simply don't fit that bracket.

Edited March 31, 2010 by Poop_Pants

[mrtourette]

I think Radiohead were a massive selling point last year, given that touts were selling day tickets for twice as much as the other two days. But your other points are spot on.

[Englishdragon]

Firstly Id like to say I've never knowingly listened to Arcade Fire. Since they have been officially announced I've been watching videos and listening to them and I have to say I think they will put on a great show.

I never get the term "not a R&L band" reading and Leeds, they have the most diverse set of acts out of all the main stream festival. I remember walking into the carling tent 2 years ago to catch Natty do one of the best sets Ive seen on that stage and he's a reggae artist.

Also, Pendulum is going to be on the second stage. If there is a band the popular crowd is going to flock to its them.

Edited March 31, 2010 by Leeds_Brett

[Poop_Pants]

I think Radiohead were a massive selling point last year, given that touts were selling day tickets for twice as much as the other two days. But your other points are spot on.

[ShockTK]

For touts they sold because they have so many fans but Radiohead hardly churn out platinum records based on radioplay. Its because amongst the music enthusiast community, alot of them like Radiohead, same applies to Arcade Fire (granted not the same extent) but just because some retard doesnt know of the band or doesnt like them doesnt mean they arnt worthy.

[Poop_Pants]

So people are "retards" because they haven't heard their music?

[ShockTK]

No.

People are retards if they havnt hear their music and instantly say "LOLZ ARCADE FIRE THEY SUCK! THEY CANT HEADLINE A FESTIVAL!"

Edited March 31, 2010 by ShockTK

[Bradders]

I'm already getting sick of people (outside of the forum) saying Arcade Fire are shit even though/because they've never heard of them. Nobody who's genuinely into music would ever say something like that. Within music circles Arcade Fire are very popular, and after last years headliners (for the record I love all 3 bands, but nevertheless...) I think FR should be commended for giving them the shot, rather than just going for the same old bands that appeal to the more casual fan.

ShockTK, you mentioned earlier how people say the 80s was shit for music but there was good stuff under the surface. That's still the case. The bands you mentioned are dull and unoriginal, but there is good music out there if you're willing to look. Off the top of my head and because they're playing this year - Modest Mouse.

Edited March 31, 2010 by Bradders

[Poop_Pants]

Ah right I see. Gotcha. Well, I for one won't for call them shit though because, put bluntly, I haven't heard any of their music knowingly. Before the festival I'll be sure to check them out though.

My excuse for not hearing Arcade Fire is that I don't generally tend to listen to a lot of new music. I don't listen to it because my attitude is, 'most bands around now are doing the same thing as bands did 20 years ago except produced much better'.

I mean, I don't listen to a lot of new bands because if you really think back a few years; Editors are just carbon copies of Joy Divison (except not as good), after them came the resurgence in Electro music, then you get Franz Ferdinand being Talking Heads and The Killers attempting to be a bit like New Order... what you're looking at there is music between '78 and '87. 3 or 4 years time, every band will be playing Acid House and Shoegaze.

[ShockTK]

Well i think your view on new music is incredibly retarded. But this thread isnt to debate that, there is original music out there you just have to look for it.

[Poop_Pants]

Oh i won't deny that there is good music out there. I'm just speaking for the mainstream bands who aren't very original.

[ShockTK]

Wouldnt that suggest Arcade Fire could well be original and very suited to the headliner spot, since they arnt mainstream.

[Kyelo]

Radiohead and Rage Against The Machine are hardly massive selling acts (at least not compared to other bands) yet they were the highlights of the last two festivals.

Every headliner has to have their first headline gig, this is Arcade Fires. Everywhere raves about how great they are live, the band are critically acclaimed. If you want massive selling artists go to V. Personally i think booking this band is a great move on Readings part. Also, like i said, since when were Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins huge sellers in the UK?

[biglewhill]

proves most definatley that the majority of the people who attended R&L last year, were there for the mainstream/radio1-raping lineup and were expecting the same this year round.

[indie-rocknroll]

Hi, thought I would drop by and say Hi, just popping in from the V site (booo hiss I know)

I have not been to Leeds Festival for many year's, but on this ocasion I have to get a day ticket purely because Arcade Fire Headlining is one of the most exciting things I have heard all year from these forums. I have been a massive Arcade Fire for many year's and whilst allot of people may have only heard a few of their more commercial stuff I think they will blow you away in a festival atmosphere, the size of their band and power of their musical genius on such a huge stage will be nothing more than mind blowing. I have friends who have come with me to Arcade Fire gigs just becasue they got cheap tickets etc... and have walked away huge fans.

If you are not a fan or heard much i always suggest you watch the "wake up" at Montreal Music festival with David Bowie

In Glastonbury 2007, people were Arcade who?? and that was the Keep the car running time and the forums were all raving about it being one of their highlights on the year.

If you are talking about Mainstream, I am going to V and we have Kings of Leon, people stood around waiting for Sex on Fire, I think there will be allot more New Arcade Fire fans by the end of August. If you are a "music" fan I don't think there is anything you can't like by AF

xx

[Stalemate]

I live in London I am 20 years old and I have been listening to music since I was about 7.

Never heard of Arcade Fire.

[Poop_Pants]

I live in London I am 20 years old and I have been listening to music since I was about 7.

Never heard of Arcade Fire.

[indie-rocknroll]

I live in London I am 20 years old and I have been listening to music since I was about 7.

Never heard of Arcade Fire.