Sales are slow this year! WTF?

[jump]

Nor do Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, Pixies...

[2rare2die]

The Cure would flop as a R&L headliner just like MCR, yes they are big, great and all that bollocks but they don't have the pulling power that they use to.

[jump]

MCR haven't even played yet lol, how do you know they'll flop?

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I'm pretty sure The Cure would attract a lot of people. Of course it's impossible to tell, but I'm confident enough they would.

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

I don't think they've gone for guaranteed ticket sales this year, I think if anything they've taken risks (MCR/30STM together, The National 'too high'). I hope that ticket sales this year doesn't stop them taking risks in the future as they also work out well (ie Arcade Fire last tear).

[JWC126]

With the opinion that people have given MCR, they can't really flop. They can only do better than expected.

[harderfaster]

You forgot to mention Eminem, Public Emeny, Muse, Blur, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sterophonics, Green Day, Metallica, Garbage, Suede, Cypress Hill, Darkness and various other random former headlining acts but what is the relevance, as none of those acts are The Cure?

[beau1]

The Cure would flop as a R&L headliner just like MCR, yes they are big, great and all that bollocks but they don't have the pulling power that they use to.

[Mariner]

If the Beastie Boys headline next year, boom, sellout crowd.

All the big boy festivals will be shooting for them next year.

[SoLoCo]

Still hoping that Blur will play next year but honestly can't ever see it happening again. Everybody saying that The Cure will flop are being silly, look at the praise Bestival are getting, and I know alot of people my age who love them! I believe it would be a great booking.

[Banana Co]

Blur are recording again so it's definitely possible. R+L do need some exclusive acts next year.

[2rare2die]

If you read it in the context given you'll see I mean in terms of getting people to go.

[Bisque]

Everybody saying that The Cure will flop are being silly, look at the praise Bestival are getting, and I know alot of people my age who love them! I believe it would be a great booking.

[harderfaster]

I think Readings main demographic since around 2007 (17-25yo) couldn't even name a Cure song, let alone be bothered about watching a whole set when there's the possibility of the likes of bands like The Cribs or Bombay Bicycle Club playing in the NME tent. It wouldn't be a strong pull for the festival & Benn would likely save his money & get someone aimed at want the crowd wants, not needs. It would be a great booking, but not great financially.

[jump]

The acts I mentioned were much more similar to The Cure in that they have their own solid fanbase that still follows them but they're not the standard popular act that you expect at Reading - they're irrelevant, like The Cure, whereas the bands you mentioned were arguably relevant (to some extent) when they headlined.

My point is the bands I mentioned headlined at a time when they had very little relevance to music today (and were long past their prime), so why can't The Cure?

[Banana Co]

This is my argument;

The Cure would definitely pull a huge crowd!

[jump]

This is my argument;

The Cure would definitely pull a huge crowd!

[Banana Co]

Why?

Edited May 29, 2011 by Banana Co

[jump]

Because they are f**king huge! I think that Reading's crowd would love to see them. I also see a lot of older festival goers at Reading and the majority of younger people would love to see them.

[jump]

Because they are f**king huge! I think that Reading's crowd would love to see them. I also see a lot of older festival goers at Reading and the majority of younger people would love to see them.

3 Silver albums in the UK

4 Gold albums in the UK

Not to mention several albums became Platinum worldwide.

Edited May 29, 2011 by jump

[harderfaster]

Again, The Cure aren't those bands. Pumpkins & Pixies were on comebacks and no fests are willing to book them as headliners

[Banana Co]

People would say Muse's last album was rubbish; but they are guaranteed a huge crowd. GnR were huge, what was their crowd like (I honestly don't know)?

[jump]

And I bet more people at Reading would watch Bloc Party than either of those two bands. All I'm referring to is your claim that 'The Cure don't have pulling power' - they have just as much pulling power as some of the other 'veteran' headliners that have been seen at Reading in the past few years.

[jump]

People would say Muse's last album was rubbish; but they are guaranteed a huge crowd. GnR were huge, what was their crowd like (I honestly don't know)?

[Banana Co]

I didn't say the last album was rubbish, I said it was a flop as in the sales were rubbish not the music.