Glastonbury 2008 headliners: fans reactions

Glastonbury

Find out how music fans have reacted to the Glastonbury bill-topping acts

Feb 8, 2008
34 Comments
Glastonbury news, reviews, video and tour dates
Add Glastonbury to MyNME

Music fans have been logging on to NME.COM to give their reactions to the news that Jay-Z, The Verve and Kings Of Leon will headline Glastonbury 2008.

Response to the news has been mixed, with some fans criticising the line-up, while others defend the choices and applaud a diverse range of acts set to headline the Pyramid Stage.

NME.COM user ‘mul1989’ wrote that they were “expecting better”, with ‘Grimbo’ describing the line-up as “a terrible bunch of headliners”.

‘the_royal_we’ defended the line-up in part, saying that Kings Of Leon were “amazing there a few years back”. ‘wibble69’ added that The Verve were “fuckin’ excellent live”.

‘elliotcraen’ wrote: “Everyone's complaining but I can't think of a much better headline trio. [It’s not] what I'd have picked, but they are varied and I don't think anyone can dispute they are all big enough and successful enough to headline.”

‘weaguey’ wrote: “Where the hell are Radiohead?”

What do you think about the Glastonbury 2008 headline bands? Leave your comments below.

The Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 are coming soon – and it’s time to have your say. Vote now by heading to NME.COM/awardsvote and you could win VIP tickets to the ceremony, which takes place in London on February 28.

Share this story:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Reddit

Comments (34)

Add a comment

dannypal

Feb 8, 2008

Compared to last year, this is rubbish, kings of leon are not really big enough to be headlining, jay - z isnt good enough to be headlining, and the verve arent legendary enough to be headlining. But its still glasto, so i'll be there!

guyp16

Feb 8, 2008

The verve are a bit of a disappointment considering all the rumours about radiohead and led zeppelin. kings of leon will be amazing as always.
im looking forward to british sea power
they should be fantastic. with such a bad choice of headliners (with exception to kings of leon) there need to be some really good bands playing some of the other stages

binstig

Feb 8, 2008

I think it isnt too bad. Kings Of Leon ARE big enough to
headline and have already an impressive back catalogue. Jay-Z will be amazing and I will definitely watch him although I'd have preffered Dr Dre and as for The Verve Im indifferent as they have a few great songs like History but they really are overrated.

shaunyeah

Feb 8, 2008

to be honest, not a fan of rap, and i dont think a rapper should be headlining glastonbury but i can think of better rappers than jay-z. kings of leon are a good choice but i can think of better than the verve, radiohead would have been a better choice, personally i would have liked to see the sex pistols to get back together (again) for a one off,that would have been pretty immense

Danny191185

Feb 8, 2008

Kings of Leon may not be big enough but they are certainly good enough. This is the big chance they need to prove to the world how good they are. I have seen Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and The Verve in the past year and if they can headline Glasto then i'm sure Kings Of Leon can. Best live band i have ever seen. The Verve were very poor at their Blackpool gig, wasn't impressed. I can feel another Oasis type set. I'd have rather seen Kanye West headline than Jay-Z.

grovesy88

Feb 8, 2008

kings of leon will be awesome like they were at reading last year, jay-z will put on a real show because why should you expect anything less, it is jay-z. the verve is a bit of a disappointment but last year i stayed away from the pyramid stage all sunday and as long as there is someone along the same lines a the chemical brothers then i'm very happy with it.

PeterDonohoe

Feb 8, 2008

I don't know what people are complaing about, this is the best V festival ever!

route66

Feb 8, 2008

I agree - Kings of Leon, and the crowd response they generated, showed everyone at Reading 2007 that they were capable of headlining (this fact was emphasised even further by Razorlight's shite performance which followed). If past shows are anything to go by, this slot will see them break into the top flight. They're better than The Killers and one of the best live bands around. I'm not so bothered by Jay-Z (though if he collaborated well, that could be amazing), and The Verve will probably be below par.

tomholynski

Feb 9, 2008

The Verve. Kings Of Leon, Jay-Z.

The Verve and Kings Of Leon are two of the greatest bands of all time.

Seen The Verve once and KOL twice, and both were mind blowing.

Im gutted in a way cos im not going to glasto as i have already bought my ticket for Leeds festival in the pre sale. But im more gutted that bandwaggonners who are moaning about them being announced as headliners now a few months down the line will be claiming they have always been into them.

But yeah from Glastos organisers have pulled off a fantastic selection with those bands and anyone going or wanting to go to Glasto will be very lucky to have the opportunity to see them.

Porthorita

Feb 9, 2008

would never expect Jay-Z at Glasto....

Indietimmy

Feb 9, 2008

kings of leon i think are an inspired choice, just imagine 'charmer' live - will probably cause violence on a grand scale. But The Verve and Jay Z i think are pretty average artists to be headlining. Where are The Strokes with the news that they have a new album out this year?

Chiefshabba

Feb 10, 2008

Fair enough radiohead should be there guys, but Kings of Leon are shit hot at the moment and the Verve are one of the most important bands of the last 20 years. If Jay-z's gonna be headlining the main stage, its likely that a shit hot alternative will be on the other stage. This years headliners are more exciting than last years!

wackyjack

Feb 10, 2008

where the hell is Muse?? they r mint live and surely is one of the TOP bands in the country. gutted. kings of leon is a good choice, as for the verve, wud help a great deal if they can release some new materials before glasto. and personally, i think jay-z is not reli for this kind of festival.

Cooljon

Feb 10, 2008

Verve is not average mate. There music inspired a nation. Kings of Leon are a good band and Jay-Z. Well, probably the best choice on the rapping sense. I'm not keen on rap myself...

danastro

Feb 10, 2008

Kings of Leon deserve to be headlining Glasto, they are and have been the best live band around for years. It'll be the 8th time i've seen them when glasto comes around and they keep getting better and better.
Jay-z is a bit crap like, not that bothered about it tho, theres loads more to do on the saturday night.
The Verve should be good, just cos it's the verve, cant really go wrong with that.
Just hope The Strokes, Interpol, YYY's and Jack White make an appearance. Then it will all be magical.

callaby

Feb 10, 2008

I can't believe some people commenting on here that Kings of Leon aren't big enough to headline. They are much bigger than Arctic Monkeys, who played last year, in terms of being a global band- outside of England and Europe in particular not many people know who they are. I have a Canadian friend who says that the average Canadian will never have heard of the Arctic Monkeys or any of their music. Whereas with Kings of Leon, they are big in North America and Europe and sell a lot more records, and have 3 successful albums...point proven really.

paultait

Feb 10, 2008

Is this really a top news item? A bunch of illiterate morons give their views on a line-up?

This is why the NME is so insignificant now. Eds take note!

edricsmells

Feb 10, 2008

who goes to glastonbury for the headliners anyway if you wanted to see headliners go to leed or reading, its the smaller stages that im interested in.

TechnodanceaphobicGG

Feb 10, 2008

I thought Eavis was off his nut after announcing Jay-z and Neil Diamond, but he's turned it around a bit by pulling in a solid band in Kings of Leon, and a legendary band in The Verve. However, I think Kanye West should be up there instead of Jay-Z, he puts on a cracking live show. Just imagine 120,000 people humming along to Bittersweet Symphony..ahh.

thejabberwockycometh

Feb 10, 2008

Jay-Z will suck! No room for rappers at english rock festivals just look what happened to 50 Cent! Not that the clientel at Glasto are renouned for such behaviour! Kings of Leon are a brilliant live band seen them twice and they are awesome! If anyone was at Haigh Hall in 98 they will know what The Verve are capable of? Almost spiritual!

karaoke_soul

Feb 10, 2008

I think peoples backlash to the announced headliners is a bit short sighted. Glastonbury prides itself on being one of the best festivals in the country and never fails to produce a world class line up that has something for everyone. The three times i've been I have never watched a main stage headliner but have always had an amazing time. What worries me more is the removal of Lost Vagueness, one of the best areas in the festival!

alex1419

Feb 10, 2008

this is dissapointing. kings of leon have a few good songs, ill give them that. like 'four kicks' and 'fans' but the rest are mostly boring. Im happy for the verve to be doing it, they should be amazing live. and jay-z, fair enough to have him perform, but to headline it? nah. could have got way better bands.

andyhudson12

Feb 10, 2008

People shouldn't be criticising the line-up based on what it's been before, all three of these artists have achieved something fantastic and are legendary in their own right. That, and the fact that it's one of the most diverse line-ups ever, will make it go down in Glastonbury history!

PeterDonohoe

Feb 10, 2008

Imagine 120,000 people humming along to Bittersweet Symphony? What? Are they doing a mass bee impression at Glastonbury this year?

Hayley15

Feb 10, 2008

i dont know what everybody is moaning about. it is sure to be an awesome event anyway. if you dont like who is going to be playing then just dont go, isnt it common sense??

Musepower

Feb 10, 2008

I remember when muse played there. :').

Charleston

Feb 11, 2008

I think the success of Jay Z's headline performance will be judged on the special guests that he 'enrolls' to aid his slot. I think if he manages to introduce an eclectic range of other singers with him then it could be a very unique and exciting set, because I think his material isn't strong enough just on its own to sustain interest for a festival crowd of Glastonbury's type

Charleston

Feb 11, 2008

Im just waiting for the year that David Bowie struts his way back on to the festival stage

grocem2

Feb 11, 2008

I think people should really open there ears, because Jayz is one amazing artist who doesn't go round talking about how many bitches and hoes he's got and in his videos he doesn't have half naked girls prancing around. i really respect Jayz for the music he makes and why should he get victomized because he's not your average glasto headliner.

SILLY PEOPLE

welshrobot

Feb 11, 2008

I think its great that kings of leon and the verve are headlining, they are both fantastic bands. But im really not interested in jay-z. I think its fair enough to try and get someone different in but i just dont think he is really a glastonbury act, he should do something like reading or V. I really dont want to sound like a snob but ive always felt safe at glastonbury walking around at night unlike at other festivals so i just hope it doesnt attract people who ruin that and think its funny to set peoples tents on fire etc! I hope they know what they are doing and realise the side effects this might have.

KatiePC

Feb 11, 2008

Good line up of headliners, which does make me think of how the line up was years and years ago of not necessarily going with what was expected. Mind you, despite wanting to see Kings of Leon, I won't be there this year as Glastonbury to me in the last few years has lost its energy. Yeah there is no other place like it, but too many people with thermos flasks and blankets now. No one shouts bollocks all through the night, and it is full of people who are there just to say they've been and 'done Glasto'. The loving spirit has vanished, and seems to be too big for its own good nowadays. And its always full of moaning Australians these days too.

koosha

Feb 11, 2008

I think it's a great line up! yeh i remember the year with Muse Oasis and Paul Mcartney, was amazing. However KOL have come a long way in the last few years and were amazing at reading last year. Saw Jay Z at wembley a year back and he'll bring something different which will be awesome. Then finally the verve we need someone british as a headliner, and i'm looking forward to it.

Markinez69

Feb 12, 2008

If anybody actually knew what they were talking about, you'd realise that the eavis' have pulled off a master stroke with these 3 choice! Jay-Z is fantastic live (watch his mtv unplugged- one of the best), the kings of leon, after arcade fire are the best live band iv seen and the verve are a part of 90s iconic indie culture! they're fuckin better than blur, who were touted around as possible headliners! well done glastonbury, i'll be there with bells on!

P.S. To the tards moaning about radiohead not headlining, its because they are doing two gigs that weekend, one in Glasgow(fri), the other in Manchester(sun), obviously not MASSIVE fans are we?? They aren't daft, they'll play glastonbury when THEY want to!