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Jay-Z confirmed to headline Glastonbury 2008

Michael Eavis says rapper will top Pyramid Stage

February 2, 2008 | 44 Comments
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Jay-Z will headline this year’s Glastonbury festival, organisers have confirmed.

The event’s boss Michael Eavis had previously kicked off speculation as to who would top the bill on the Pyramid Stage this year saying he had booked a big black artist from New York.

Now Eavis has confirmed as NME.COM speculated at the time, that it will indeed by rapper Jay-Z taking the slot.

The likes of Kanye West and had also been speculated for the slot, but Jay-Z quickly became the favourite.

Speaking to BBC Somerset, Eavis explained the choice stating he wanted to "break with tradition this time and put on something totally different".

He added: "He (Jay-Z) will appeal to the young people and under-25s for sure, so that's a big pull for them. It's not like the traditional one we do, like Radiohead, Coldplay and Muse and Oasis."

To be able to buy a ticket when they go on sale on April 6, fans must register with the festival’s anti touting measures. Check out NME.COM's handy guide to Glastonbury Festival ticket registration now.

Meanwhile the other act confirmed for the event which takes place between June 27 and 29 is Neil Diamond who will play the Sunday afternoon “veterans” slot on the Pyramid Stage.

Organisers hope to keep the rest of the line-up under wraps until June.

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Comments (44)

Add a comment

jamesthomas00

Feb 4, 2008

OMG what a disaster!!! first neil diamond, now jay-z!!! what a terrible lineup, they better pull something better out of the bag. Jay-z just doesnt suit glastonbury at all.

aliceee

Feb 4, 2008

what is going on with this years line-up neil diamond and jay-z! most under 25's that go to glasto would listen to people who play proper music. i was really looking forward to the line-up this year aswell =(

punkylass

Feb 4, 2008

Jay-Z? wtf?? To attract the younger generation? Sounds like a brand of toilet cleaner to me and you need plenty of that at Glasto.

meg.rah15

Feb 4, 2008

This is tragic.

BlackoutJ

Feb 4, 2008

im sorry, but eavis seems to have got the wrong end of the stick. many of my mates and i were going to go to glasto this year, but we dont like rap at all, and neither do any of our mates who would even consider going to glasto.'he will appeal to those under 25' is rubbish. all of the 'traditional' bands as he calls them, such as Muse and Radiohead are much more popular than Jay -Z at all ages, and especially to the under 25s as they aspire to be like them. Neil Diamond too on the sunday - i think we'll be taking a pass this year. what a shame

BlackoutJ

Feb 4, 2008

people who like rap dont go to festivals, especially muddy glasto. after all, they wouldnt want to get their tn caps and tracky bottoms dirty would they? poor decision

beefster

Feb 4, 2008

wot a load of shite

d73375

Feb 4, 2008

i think michael eavis has just ruined the image of glastonbury in one fell swoop

Paulinho1980

Feb 4, 2008

Can all you people stop being ridiculous. Jay-Z is excellent and some of these comments have a posible hint of racism to them. btw I am a regular festival goer but don't have a closeted vision of what good music is

gingerdave2008

Feb 4, 2008

Come on guys - 2 bad acts do not make glastonbury instantly poor. Of course JayZ will not appeal to everyone but why not take that timeslot to explore a different stage (there ARE others believe it or not).
Failing that - tank yourself on pear cider and lose yourself in the mud!

Dean004

Feb 4, 2008

Jay-Z is without a doubt the best rapper about, ok he is not your average festival performer but is that not the appeal of Glastonbury, the fact they do things differently? If he is not to your taste I am sure over the course of the weekend there will be someone who is. Some of the best acts I have seen at festivals have not been headliners. As for all hip-hop fans wearing track bottoms and Nike TN hats thats just plain ridiculous stereotyping.

ambelectro

Feb 4, 2008

oh wow. i was expecting something brilliant this year- obviously this isn't going to happen. the whole glastonbury image is just being ruined completely. if it weren't for the good smaller bands playing there then there'd be absolutely no point in going.

trampled_underfoot01

Feb 4, 2008

best decision eavis has ever made. i cannot wait to see jay-z make it the best glastonbury ever. aint no love in the heart of the city! stick springsteen on another night and ill be in heaven

overising

Feb 4, 2008

Jay-z does not suit Glasto just ask 50 cent when he played Reading a couple of years back. He He!

citizenidiot

Feb 4, 2008

Hating raping isnt' racism but the idea that rap isn't real music is unbelievably patronising. Jay Z's Blueprint can match the best of Radiohead (the latter band of which I am a HUGE fan). The only issue here is that Rap doesnt necessarily go down well live but as some people have said, glastonbury normally has 10 stages of music so if you dont like it, go see somebody else. I dont think Eavis is nuts enough to put 10 rap acts on at the same time. Last time I went to Glastonbury there wasnt enough people seeing new bands, this should hopefully bring in a new influx and perhaps break the white homogenity of festivals.

dcajoe

Feb 4, 2008

Great news. Didn't even bother registering last year but this year, after hearing this, I definately will. Reading's more of a rock festival than Glasto so the reaction should be a bit different (hopefully) to what 50 Cent got. OK, maybe Jay-Z won't attract the NME crowd to the festival but with any luck he'll appeal to people who are bit more open-minded than the idiots saying he doesn't make 'proper' music. Anyway, no one "doesn't suit Glasto", that's the whole point of the festival and why it's different.

mAttthhheaLy

Feb 5, 2008

The entire point of a festival is to get wasted. Who cares about the music.

Jay-Z will make a fantastic Glasto headliner and anyone who disagrees can piss off back to their mediocre pub rock and souless commercial indie.

rockstarr26

Feb 5, 2008

jay z is outstanding live. i even liked his unplugged performance on MTV. he is one of the most electric performers ive ever seen...excellent decision. i understand that a klot of people just dont like hip hop... unfortunately, i think that a lot more people still fear live hip hop a bit...and need to get over that.
http://pluggedin.com

90jl11

Feb 5, 2008

I have no strong feeling for or against Jay-Z, but I think using him as an attempt to get more below-25s is misguided. I think the average Glastonbury goer probably doesn't like rap. I think it will put off a lot more people than it attracts.

jordiep07

Feb 5, 2008

you lot havent got a clue! jay-z is a great announcement! and it will be great to see the guests that he brings with him!

hness

Feb 5, 2008

jay z ruins the "image" of glastonbury??? is this a white supremascist image then? ridiculous, bleeting, scrawny little Hitlers moaning because the worlds top rapper is playing a headline slot....what do they want? boring Radiohead to play their 400th headline slot? More than just a hint of rascism i think xxx

doherty49

Feb 5, 2008

Jay-Z wtf? cant believe there letting a rapper headline the biggest festival of the year when they could of had someone like led zeppelin or radiohead headlinin it. cheers for ruinin glastonbury 08

henrybrit

Feb 5, 2008

TERRIBLE, ABSOLUTELY BAD

Shola

Feb 5, 2008

Itâ€™s great news and makes a refreshing change, shows that Eavis is willing to be eclectic when it comes to headline acts. Jay Z is one of the best hip-hop stars of our generation and I am indubitably sure heâ€™ll put one a great show. Itâ€™s ok for a stereotypical imagery to be distorted. And any self respecting glastonbury fan knows it's not only about the headline acts - last year i didn't even watch The Who or Arctic Monkeys - the highlight was Bjork, Kasabian and Manic Street Preachers

bethfuckingditto

Feb 5, 2008

what a load of shit.
I refuse to register now. Sorry Eavis Reading will get my money thanks. Jay-Z!
Its like putting Chico at download. YOU DONT DO IT.
Glastonbury. Im dissapointed

alexfinney12

Feb 5, 2008

This is awful. Glastonbury is not about rap music.
And shouldnt ever be. they have ruined it
!!

lfcsam

Feb 5, 2008

if michael eavis wanted 2 appear 2 da yunger genaration of nme readers then why has he booked jay-z

meg.rah15

Feb 5, 2008

Paulinho1980, none of these comments are about racism. You're the one making them about racism when you even bring that into the picture. We'd be saying the same thing about, like, Eminem probably. Please.

ancira

Feb 5, 2008

what a shame, I don't think Jay-Z suits glastonbury at all. I do not fancy the idea of flying all the way from Mexico to see Jay-Z perform

avalon

Feb 5, 2008

Itâ€™s February and time to register for Glastonbury tickets again. Or maybe not! Michael Eavis seems hell bent on completely sabotaging the once great legacy that he seek-ed to establish all those years ago. His constant rhetoric about under 25â€™s is tiresome. He's now announced the Saturday headliner as Jay Z - in the hope that itâ€™ll attract the youth.

Read more mud slinging @ melodicmatter.wordpress.com

logixone

Feb 5, 2008

i couldnt think of worse person to headline glastonbury. seriously doubting my attendence.

jbassil

Feb 5, 2008

This changes nothing - the reason young people aren't going to Glastonbury are because it's too expensive and too hard to get tickets. Adding Jay Z or anyone else to the bill may change a few people who register, but will ultimately make no difference to those who have the money and ability to get tickets.

Kat_Lee

Feb 5, 2008

How brilliant! Kanye West went down a treat at V, and Jay Z is timeless..

For those who can't be arsed, i'm sure The View will be playing on the other stage for you..

Hatts

Feb 5, 2008

I think this is rubbish. I hope they're lying, and it turns out that it's Radiohead after all. If they're going, I'm sure they won't be able to resist playing.

I fall neatly into the "Under 25" age range which Mr. Eavis keeps going on about, and I can't think of anyone worse. But I'd be ecstatic if Radiohead played, even if they are a "traditional one".

Still, better than Oasis.

binstig

Feb 5, 2008

Although I don't think it will attract the younger generation which I fit into but I'd still be interested to see him at Glastonbury because all about having a unique experience compared to any other place or festival. I think, although he won't attract many to watch, it will be a spectacle to say the least :)

hness

Feb 6, 2008

well im glad most of you a holes arent going....might actually get a ticket this year!!!

tommybmc

Feb 11, 2008

im hoping all you sterotypical ideots dont turn up to glastonbury this year i mean how many of you have heard jay-z? and you dont think he will fit in with the whole festival thing? but have you heard is work done with artists such as Linkin Park, Danger Mouse probably not because you probably to far up your own ass but he adapts very well to situations hes in and im sure he will do the same this year at glastonbury! im sure you can all except change for one year i mean its not as if hes taking over the whole event and plus it will actually open your minds for once instead of being dead set on the same bands that play every year! Jay-z is a talented artist just because hes genre of music happens to be associated with the younger generation and what all you old grungers think that as ''chavs'' your extremely wrong and i hope you dnt go to Glastonbury this year. Its time for change and rap and hip hop have never been as popular as it is 2day so i think you guys need to except change and get on with your sad pathetic lifes.

LP

Feb 14, 2008

maybe JZ should get all his collaborations onstage live with him. MJB, Linkin park etc

LondonLondon

Apr 8, 2008

Jesus... all this political correctness!!We love it because its safe and kind. Put in 'Notting Hill Carnival' and 'Shot' in Google and do the same for Glastonbury! Just admit it.Lets hope the crowd hasn't changed too much, or it may be taken over and never be worth returning to.

tom bedlam

Apr 16, 2008

The web seems full of allusions to racism regarding the widespread dissatisfaction of this years Glastonbury lineup-Notably in regard to Jay-Z s slot on the main stage-I wonder what would happen if Lee Scratch Perry were to to appear at the same time as the aforesaid Jay Z? Think I could make a guess as to who would be the biggest crowd-pleaser! Racism not-Festival going is not about bland materialistic values ,guns,'hos,fast cars and money as purveyed by Emily Eavis' gangsta chum-Its all about something the media in general and particularily the BBC cartel is trying to sideline and marginalise-A certain vibe connected with FREEDOM! Got it? Thank Christ for the 'boutique festival-Glasto is officially dead-its strayed so far from its original spirit that it simply doesnt connect with what rreally makes a festival worthwhile.

totty_adys

Apr 22, 2008

idiot idiot idiots, these has to be the smartest and most strategic decision the organizers have made bout UK festivals so far..never would have considered goin to glasto before, but now i think differently, jay-z is an artist that can keep a balance between wat hip-hop/rap is really about and the commercial aspect of it...and to all of u chatting shyte bout nothinghill carnival...u know wat they say? dont knock it till you've tried it, and associating jay-z with artists like 50 cent is really ignorant...shut up about it...if u avnt heard any of jay-z's songs then do....his being there will bring a more diverse crowd in.(not every rap listening individual carries around a gun or knife or wears track suits and nike hats)..as for me, i wish at some point linkin park will come on stage with him..but thats happening in milton keynes ..cant wait..as for the rest of y'all hu don't like it, tough luck, see you in glastonbury 2008 babeyyyyy...lol

bobby636

May 6, 2008

Its ment to be glastonbury ROCK festival not glastonbury rap festival!!!!!!!!

peeboo

Jun 4, 2008

You all need to get a grip. Glastonbury is about being open minded at it seems like most of you are cying like posh middle of the road idiots because there's a big bad 'rapper' coming to Glasto. You lot are exactly the type of people that shouldn't be at Glastonbury and i for one will not miss you lot there. This year year is going to be better than ever and i'm glad the radiohead/muse lovers won't be there, you guys are the ones that give Glastonbury a bad reputation. The reason why the crowd is so old is because the ticket prices are so high. How many teenegers can afford a Â£180 ticket/ Oh yes, sorry, you spoilt twats can! i agree with totty_adys, you are all spoilt idoits, go cry to mummy coz Muse aren't on.