Returning Headliners

[compactdisc]

Seeing Skunk Anansie on the 2020 poster (all those months ago) and the debate about whether Florence and the Machine would be worthy (pun intended) of the headline slot this year has got me thinking about returning headliners who don't headline. I don't think there are any other former headliners, from the last 15-20 years at least, that would return in a lower slot - either they are still headliner level in their own right or they are unlikely to accept a lower slot.

What do people think? Are there any that you think might pop up lower down the line up in years to come?

[Hugh Jass]

Ash

Travis

Sterophonics

Mumfords were going to do a secret slot

 

[fred quimby]

Black Uhuru 

[stuartbert two hats]

IIRC, that was supposed to be one of the big things about the "50th anniversary" festival that never was - lots of returning former headliners.

[Somto Unigwe Raphael]

Muse

[Ayrshire Chris]

1 minute ago, Big durbs said:

how about the Foo's ... please 

they were rumored for the sept gig that never happened

Was it not Biffy that were also rumoured for that?  When the date was cancelled Biffy then added a gig in wales if I recollect .  The Foos would have been great, though 

[kingbadger]

Apart from surprise sets, I could maybe see Gorillaz coming back and headlining Other Stage or subbing the Pyramid. They're much improved as a live act and I could see Damon wanting to right the wrong of the 2010 set. Wouldn't surprise me if Kasabian popped up in their new guise, could be as soon as this year. Mumfords were down to 2020 according to some, but that might have been billed as a secret set.

[kingbadger]

1 minute ago, Big durbs said:

i deffo heard Foos , cant remember who from , but i think they were 95% and was super stacked about it 

I only mentioned it on here previously as someone else had mentioned the same thing. But Dave Grohl rang up Michael directly about playing the farm in 2021. Wouldn't count them out of a secret set this year, depending on how their dates line up.

[henry bear]

Off the top of my head, the 2020 festival was to have a number of previous Pyramid headliners:

• Happy Mondays (1990)
• Manic Street Preachers (1999)
• Skunk Anansie (1999)
• Suzanne Vega (1989)

All seem available this year - Suzanne Vega's in France on 24th and nothing then until July 

[compactdisc]

9 minutes ago, kingbadger said:

Apart from surprise sets, I could maybe see Gorillaz coming back and headlining Other Stage or subbing the Pyramid. They're much improved as a live act and I could see Damon wanting to right the wrong of the 2010 set. Wouldn't surprise me if Kasabian popped up in their new guise, could be as soon as this year. Mumfords were down to 2020 according to some, but that might have been billed as a secret set.

Good point - I guess the Killers secret set counts too.

Edited February 4, 2022 by compactdisc

[Boilingtent]

Levellers likely to return

[maelzoid]

Manics are the one that came to mind.

I think some artists would get hung up on their pride about playing lower down the bill after headlining. Others are just happy to get out there and play.

Personally I can't see KOL, Mumfords, Chems, Travis, Florence, Stereophonics, Rod Stewart, Moby, Basement Jaxx, Kasabian or Arcade Fire ever headlining in the future, but there would certainly be a place on the bill for them if they wanted it.

[compactdisc]

12 minutes ago, maelzoid said:

Manics are the one that came to mind.

I think some artists would get hung up on their pride about playing lower down the bill after headlining. Others are just happy to get out there and play.

Personally I can't see KOL, Mumfords, Chems, Travis, Florence, Stereophonics, Rod Stewart, Moby, Basement Jaxx, Kasabian or Arcade Fire ever headlining in the future, but there would certainly be a place on the bill for them if they wanted it.

Agreed. I couldn't see anyone who has headlined since 2007 coming back lower down the bill - aside from @kingbadger's suggestion of Gorillaz.

Even post 2000 there aren't many I could see coming bacl. Green Day potentially as an Other Stage Headliner? Rod Stewart might be convinced to do the Legends slot (although would we want that).

[gooner1990]

Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers both headlined the Pyramid then came back to headline the Other stage.

[Somto Unigwe Raphael]

57 minutes ago, kingbadger said:

I only mentioned it on here previously as someone else had mentioned the same thing. But Dave Grohl rang up Michael directly about playing the farm in 2021. Wouldn't count them out of a secret set this year, depending on how their dates line up.

From memory I think their dates make them unlikely, as I was previously considering them as a likely replacement headliner.

Edit: Manchester Saturday, Birmingham Monday.

Edited February 4, 2022 by Somto Unigwe Raphael

[Crazyfool01]

44 minutes ago, Boilingtent said:

Levellers likely to return

Really ? Where’s that from ? 

[Ayrshire Chris]

1 hour ago, Big durbs said:

the foos would be awesome , missed them in 2015 😞 . ticket less in 2017 ... so i think i due !

 

Same here. 2017 was tremendous.  We also managed to see them the following year in Glasgow.  Just a great  live band. 

[Ayrshire Chris]

20 minutes ago, crazyfool1 said:

Really ? Where’s that from ? 

Thought you would be all over that comment! Love to see them make a return as long as it’s not the acoustic style set we saw a few years back. 

[kingbadger]

Most headliners these days tend to be internationally established acts. Post-2007, it's only really the big domestic artists like Flo + The Machine, Kasabian, Stormzy etc I could see returning in an announced, non-Pyramid headline slot (secret sets/legend slots aside).  Gorillaz are the only one that seem to me like they have unfinished business with the festival.

It makes me wonder though how many previous headliners may soon be coming back to play the legend slot. 12 years since Stevie Wonder headlined, a Sunday afternoon set from him would be magic. Neil Young too? 

[Crazyfool01]

4 minutes ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

Thought you would be all over that comment! Love to see them make a return as long as it’s not the acoustic style set we saw a few years back. 

I’d like a few more off Levelling the land .. than they played at Beautifull days .. but it’ll be good to see them back on the farm 

[henry bear]

43 minutes ago, crazyfool1 said:

Really ? Where’s that from ? 

Brighton

[efcfanwirral]

55 minutes ago, Somto Unigwe Raphael said:

From memory I think their dates make them unlikely, as I was previously considering them as a likely replacement headliner.

Edit: Manchester Saturday, Birmingham Monday.

I think that doesn't rule them out. Manchester to glasto isn't too bad. Quite where they'd play I don't know but theoretically it's possible  

Edited February 4, 2022 by efcfanwirral

[Somto Unigwe Raphael]

15 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

I think that doesn't rule them out. Manchester to glasto isn't too bad. Quite where they'd play I don't know but theoretically it's possible  

If they play I don’t think they’d be doing anything except headlining Sunday as a replacement.

[Boilingtent]

1 hour ago, crazyfool1 said:

Really ? Where’s that from ? 

Sorry just taking a punt! They are certainly around this summer playing gigs. Y not on the saturday.

[stuartbert two hats]

2 hours ago, kingbadger said:

Apart from surprise sets, I could maybe see Gorillaz coming back and headlining Other Stage or subbing the Pyramid. They're much improved as a live act and I could see Damon wanting to right the wrong of the 2010 set. Wouldn't surprise me if Kasabian popped up in their new guise, could be as soon as this year. Mumfords were down to 2020 according to some, but that might have been billed as a secret set.

I'd fucking love them to do Other.  Would still be a massive stage, but have far fewer tourists turning up "because it's the main headliner".