Enjoying the festival line-up discussion, it’s the same the music industry wide, every ones afraid to take a risk! Whether it’s headliners, sticking someone on the front cover or large labels investing in new talent, the market is up in the air. So everyone’s playing self.

I’ve not heard the podcast yet so excuse me if I repeat anything which has been covered already. I have however read the Beez’s Facebook comments etc. and I think you guys are asking too much.

Firstly, as somene who can only afford one festival a year, I want to make sure I see the biggest bands I can. That means I would go to a festival headlined by AC/DC, Metallica & Iron Maiden over the riskier options every time. I sometimes think that music journo’s get a bit jaded by going to every festival every year (I bet you guys were both at DL, Soni + R/L last year and probably 1 or 2 others) and seeing the same headliners year in, year out. It would be impossible not to become jaded. Your average punter doesn’t get to do this though, and I for one will spend my money on a safe bet if I can only choose 1 festival a year.

Secondly, you can’t expect a Festival like Download, which is attracting 100 000+ people this year to take a punt on bands they are not sure will sell that many tickets. That means they have to play it safe to a certain extent to ensure they have enough money to put the festival on again the next year. 1 failed experiment could bring the whole house of cards tumbling down and that’s not in anybody’s interests – bands or fans. Bloodstock / Hammerfest don’t need to attract nearly as many people, and can therefore get less established headliners and still sell out (kudo’s on FFDP by the way!)

Lastly, Download has put up quite young bands as headliners before – MCR (Paramore heavily rumoured for this year too). Young bands that are big enough to sell that many tickets are generally your poppier bands that appeal to the kids – MH readers will never be satisfied with these guys. These bands are also usually of the “here today, gone tomorrow” variety, whereas metal bands usually have much more of a slow burn approach to building a fan base. This means that by the time they reach headliner status, you probably wouldn’t consider them a risky move anymore.

Come on guys, cut them some slack.

Hiya Shane,

Thanks for taking the time out to write that, mate. Give the podcast a whizz and see what we say about this and see if you still agree/disagree. We do go into this point at great length.

Cheers again for the feedback!

Above response smells like a Live Nation employee to me!!

both festivals have plus/negatives. myself i want to see maiden again and i have never seen Rammstein so that should be cool. If Metallica play Download then i will probably go for a day ticket. Be good to see them for a 15th time.

I’m stuck in my fucking office, so won’t get a chance until tomorrow. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say though. Listen in every week. Even burn them to disc and send them to my family in South Africa who can’t access them.

BTW, I’m not a Live Nation employee. I do live in the real world though and realise that as much as we wish otherwise, festivals are a business and are run using money not respect/ artistic integrity or the goodwill of the minority. As soon as they don’t sell the expected number of tickets, the money runs out and the festival dies. Game over.

That’s good to know Shane, knowing how many comments on Amazon are done by employees of the labels has tarnished me and made me a cynical bastard.

I agree with you on most of your points. I think the main point that Mr. Bezer brings up in the Podcast is who will be headlining these in 10 years?

Also when I say afraid to take risks, I don’t mean sticking unknown in a headline slot, just not sticking to the same established US acts that come over every summer. Both Sonisphere and Download have now played their ace cards in ACDC and Iron Maiden, Sonisphere have got Rammstein, it’s up to Download to match or better it with its next announcement. For me personally the Headliners are the bands at the end of the day that I’m happy to sing along to drunk! The quality comes from the little discoveries through the whole weekend, new bands who you stumble across.

To put your mind at ease further, I’m an accountant at a large management consulting company. I’m not proud of that, but it pays the bills…

Still not heard the podcast, so I must be careful not to sound like a numpty here:

I’m not too worried about the 10 year thing:
Slipknot were ace last year and should hopefully headline a few more festivals in the future.
I think Disturbed (not a fan) will write their Black Album soon. I think they have it in them too.
Black Stone Cherry (massive fan) are destined for big things, but my biggest fear is that they go Nickleback which would be a huge pity. I still maintain that they are one of the best live bands I’ve seen.
BFMV have the potential as well. Contrary to what Mr Tuck says, they aren’t there yet, but I think one day they might. I wasn’t a fan, but my wife is and she dragged me along to Ally Pally. They converted me that night, although I hear their live show is a bit pfft now.
I think if Pantera were still around, they would be headliner status. Give LoG a few more years, and I think someone will give them their chance. One or two more songs like Redneck to pull in the masses and they’ll have done it.

I really believe the biggest “problem” is that the AC/DC’s, Metallica’s and Maiden’s of this world are still touring like mad. If I was Copping/Galbraith and I had the choice between AC/DC and an up and comer, I know which way I’d go. Take them out the equation though, and festival organisers will have to start taking chances on the the Disturbed’s/Bullets of this world. Some will rise to the occasion and walk with the legends (like Slipknot) and some won’t. When AC/DC headlined Donnington for the first time, they weren’t competing with bands with a 30 year legacy and I say it’s unfair to expect that of today’s young guns.

Guys… talking about the Rainbow stuff… check out the genuie “adult version” episode they did for the crew: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2046044491551473170#

If you saw Rainbow in the old days (i’m an old fucker too), you’ll really laugh at this

Eat the Rich isn’t a cover of Aerosmith’s song of the same name but there is a Motorhead song called Eat the Rich

AC/DC as headliners is awesome and I saw them last year and they are something special live. But jesus, it’s the best part of £200 for a ticket! Considering there is a young audience there, will 110,000 of them be able to afford that?

YOU DONT HAVE A TELLY :O

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i know so many people here in scotland who want to go to download, but simply cant, too much money, too far away( parents wont let them make the trip), i might end up not going, cause none of my mates will end up going

Yo Beez, what the fuck does “bobbins” mean

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