Announcement before Wednesday 25th January

[she bangs the drums]

I would love to see FNM again, can't say I'm to bothered about Axl Rose and friends, they were ok at Leeds, if there was two stong headliners then Axl that wouldn't be too bad but I have no interest in Queen with Adam Lambert.

We all know that Axl doesn't hit the stage until he wants to usually leaving fans having to wait for at least an hour with nothing to watch after the sub headliner finishes so maybe it would actually work ok with the way Sonisphere alternates stages. Sadly there is little in the way of alternatives at Sonisphere with this set up if you are like me and you are not arsed about Axl Rose and friends or Queen then there is little point in shelling out the best part of £200.

[eFestivals]

so is GnR FNM and Queen the likely line up?

No idea.

The only one we've had word of is Queen with Adam Lambert, but even with that - which should be solid info - we've got good reasons to have doubts about it's authenticity.

[spitfireman]

If those are the headliners then I wouldn't be hugely surprised if this turned out to be the last Sonisphere in the UK.

[jump]

Sorry to be anal but it's NOT Queen, it's Queen with Adam Lambert!

[spitfireman]

Jump - you're quite right mate and not being at all anal.

There is a huge difference between Queen and Queen with Adam Lambert. However i have to agree with Kipper .... they will sell tickets and everyone loves them .... or at least half a dozen of their songs.

[Stalemate]

I don't like queen.

[kipper64]

I only think GNR because Metal Hammer stated 2 classic rock headliners. I could be wrong! They'll definitely be in the UK though, whether that's their own dates (as they are playing Dublin in May...could be a May tour), or a festival, or both. I don't know.

I reckon Faith No More playing is pretty certain though. Even Ginger Wildheart said yesterday he heard they were playing

And I'm not going to type out Queen with Adam Lambert every time I mention them, you know what I mean, it's not like it can be original line up anyways

Edited January 27, 2012 by kipper64

[she bangs the drums]

Absolute Bollocks. Almost everyone loves queen, seriously I don't know anyone who doesn't like Queen. Of course they'd shift tickets, you know, being one of the biggest bands in the world. Faith No More aren't the biggest headliner, agreed, but the year they played Download they were coupled with 2 not so big headliners either and yet Download still sold, what? 90,000 tickets. And to say GNR won't sell tickets is just laughable, like I said, going by the Hall of Fame rumours, they'll be a lot of hype over them.

If you think those bands, with a good undercard can't sell out or near enough sell out a 60,000 festival, to the point "it'll possibly be the last sonisphere UK", then you clearly know nothing. Seriously, it's comments like that, that make people think you guys know nothing about festivals...

[Justiceforcedave]

If that's right then Zimmer Frame lanes down the front at the ready - they're going to need a very much bigger campervan field for the old folks!

Can there be an older line-up of headliners on the festival circuit this year?

[jump]

I only think GNR because Metal Hammer stated 2 classic rock headliners. I could be wrong! They'll definitely be in the UK though, whether that's their own dates (as they are playing Dublin in May...could be a May tour), or a festival, or both. I don't know.

I reckon Faith No More playing is pretty certain though. Even Ginger Wildheart said yesterday he heard they were playing

And I'm not going to type out Queen with Adam Lambert every time I mention them, you know what I mean, it's not like it can be original line up anyways

[kipper64]

Axl has been turning up late to gigs since the 80's, but that hasn't impacted sales for any of their tours, like I said the Rock N Roll hall of fame (especially as Slash is definitely playing Soni UK I've heard), will put the hype train into overdrive too.

As for Queen, you're wrong, most people that like Queen aren't in their 40's or 50's...Queen have universal appeal, I know kids that like them, teenagers, adults, older people, of course too. Most people wouldn't really complain at them being on the bill I reckon, because most people like them to some degree, not saying there will be no complaints, but every headliner has people whinging anyways. I've spoke to a lot of people about Queen, who usually go to Sonisphere, and they've all been thrilled by the rumours, and none of them are in their 40's or 50's.

To think they wouldn't sell any tickets and to think it'd mean it could be the last Sonisphere UK is incredibly stupid.

[eFestivals]

Absolute Bollocks. Almost everyone loves queen, seriously I don't know anyone who doesn't like Queen. Of course they'd shift tickets, you know, being one of the biggest bands in the world. Faith No More aren't the biggest headliner, agreed, but the year they played Download they were coupled with 2 not so big headliners either and yet Download still sold, what? 90,000 tickets. And to say GNR won't sell tickets is just laughable, like I said, going by the Hall of Fame rumours, they'll be a lot of hype over them.

If you think those bands, with a good undercard can't sell out or near enough sell out a 60,000 festival, to the point "it'll possibly be the last sonisphere UK", then you clearly know nothing. Seriously, it's comments like that, that make people think you guys know nothing about festivals...

Queen are not Queen. They're of interest to old Queen fans - but unlikely to be attracted to a fest in huge numbers - but only a novelty to younger people. Those who are there would I'm sure be interested in checking them out, but they're not going to make tens of thousands of younger people dive in and buy tickets by their presence.

When FMN played Download, Download had already solidly established itself so was selling tickets on the basis of being established. There's less of that factor with Sonipshere, plus when Download had FMN there was less competition against from Sonisphere than there is in the other direction for this year.

Guns N Roses are a decent draw, but there can't be huge numbers of people who want to see them that haven't already, and there's little about them that would have huge numbers of those wanting to specifically see them again (unless they have Slash back on board).

The undercard is something aside from all the above. If it's good enough then the draw of the headliners by themselves matters less.

It's possible that I'm miscalculating the draw of (not)Queen to younger people, but I really don't think so. And with what I said, the 'hugely' part of my possible surprise was deliberately included. If the Big Chill can fail then it's possible for every festival.

[she bangs the drums]

Age aside, Metallica + Black Sabbath + Prodigy are much much bigger in status and current popularity than Queen (with Adam Lambert), Axl Rose and friends and FNM.

If it is true then many regualr Sonisphere attendees will be jumping ship and going to Download (and even R & L if they get Foo Fighters, SOAD, Slipknot).

[jump]

I can see what Neil is saying as everyone who I've spoken to who usually goes to Sonisphere said they wouldn't buy a ticket based on Queen with Adam Lambert.

No doubt that Queen are massive yet in my opinion the type of person who loved Queen in their hay day will be in there 40s or 50s and wouldnt be interested in going to a music festival, they would much rather go and see them at say Hyde Park or at an Arena.

If they do get them then I think the general reaction is going to negative, add to this Axl Rose and friends who did so much harm last time they were over in the UK and Ireland with the shambles of Reading and Ireland and turning up 90 mins late at the MEN Arena and not finishing until the early hours, and you have a recipe to piss off thousands of regulars to the festival like me who has been with the fesitval since the very beginning.

I could see sales being really low based on those three headliners in the current economic climate and see the festival having to give away hundreds of tickets like they did a few years ago.

Edited January 27, 2012 by jump

[kipper64]

Except they aren't. The Queen with Paul Rodgers tour sold a lot of tickets, and I had friends who were teenagers at the time go, and from what I heard the audience was very mixed age wise. I guess Iron Maiden, Metallica, or Black Sabbath will only attract old people seeing as they are ancient bands too hmm?

Your point about Download isn't really valid either, fact still stands it had a weaker set of headliners than they had had in the past, yet it was the biggest Download to date (untill 2010, was it not?), and that was with Sonisphere now on the scene too.

As for GNR, I don't think they are a huge draw, but they still sell out arenas and stadiums, they still sold a lot of tickets to reading and whilst they might have a lot of bad press, they always have had bad press, yet still headline festivals bigger than Sonisphere.

Sonisphere is only a 60,000 capacity festival, half the size of Download, almost half the size of Reading and Leeds. Those headliners would do fine, easily. And Sonisphere having the backing of 11 other European festivals (or more) isn't going to fail any time soon unless a big chunk of the dates sell horrendously.

[eFestivals]

As for Queen, you're wrong, most people that like Queen aren't in their 40's or 50's...Queen have universal appeal, I know kids that like them, teenagers, adults, older people, of course too. Most people wouldn't really complain at them being on the bill I reckon, because most people like them to some degree, not saying there will be no complaints, but every headliner has people whinging anyways. I've spoke to a lot of people about Queen, who usually go to Sonisphere, and they've all been thrilled by the rumours, and none of them are in their 40's or 50's.

there's a huge difference between 'likely them' and spunking the best part of £200 on a ticket for a band that are not that band.

I have no doubt that they'd be of interest to people that are there, but whether their presence will cause people to open their wallets and buy ticket is another thing.

To think they wouldn't sell any tickets and to think it'd mean it could be the last Sonisphere UK is incredibly stupid.

Care to show me where I said Sonisphere "wouldn't sell any tickets"?

What I've said is that it's quite possible the fest might not sell enough tickets, to the extent that it financially fails and they consider pulling the plug on it.

As someone has pointed out, the financials could be held up by other Soni fests around Europe. But then again, if those other fests are very financially successful while the UK isn't, and with the UK being swarmed with fests while the rest of Eirope isn't, perhaps they might feel that the UK isn't worth continuing with. It's far from impossible - but nowhere have I said or even suggested that it's what I fully expect to happen.

What is stupid is you taking my words to be something I've not said.

[Justiceforcedave]

GNR with Slash on board would be big money. I just don't see it happening unless it was more of a guest appearence (like gilmour in the wall last year). Purely because if Guns N Roses were to reunite with the original line up, they'd surely do their own tour?

[eFestivals]

The Queen with Paul Rodgers tour sold a lot of tickets

Queen with Paul Rodgers fronting them is a hugely different thing. Paul Rodgers means something - something BIG - to Queen fans, while most Queen fans have no idea who Adam Lambert is, and even if they do he's still a nobody.

[Justiceforcedave]

As for GNR, I don't think they are a huge draw, but they still sell out arenas and stadiums, they still sold a lot of tickets to reading and whilst they might have a lot of bad press, they always have had bad press, yet still headline festivals bigger than Sonisphere.

[spitfireman]

What interests me about these posts is why people go to certain festivals.

I've been to all three Soni's so far and whatever the headliners are in 2012 i shall go again. I like the people, the vibe and the great undercard of up and coming acts. And don't give me all that bullshit about age .... i'm in my late 40's and see loads of blokes like me at Sonisphere. What's more we are taking our teenage kids with us and getting them hooked on rock/metal and festivals.

TBh i've been to downlaod many times but prefer the atmosphere, and smaller size, of Sonisphere.

So, my only real concern about headliners is how they effect the evolution of sonisphere as an event and how they change the dynamic of the crowd. I do not want to be surrounded by a bunch of young, chavvy X factor fans ... give me rock fans (of all ages) any day!

In the first year of Sonisphere didn't you detect a real change in the vibe between the Linkin Park and Metallica days? .... i want the festival to sell out early so we get a good rock crowd for every day - like i think we got in 2011.

[kipper64]

@Efests

Paul Rodgers might have meant a lot more to people, but he was never a good fit with Queen, and to say nobody knows who adam lambert is, isn't true. They got a massive amount of publicity with him when they did that performance at the MTV awards, and once the tour is actually announced, I imagine there will be a lot of promo to show people, the fact is as well, Adam fits a lot better than Paul ever did, vocally he has a voice which is rather freddy-esque and he's very Freddy inspired too, personality wise.

To suggest that 2 of the biggest rock bands of all time would be poor booking is the stupid part, fair enough not everyone will like them, but I can't see either not shifting enough tickets to cause the festival trouble. Good to see you ignored all my valid points though when picking through my post. Sonisphere is a 60,000 capacity festival, it doesn't need to sell 60,000 to be financially successful, and it's half the size of it's competitors at full capacity as it is, so surely those headliners even if they were a little weak at Download or Reading or whatever would still easily fill sonisphere.

Fact is, people don't drop the £200 just for headliners, and a lot of the time most people just want headliners they like, or have an interest in seeing, doesn't have to be someone that they are a fan of. Queen and GNR have a lot of casual fans (as well as die-hard fans) amongst the rock community, so them being on the bill would definitely be a big draw to a lot of casual fans, you know, the people who might not pay to go to one of their own gigs, but would still like to see them, assuming the undercard is strong too.

[jump]

What interests me about these posts is why people go to certain festivals.

I've been to all three Soni's so far and whatever the headliners are in 2012 i shall go again. I like the people, the vibe and the great undercard of up and coming acts. And don't give me all that bullshit about age .... i'm in my late 40's and see loads of blokes like me at Sonisphere. What's more we are taking our teenage kids with us and getting them hooked on rock/metal and festivals.

TBh i've been to downlaod many times but prefer the atmosphere, and smaller size, of Sonisphere.

So, my only real concern about headliners is how they effect the evolution of sonisphere as an event and how they change the dynamic of the crowd. I do not want to be surrounded by a bunch of young, chavvy X factor fans ... give me rock fans (of all ages) any day!

In the first year of Sonisphere didn't you detect a real change in the vibe between the Linkin Park and Metallica days? .... i want the festival to sell out early so we get a good rock crowd for every day - like i think we got in 2011.

[she bangs the drums]

What interests me about these posts is why people go to certain festivals.

I've been to all three Soni's so far and whatever the headliners are in 2012 i shall go again. I like the people, the vibe and the great undercard of up and coming acts. And don't give me all that bullshit about age .... i'm in my late 40's and see loads of blokes like me at Sonisphere. What's more we are taking our teenage kids with us and getting them hooked on rock/metal and festivals.

TBh i've been to downlaod many times but prefer the atmosphere, and smaller size, of Sonisphere.

So, my only real concern about headliners is how they effect the evolution of sonisphere as an event and how they change the dynamic of the crowd. I do not want to be surrounded by a bunch of young, chavvy X factor fans ... give me rock fans (of all ages) any day!

In the first year of Sonisphere didn't you detect a real change in the vibe between the Linkin Park and Metallica days? .... i want the festival to sell out early so we get a good rock crowd for every day - like i think we got in 2011.

[jump]

I'm 38 and enjoy Sonisphere for the same reasons as you, its currently not full of knobs trying to set tents on fire, there is a really good relaxed atmosphere and the music is to my taste, I would say Glastonbury and Sonisphere are the best two festivals I've attended for friendliness.

I've only ever seen one fight at Leeds Festival and that was when Guns n Roses played in 2010 and that was because of the clientele they attracted and the atmosphere because they were late on stage, god knows the type of clientele that Adam Lambert would attract.

.

[Justiceforcedave]

Metallica & Sabbath are arguabley the 2 biggest draws of Download, based on these rumors GNR & Queen would be the biggest of Soni.

Looks like good booking sense to me. Download have got 2 massive metal headliners that Soni won't be able to compete with, why not go with a more rock based set of headliners? Makes plenty of sense to me.