The 2004 line-up

[VCK]

What difference a decade makes, eh?

Look at that Main Stage, and you see a lot of acts that still get talked about today (we won't mention why that's the case with Lostprophets). The Streets, The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand and The Distillers, who were all in their prime and who a lot of people still listen to today. Well established acts like Ash and Placebo taking up high slots. Morrissey and The Offspring being two subs who were more than worthy of their positioning. Hell, even 50 Cent was absolutely massive at the time and probably deserved to sub elsewhere, even if he didn't fit in at Reading and Leeds. Acts who were a bit "leftfield" like Jurassic 5, New York Dolls and The Roots being given decent slots. Maybe not the strongest set of headliners, but The Darkness and The White Stripes were huge in 2004.

Why don't the organisers make an effort like they used to?

[jump]

What difference a decade makes, eh?

[Asdaprice]

1st year I went. Was amazing.

And totally agree, at the time I had no idea who bands like "placebo" were, but watched them and was blown away. A nice back catalogue to go through after the fest, good times all round. It didn't detract me from wanting to go either and as you said, those headliners were huge.

I think it's an age thing though, you always love the bands you lived in your teens and unfortunately the band on this years lineup are "good" for teens. JEW and Hives are good "older" main bookings but elsewhere it's abit too modern for us early mid twenties folk onwards

[rafflesia]

There's The White Stripes!!!!!!!

[Yellow_Fellow]

Eh? I thought it was a good line up at the time

[The Placid Casual]

I didn't mean for a thread to be made over this, but whatevz

The only comparison you can make high in the line up is 50 cent to Macklemore, due to the sheer amount of bottling

Edited March 11, 2014 by WessexBoy

[dentalplan]

Yeah but consider our reactions to some of the bands in those positions now:

• The Libertines - hype band in crisis (Pete didn't play the festival)
• Franz Ferdinand - one album Radio One stuff
• The Darkness - WTF
• 50 Cent - joke booking
• Green Day - one of the biggest bands in music at that point, will have annoyed some people

[rafflesia]

Wasn't it before American Idiot?

[The Placid Casual]

Yeah but consider our reactions to some of the bands in those positions now:

• The Libertines - hype band in crisis (Pete didn't play the festival)
• Franz Ferdinand - one album Radio One stuff
• The Darkness - WTF
• 50 Cent - joke booking
• Green Day - one of the biggest bands in music at that point, will have annoyed some people

[dan1892]

Great year, my first as well (maybe I look at it through rose tinted spectacles)!

Only about £120 to get in as well!

Don't think Macklemore will get bottled - not at Leeds anyway.

Edited March 11, 2014 by cameron456687

[VCK]

Yeah but consider our reactions to some of the bands in those positions now:

• The Libertines - hype band in crisis (Pete didn't play the festival)
• Franz Ferdinand - one album Radio One stuff
• The Darkness - WTF
• 50 Cent - joke booking
• Green Day - one of the biggest bands in music at that point, will have annoyed some people

[dentalplan]

Eh? Which wallet said that? They were frigging huge because of the American Idiot (the song) which was the lead single of a hotly anticipated album. Music video channels at the time had that playing every hour and that was the main way for kids to listen to music.

Either way, people would have complained.

[jump]

Wasn't it before American Idiot?

[Matt42]

I hate posts like these... honestly.

The festival hasn't fallen to oblivion, it's just remaining current. As it was there...

The Darkness were the biggest band around at the time, therefore they were booked on one album. If say the 1975's album blew up a little bit more, and the same happened you'd be complaining about a weak headliner.

Things change and music change, either broaden your taste and give it a try or go elsewhere.

[VCK]

Green Day would have been booked quite some time before American Idiot (the single) came out though, wouldn't they?

Probably an astute booking though, considering how they went on to become one of the biggest bands in the world afterwards. A bit like Arcade Fire in 2010.

[dentalplan]

Green Day would have been booked quite some time before American Idiot (the single) came out though, wouldn't they?

Probably an astute booking though, considering how they went on to become one of the biggest bands in the world afterwards. A bit like Arcade Fire in 2010.

[jump]

I guess so. They get the album ahead of time though and, if it was Melvin back then, we know how much he likes pop punk.

I gotta agree with Matt though. This lineup is largely current and if we were discussing it back then , we'd be complaining that there's hardly any Britpop and nu metal or some shit.

[Yellow_Fellow]

Things change and music change, either broaden your taste and give it a try or go elsewhere.

[Role Model]

Fuck I feel old.

[dentalplan]

Way to misrepresent the argument.

I have no issue with acts like Macklemore or Imagine Dragons playing. They're absolute fucking dirge and would be better off at V Festival, but if they wanna play here that's fine. We do represent the mainstream.

But they're too high. They're way, way too high. These acts are being booked in positions they don't warrant and don't fit - I'm not angry at the artists, I'm angry at the organisers for failing to book the bill in a way that makes any sense or is properly representative of what I thought was the festival clientele. Remember we used to have the caveat of "if being big was all you had to be then Reading would book Beyoncé"? Well that's more and more becoming reality.

[mrtourette]

Jesus VCK you like flogging a dead horse. How you look(ed) at those acts will be how the kids of today look at this year's line-up. If acts booked this year don't appear to have the stature or longevity of the acts booked 10 years ago it's because the music industry is different, not that the festival's booking policy has changed. Why can't people understand that?

I don't think that's a great line-up and I don't remember thinking it was at the time. Kasabian headlining the FR was great though

[Matt42]

Also, look across the board... this is by far the weakest year for festivals i've ever seen. Due to lack of acts festivals have been forced to have repeats and bump bands up.

T, V etc are heavy on repeating acts so this isn't shocking that reading struggled this year.

As for Macklemore, I can see why reading went for the booking. A current, big right now emerging rap artist that literally owned 2013 in terms of sales and hits on an exclusive show.

In my honest opinion, booking people who are big now... is much better than booking people who were big last year after all the festivals had them.

Macklemore didn't play any last year? Did he? So for reading to actually get him is pretty commendable.

This year is much more star studded than last year in my opinion, much more well known names.

A lot of the time, lineups seem stronger AFTER the festival has happened. People shit on 2012 when it was announced but now it's one of the strongest lineups reading has had for years.

Edited March 11, 2014 by Matt42

[Role Model]

It's a shame the festival is embracing some of the worst acts in Rap.

[Yellow_Fellow]

I really hope that post wasn't in reply to mine Matt as you didn't counter a single one of my points

[kaosmark2]

A lot of the time, lineups seem stronger AFTER the festival has happened.