Saturday 28th August..the day Arcade Fire become superstars?

[gingerevans84]

Just like Muse at Glastonbury in 04 and Kings of Leon at Glastonbury 08, Arcade Fire are in many peoples eyes an excellent festival band but not in the top tier of bands..will Reading make them superstars like the previous 2 bands..also any other times when a band wasnt apparantly big enough to headline a big festival and pulled it off? Lostprophets at download?

[Andy0808]

Just like Muse at Glastonbury in 04 and Kings of Leon at Glastonbury 08, Arcade Fire are in many peoples eyes an excellent festival band but not in the top tier of bands..will Reading make them superstars like the previous 2 bands..also any other times when a band wasnt apparantly big enough to headline a big festival and pulled it off? Lostprophets at download?

[MrG]

I hope not. I love them, but I was secretly pleased with the 'Who's Arcade Fire?' reaction, cos it means I can keep 'em for myself

[VCK]

Just like Muse at Glastonbury in 04 and Kings of Leon at Glastonbury 08, Arcade Fire are in many peoples eyes an excellent festival band but not in the top tier of bands..will Reading make them superstars like the previous 2 bands..also any other times when a band wasnt apparantly big enough to headline a big festival and pulled it off? Lostprophets at download?

[gingerevans84]

The Muse/KOL comparison is what I thought when I read this topic's title, but on the other hand it could go like The Darkness at Reading '04, Franz Ferdinand at Reading '06 and Razorlight at Reading '07. In other words, they could slowly start the fade back to obscurity after headlining.

Don't want to jinx it, but headlining Glastonbury makes an up and coming band, whilst headlining Reading breaks an up and coming band. Let's hope this pattern breaks for AF as I'd be happy to see a hugely talented band find success in the face of one-hit-wonder Indie dross that is dominating "Alternative" Rock at the moment.

[Electricityscape]

Sorry I like Arcade Fire, but coming on after Libertines is a big ask for any band. And having Pendulum on at the same time, it's not the best situation for them.

[Lithium05]

Quick show of hands... Anyone else getting sick of hearing how good Arcade Fire are going to be?

I'm not one of these "who are AF" people. I'm not a fan either, but I'm all for giving them a chance as headliner as they clearly have a strong fanbase, but I won't be watching them. People need to cool it with the "watch them and they'll change your life". I saw them in 07, and the only thing that changed for me was that I had the knowledge they weren't for me. Frankly, they bored me.

It's all well and good to be a heart on your sleeve fan of a band, but no band playing to a half empty field ever went down as "superstars" as a direct result of that performance. Keep in mind that many of the people going will probably be more interested in Pendulum, and given the diminished crowds for the likes of Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins and NIN, there's a distinct possibility AF will not have many new fans to impress.

Then again, I could be wrong!

[Andy0808]

Quick show of hands... Anyone else getting sick of hearing how good Arcade Fire are going to be?

I'm not one of these "who are AF" people. I'm not a fan either, but I'm all for giving them a chance as headliner as they clearly have a strong fanbase, but I won't be watching them. People need to cool it with the "watch them and they'll change your life". I saw them in 07, and the only thing that changed for me was that I had the knowledge they weren't for me. Frankly, they bored me.

It's all well and good to be a heart on your sleeve fan of a band, but no band playing to a half empty field ever went down as "superstars" as a direct result of that performance. Keep in mind that many of the people going will probably be more interested in Pendulum, and given the diminished crowds for the likes of Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins and NIN, there's a distinct possibility AF will not have many new fans to impress.

Then again, I could be wrong!

[liam]

I'd be quite happy if they don't get really famous after their headline set. I love the band just as they are right now and don't want to see them plummet like Razorlight / The Darkness etc.

Also, Rebellion (lies) is one of the best songs ever in my books.

[systm]

I hope not. I love them, but I was secretly pleased with the 'Who's Arcade Fire?' reaction, cos it means I can keep 'em for myself

[neatneatneat]

Just like Muse at Glastonbury in 04 and Kings of Leon at Glastonbury 08, Arcade Fire are in many peoples eyes an excellent festival band but not in the top tier of bands..will Reading make them superstars like the previous 2 bands..also any other times when a band wasnt apparantly big enough to headline a big festival and pulled it off? Lostprophets at download?

[jimmyd93]

They'll put on a great show. They will become massive...How long will that massiveness last? Who knows. Could be just a few months, or they could become the biggest band of the next decade...

I just hope that they don't start to "sell out" and start making more poppy music, for the masses. If they keep doing what they do, then they'll go far!

Personally, I was surprised to see them headlining. Don't get me wrong, I think it's absolutely great for them to be headlining, as they're a top band...I just didn't think they were big enough to do it...

[VCK]

Wasnt it Kings of Leon's 07 performance that convinced Eavis to give them the 08 headline slot at glastonbury?!

[jimmyd93]

Alternatively, they could "do a Radiohead" and get bigger the more avant-garde and mainstream weary they become. Bit of a paradox but I don't want another KOL.

[destroythearchetype]

I dont think they'll get huge, or flop. I think they'll impress on the night and people will understand why they are headlining but beyond that they probably wont gain massive amounts of fans. They will win people over and get respect, and some people might even finally find out who they are = P

[stephen07]

I'd be quite happy if they don't get really famous after their headline set. I love the band just as they are right now and don't want to see them plummet like Razorlight / The Darkness etc.

Also, Rebellion (lies) is one of the best songs ever in my books.

[rexclark]

I think this could be Arcade Fire's time to step up. I think there set will blow people away no matter how many are actually there. I don't think they'll do a KOL as I doubt they'll ever have the crossover appeal but this can only be a good thing.

[Poop_Pants]

The way its set up is perfect. The sets are much better when the casual fans piss off. KOL sucked because they didnt give what the true fans wanted and the casuals dont give a **** about anything other than two songs.

Radiohead were awesome last year because the only people that give a damn about radiohead are the fans, same will go for arcade fire.

[liam]

Radiohead were awesome last year because the only people that give a damn about radiohead are the fans, same will go for arcade fire.

[indie-rocknroll]

Sorry I like Arcade Fire, but coming on after Libertines is a big ask for any band. And having Pendulum on at the same time, it's not the best situation for them.