Emily Eavis: 'Jay-Z will shake Glastonbury up'

Jay Z

Plus festival organiser tells NME.COM Pete Doherty WILL perform

Apr 15, 2008
13 Comments
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Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis has responded to criticism from the press about booking Jay-Z to headline the festival - and quashed rumours that he is set to cancel.

Speaking to NME.COM, Eavis claimed that Jay-Z's headline slot would be "amazing", and a real shake-up for the festival.

"He's definitely playing!" she confirmed. "We've become a tight ship with his management and we're on a mission to pull something great off. This is going to be historic.

"The reaction we've got from people has been really positive. When he performs his show it's going to be amazing. It's going to shake everybody up."

Eavis went on to confirm that she was confident that Pete Doherty, currently incarcerated in London for breaching parole, would be out in time to headline the Park Stage.

"It's going to be the big comeback show!" she exclaimed. "I spoke to his agent just after he got sentenced and we're go. I think it'll be his first gig after prison."

For the full interview with Eavis see the new issue of NME, on UK newsstands nationwide tomorrow (April 16).

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Comments (13)

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weaguey

Apr 15, 2008

"The reaction we've got from people has been really positive"..... Really?!?! are you sure because all the reactions I've heard are pretty bad and not being able to sell tickets seems a pretty negative reaction. And also "amazing" and "Historic"hmmm... Not as amazing as Radiohead, Oasis or Led Zepplin would be....

Valvetronix

Apr 15, 2008

I think its a good idea because im sick of the same bands headlining all the time, i saw Jay Z the other day at a concert on TV and he was awsome, something different. Mind Led Zep would of been good.

posty#29

Apr 15, 2008

I'm sure it will be a great show, yeah right, maybe the handful of people that actauuly watch his headline slot will enjoy it. Hopefully the poor ticket sales will make Emily and Michael realise that their festival needs some good headliners next year to compete with Reading/Leeds.

mansunthemonkey

Apr 15, 2008

ah, shut up. all of ya. I'm bored of it.

whiteroit

Apr 15, 2008

ive always thought that glasto was the most open, accepting festival of different types of music. totally different from bands getting bottled at reading and leeds. just goes to show by the ticket sales and fan reaction that was just a myth then. i think its great he's headlining about time for a change, who wants to see the same bands at every festival?

AdamShanklyUK

Apr 16, 2008

Why didn't Eavis just pay Prince Â£2 million quid to perform, like Cochella did. Glasto would have definately sold out then!It needs a class act to perform like, as mentioned, Prince or Zeppelin or Radiohead... you get the idea.

spray86

Apr 16, 2008

Im with 'mansunthemonkey' its getting a bit boring all this talk of Jay-Z headlining Glastonbury. I know for sure I'd be there this year (just like the past 4 Glasto's) if I wasn't in a different country right now. You go for the Glastonbury experience. And with new small stages springing up each year, for example The Park area last year, theres always going to be some act you will want to watch. I found several bands on at the same time last year for many of the slots throughout the days. So all those bad mouthing one headlining slot, it can't be the only reason your not going to Glastonbury. Although I agree Mr Jay-Z should of took a bit of a Black Eyed Pea's role and played just before another headliner, a bit like when he played Reading/Leeds fest in 2003. Come on its nothing new a rap act at a UK festival.

sxpstl

Apr 16, 2008

ooo, Closed minds everywhere!, Jay - Z is one of the music worlds leading artists (critical, commercial and respected & not to mention innovative) Why dont all the haters watch at Glasto and then make an INFORMED decision, Jay Z will rock Glasto more than alot of recent headliners. Open your minds away from 4 guys and a guitar and you might enjoy.!!!!!!

christophski

Apr 16, 2008

i would of liked to see the likes of Led Zep, Oasis or Radiohead play but i think it will be good to see JayZ. thats if Linken park play with him

mike20082008

Apr 16, 2008

Glastonbury is a city in-itself and should have sold out not just for the music, I primarily won't be going just to see the bands, there are a 1001 other things to do! Bring on Brothers Bar!! :)

IAmKuriousOranj

Apr 16, 2008

Haha, good old Steven Wells is back writing it seems. Not quite sure if it's the "Aryan folk festival" he claims but he makes some funny points http://www.thequietus.com/2008/04/glastonbury-aryan-folk-festival/

Lodgy

Apr 16, 2008

Last year the number of people attending Glasto was increased to 144,000. It now takes an hour to get from the John Peel stage to Lost Vagueness. Having 17 stages is pretty pointless, you can only watch one band at a time. These are reasons why Glasto hasn't sold out this year, not because of Jay-Z or any other single performer. I'm staying at home and watching the best bits on the telly. I'll see more than I did last year.

Barghmyster

Apr 18, 2008

Jay-Z will certainly shake up glastonbury, not in a good way. It is unprecedented that Glastonbury tickets are still on sale and they have re-opened registration. Eavis has said that they have spent less on headliners this year in order to improve the facilities and insists that the reason registration has been reopened is because people had asked if they could still buy tickets. FACE FACTS! People have flooded to Glastonbury ever year for the music people don't care whether or not its muddy its part of Glastonbury. Hopefully this is a wake up call that Glastonbury needs to constantly have the pyramid stage packed with 5 big bands every night like last year. Just look at Leeds and Reading there are great bands throughout the line-up and thats why the tickets have sold out so quickly this year....WAKE UP