Melvin's Interview

[dan05delaney]

ok so breakdown of the questions for people not bothered listening...

Price & booking fee.... Blame the VAT, booking fee blame because we now buy tickets online instead of queing so that costs money

30STM followed by MCR..... totally dismiss question about not having a "legacy" act, and MCR have worked well at L&R so deserve to headline

did G'N'R last year influence "safe" headliners.... no he tried to book the best music line up in the UK, which he thinks he got it right, he also says that R&L could be the best fest line up this year in the world

Strengths of the festival, where the line up competes in regards to sonisphere... competes on every level excells in diversification, "Soni" narrow minded "same old shite year on year", L&R caters for everyone.. rabmle about "the big 4" which he has no clue about, then says any of the band would be welcome to play L&R

who are you excited about seeing at R&L.... proud about booking muse (who have played every other fest in the world over the past 5 yrs) rambles on about how R&L created muse... apparently been speaking to them for past 18 month... thinks "the stokes" natural home is R&L and its the pulps last uk gig...

last few

Jedward for R1/NME.... nope

Special guest for R1/NME... open mind needed...

Lock up stage.... just beginning planning for it...

next announcemnt... weeks away

Greenday.... Massive silence (is my computer broke) "it would be a nice thought"

he ain't half one smug bastard...

[Joshuwarr]

I still love the guy. He has given me 5 of the best weekends of my life. And that isnt even considering his contribution to Glastonbury!

[mrtourette]

Probably a good thing that he keeps his mouth shut for 11 months of the year if he's going to come across like that. I agree with a lot of what he says (just not how he says it), although there's no justifying 30STM subbing. MCR may have earned the right or a shot at headlining but 30STM certainly have done nothing to warrant subbing. And that swipe at Sonisphere is harsh; R&L does put on a diverse selection but Sonisphere is doing different things and giving bands a chance to shine this year. If he was going to slate anyone for putting on the same old shit I'd have thought that it would be Download. Maybe he sees Sonisphere as more competition due to them booking Biffy/Weezer.

[Andy0808 v3.0]

what happened to the whole 30STM were desperate to play R+L a few years back but melvin refused and didnt want them. I was under the impression he didnt think they'd fit. I'm not fussed about them playing but i swear i read this on the forums last year or the year before

[RichieParf]

He qualifies what he says about soni in fairness. And he does have a point.

[rexclark]

If it wasn't for Melvinn there would probably be no Glastonbury anymore. He may talk shite but he's a very good businessman.

[Role Model]

Sounds a bit out of touch to be honest, all a bit defensive too. Still he'll be happy, it's going to sell out eventually.

[Role Model]

Also laughably hypocritical with the booking the same band stuff, I hope he was a bit embarrassed when he listened back.

[Dirty Boots]

What. A. Mug.

[Dave The Hedgehog]

Melvin irritates the hell out of me in this interview.

- He can't tell you exactly what the price increase is yet can justify that it's utlimately because of the VAT rise

- Can't really justify the cost of the booking fee.

- Dismisses the question about people's concerns of MCR and 30STM but then I wouldn't expect him to give anything but a positive answer to this otherwise it would show he's not very confident in his booking.

- Implying... actually, just flat out saying that the line-up to Sonisphere is "shite" is an incredibly narrow minded way to approach other festivals, especially when it's simply not the case. There is the competitive element but I don't think it was prudent to discuss his criticisms of other festivals. That's a terrible attitude to have actually. It baffles me how he can try to wrangle his way out of it at the end of his answer to the question.

He's one of these people who just don't want to be in the same room with because somehow he'll always manage to turn the conversation around on himself or bring his own personal theories to the table. Horrible, horrible man. Not especially transparent either.

[PurpleFire]

List the acts that are playing Leeds and Reading this year, to ones that played last year! There are not many, Soni has the same acts year in year out and because soni have the so called Big 4 download has sufferd because it couldnt have acts like Metalica it has every year.

Ive only ever seen 3 act on this years bill before, and ive been to many a festival and many of gigs and to have soo much to explore is amazing. Got The national on Youtube now and loving them but never listened before.

He has got a Quality line-up.... not headliners a quality line-up. You look at T most of the acts are at leeds, Isle of Wight is full of tosh this year apart from Foos and The Corteeners!

We have got some amazing acts this year that no-one else has even thought of... i think anyways, other peoples opinions will vary.

[lharris92]

Soni has the same acts year in year out and because soni have the so called Big 4 download has sufferd because it couldnt have acts like Metallica it has every year.

[Dirty Boots]

Pendulum above Alice in Chains AND Slayer?

[Dave The Hedgehog]

Pendulum above Alice in Chains AND Slayer?

[theramm]

Benn is c0ck. He publicly baited GnR last year saying they'd do as they were told & Axl will be on time etc & look how that worked out for him. It seems obvious that he's aware the festival will sell out because of the brand as opposed to the line-up so he doesn't have the same concerns that Soni & Download do.

'The So-Called Big 4'??? No it's the Big 4 & it might no t be a big deal to him but to a LOT of people it is a big deal. When a screening of a Pulp or MCR gig sells out cinemas across the country with people crowd surfiing in the auditoriums then he can talk. He's as bad as the rest for repeat bookings, Bloc Party anyone?

With regards to Pendulum's placing at Soni. Iron Maiden requested them play directly below them. They said they wanted a young band as far apart from Maiden's sound as possible to sub-them. Pendulum fit the bill & thus got the spot.

Soni having the Big 4, giving Biffy their first (well deserved) headline spot & having Slipknot doing the first shows since Paul Grays death are a lot more exciting than the 'return of Pulp' or anything MCR can muster.

[RichieParf]

I dont care how many times people say 'big 4', they're repeating the same headliner they had year before last.

[lharris92]

I dont care how many times people say 'big 4', they're repeating the same headliner they had year before last.

[Dave The Hedgehog]

I dont care how many times people say 'big 4', they're repeating the same headliner they had year before last.

[Yellow_Fellow]

Muse is actually a slight risk this year, don't know how many of the BHAR/TR fans will be fans of the OoS setlist.

[tomisnothere]

He's really quite cocky and overconfident...and that's coming from someone who likes the lineup!

"Sonisphere is massively narrow"

MASSIVELY NARROW? that doesn't even make sense!

And though I like Muse, they've been fairly overexposed. They played heaps of shows last year, headlined festivals and were generally in everyone's face last year, and with nothing to promote apart from the OoS anniversary, I'm not too sure that's as great a booking as Benn's trying to make out. I know I'll enjoy it, but hardly a shocker.

[RichieParf]

you moan about soni doing it yet download is in the same situation but you don't mention them? its clearly whats available to them at the time of booking so thats why it is done

[lharris92]

Actually on another post or thread I did mention Download as well, it was just because this particular conversation was about Soni. Soni or Download could have booked a number of different bands. Its because Download insists on a 'heritage' act, and sonisphere still thinks metal festivals are possible because they've not yet used all of the tiny number of metal bands that are capable of headlining.

[kaosmark2]

And though I like Muse, they've been fairly overexposed. They played heaps of shows last year, headlined festivals and were generally in everyone's face last year, and with nothing to promote apart from the OoS anniversary, I'm not too sure that's as great a booking as Benn's trying to make out. I know I'll enjoy it, but hardly a shocker.

[RichieParf]

But when it comes to a few years time when there are only a small number of metal bands on the bill and Iron Maiden and Metallica are both busy there'll be cries of 'Sonisphere's sold out' from huge numbers of people.

Edited March 22, 2011 by RichieParf

[mattl]

But when it comes to a few years time when there are only a small number of metal bands on the bill and Iron Maiden and Metallica are both busy there'll be cries of 'Sonisphere's sold out' from huge numbers of people.