News drops today that big-in-the-noughties rockers The Killers will be headlining on one of the nights at this year’s Glastonbury. “Well, thank f*ck it’s not Kasabian again or one of the Gallagher brothers”, I hear you say. Or maybe “Couldn’t give a toss – I’ve been to Glasto a dozen times and have never seen an act on the pyramid stage”.
Okay. Fair enough. But isn’t it weird that there was such a hullabaloo about Beyoncé and Kanye when they were the number one act in the world in their respective fields at the time and even somewhat past it Metallica were probably still the biggest name in their genre?
I mean, if it was 2005 or even 2007 I’d say stick ol’ Brandon on the big stage after everyone else, but in 2019?
I realise, as a grumpy old git, I’ve lost perspective on who is genuinely big with Ver Kids and the civilllian day trippers, but I would have thought Janelle, Miley and Christine all had more contemporary radio profile and each, in their own way, could be trusted to put on a proper show..?
Should I just fuggedaboutit and go back to alphabeticising my Cds (“Whaaat! I Trawl The Megahertz is by Prefab Sprout now?! – *kicks over pile of jewel cases*)
(*I also gather that The Prodge were booked, until Keith Flint made that terrible decision – but I expect they’d have been detailed the dance stage)
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Kid Dynamite says
Or to put it another way, The Killers are huge. They’re a genuine stadium band who sold out Hyde Park last time round a lot quicker than the combined forces of Dylan and Neil Young are doing this year. The only interest Janelle and Miley can drum up in this country is from people who read the pop columns in broadsheets and kid themselves they’re still with it, and not even Christine has properly crossed over despite the ridiculous amounts of record company cash thrown at her last year. You can argue about the artistic merits of the lineup as much as you like, but to suggest that it’s not in tune with mainstream trends and tastes is a non-starter.
Sewer Robot says
You’re probably right, KD.
The only act I know for sure would draw a crowd these days is Brian, Rog and Rami Malik and his amazing dentures performing inna karaoke stylee
Kid Dynamite says
That bloke out of Keane wants a piece of that action
https://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/tom-chaplin-tickets
Sadly, checking my calendar shows that I am watching television on all of those nights.
Moose the Mooche says
Sorry, but every time I see that film trailed I think of Kenny Everett as The Bee Gees.
“Massive Chew-sets”
Moose the Mooche says
Whoever is on, I confidently predict that Jo Whiley will say they are brilliant.
Black Type says
‘Amazing’, surely?
Twang says
I nearly switched Live 8 off after The Who at the sight of Jo Whiley snorting that The Killers were better (I’d only just switched on actually so I don’t know but she was so right on yeh irritating) and if I had I’d have missed Pink Floyd who brought tears to my eyes when they started up. I was praying that they wouldn’t be crap. They weren’t.
NigelT says
The Killers really were the band du jour at that time – I seem to remember Geldoff insisting they took part as they were so hot.
Me..? Meh….never forgiven them for the most irritating line ever ‘Are we human or are we dancer?’…drives me so mad I shout at the radio if it comes on. I still think he sounds like Chris De Burgh, which doesn’t help matters.
Black Type says
I think that’s a great line. Some of the best pop lyrics are meaningless yet resonant, and I think this is one.
Freddy Steady says
Yebbut
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_(The_Killers_song)
The Good Doctor says
They don’t mean much to me, but they’re huge with 30 somethings and my friends young kids love ‘em and to them, those big Killers songs are their guitar anthems. Out of yer still active guitar bands, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys and Clodplop are still a huge, huge deal for today’s pop kids.
Also remember the way young folk consume music doesn’t depend on being the very latest new act…they don’t worry about the timeline of music, or what Music journalists deem is cool. They’re playing Spotify playlists or things they’ve picked up from social media and whatever. Whether it’s cutting edge Cyborg R&B, or a dusty old crooner from the 1950s they heard on a film soundtrack its all there at the tap of a phone.
deramdaze says
Each to his/her own, OOAA etc. etc. but the way young folk consume music is … erm, how to put this? … oh yeah … bollocks!
Dave Ross says
Also see Biffy Clyro…..
Sewer Robot says
…if I can turn the sound down!
Tiggerlion says
You need the earplug thread.
Kaisfatdad says
I understand your bewilderment, Sewer. But the people who book artists for festivals seem to be impressively on target about what the audience want to see.
Every year, when the Roskilde programme is announced, I have scarcely have a clue about who the headliners are. I get there and discover they are enormously popular. More importantly, I always find lots of artists who I have never heard of but who I enjoy enormously.
I suspect a lot of contracts are signed in the autumn before the festival. But within 6 months a band can become a real crowdpuller.
The Arena Tent was heaving for this Icelandic combo, the year that they played.
Nowadays, i suspect 10 men and a dog would want to see them.
No disrespect. A fine little combo. But sometimes the hype gets out of hand.
dai says
They are also headlining “Bluesfest” here in Ottawa. A 10 day festival rather than an almost pathetic 3, take that Glastonbury! However I plan to be out of town for most of it.
Moose the Mooche says
I know things are different in Canada but…. The Killers are blues?
Scene from a Toronto record store:
“Where are your Public Enemy records?”
“Under Country & Western , of course!”
dai says
It’s a very loose categorisation, just a name really. Normally one or two token blues acts.
https://ottawabluesfest.ca/lineup/#/artists/alphabetical
Hamlet says
I’m still quite surprised they haven’t convinced the Stone Roses to headline since they’ve got back together (I know they were due to in 95). I wonder what festivals will be like in 20 years; they tend to rely on generically well-known headliners, but music is so fractured these days.
I’m sure I’m just being a nostalgic git, but I wouldn’t have a Glastonbury ticket these days if it were free and came with Jo Whiley-proof earplugs.
Moose the Mooche says
They should headline Reading and lay that hoodoo down (babe).
Of course, that would only be the proper Hollywood ending if Ian Brown came on singing with the power and control of a young Carreras.
Hamlet says
Ian Brown still can’t sing, but he’s definitely learnt to shout in tune.
Ainsley says
A few years ago I had a similar reaction to seeing that Franz Ferdinand were going to headline the Friday night. This was perhaps a couple of years after the peak of their first album (or two) and I thought “really?”
They were BRILLIANT live (TV Live, I mean) and fully justified the status.
eddie g says
Not liking gigs or crowds I’ll dip into the whole shebang on telly. But nobody on the bill this year means anything to me I’m afraid. Maybe I’ll be surprised. But I’m more than happy to stay within my loose period of 1956-1978 and let the kids have their fun.
minibreakfast says
Killers also to headline Woodstock this year.
Moose the Mooche says
Headline in Rolling Stone, “Young, hip, happening band to headline Woodstock”