Reading and Leeds boss warns Guns N' Roses

Melvin Benn, the boss of Reading & Leeds Festival has revealed if the headliners Guns N' Roses take to the stage late, he'll pull the plug on their set.

The boss of Reading and Leeds festival has told the BBC, (here), he has told the band he will pull the plug on their set if they arrive on stage late, as they did at Leeds in 2002, and more recently at their first Stateside concert appearance in four years at the Rock 'N Rev Festival in Sturgis, South Dakota where the band kept the crowds waiting for two hours after the previous act.

The band's appearance at Leeds eight years was over two hours late and landed the festival in trouble with the local council. Melvin Benn is quoted as saying, "If Guns N' Roses decide to take to stage as late as they did in Leeds some years ago then the performance just won't happen. I've had a very heavy warning from the local councils. There is a curfew - it's a very strict curfew."

He adds, "We got away with it once. We won't get away with it for a second time. Unfortunately, if the band chose not to take to the stage on time there's really nothing I can do. I won't be allowed to break the curfew."

"The truth is - it's threatening the viability of the festival. It threatens the licence. It really is quite important."

Last week the festival had to stop rumours that Guns N' Roses had cancelled their performance after a hoax tweet penned by someone who hacked into Rose's account.

Reading Festival happens at Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, and Leeds Festival, at Bramham Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, both happen from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th August.

Guns N' Roses are joined on headlining duty by Arcade Fire, and Blink 182 at both festivals. Also appearing on the main stage over the weekend are 'special guests' The Libertines - at Reading on the Saturday, and at Leeds on the Friday.

The line-up also includes Queens Of The Stone Age, Biffy Clyro, Lostprophets, Nofx, Gogol Bordello, Billy Talent, Dizzee Rascal, The Cribs, Modest Mouse, The Gaslight Anthem, Paramore, Weezer, Cypress Hill, Limp Bizkit, You Me At Six, All Time Low, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, Delphic, Yeasayer, The Big Pink, Two Door Cinema Club, Pendulum, Enter Shikari, Crystal Castles, Frank Turner, Klaxons, We Are Scientists, Foals, Band Of Horses, Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), and The Drums.

The festivals will feature a full line-up of over 150 acts over the weekend on six stages. For the line-up details, stage splits, days where available, and the latest rumours please click here for Reading and here for Leeds.

Tickets were priced at £180 for a weekend ticket and have sold out for Reading.

To buy tickets to Leeds - click here.

Festival organisers are warning ticket buyers to NOT use fake ticket selling sites. Make sure any tickets you buy are legitimate. eFestivals always links to official ticket outlets (and doesn't host adverts for unofficial outlets unlike other festival websites!) so you can be sure that any ticket bought via eFestivals will get you into the festival of your choice. Do not purchase tickets from unofficial or secondary ticket outlets or auction sites as they often are unable to supply the tickets, and might not even give you a refund - there's lots of dodgy operators out there!

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