NME Festival Guide 2008
Reading Festival

Fans react to Reading And Leeds Festival headliners

Leeds Festival 2005

You give your verdict on The Killers, Rage Against The Machine and Metallica

Apr 1, 2008
14 Comments
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Music fans have been reacting to the news that The Killers, Metallica and Rage Against The Machine are to headline the Reading And Leeds Festivals, as revealed exclusively on NME.COM yesterday.

Fans have been contacting NME.COM with their comments on the all-American headlining trio at the festival, which takes place August 22-24.

NME.COM user emo_lol reckons the headliners are part of "the best ever line-up at Reading and Leeds", adding, however, that "the Manics should blatantly be headlining over The Killers".

Tandethsquire, meanwhile, reckoned that the headliners "definitely trump Glastonbury" and their line-up of Jay-Z, Kings Of Leon and The Verve.

Other fans, such as underclasshero, preferred to concentrate on other bands on the bill. "Tenacious D are playing? That's wicked. Taking Back Sunday deserved their Main Stage slot as well, they're an awesome live band. It's good that Bloc Party and Biffy Clyro are playing too".

SuperMikey added: "Wow, took me ages to get my ticket but boy, is it going to be worth it! What an effing brilliant line-up so far!"

Not everyone shared SuperMikey's enthusiasm, however, with chalkorourke deriding festival supremo Melvyn Benn's claim that the headliners will "blow the other festivals out of the water", saying: "I think Melvyn Benn is blowing something out of his arse! The Killers? Crap!"

Metallica provoked the ire of lmb92, who said: "What the fuck have Metallica offered to music? A stupid excuse for a metal band!"

Modern Rubbish, meanwhile questioned the booking of Bloc Party again: "Do they really need Bloc Party to play virtually the same slot two years in a row? Apart from Rage and the Manics that is a very boring line up. Festival-less summer for me this year."

You can have your say too by commenting on the news story.

Keep checking NME.COM for exclusive Reading And Leeds Festival announcements.

Plus, see the new issue of NME, out tomorrow (April 2), for more details on the line-up, plus interviews with the acts playing on the bill, including The Killers, Metallica, Babyshambles, Manic Street Preachers and more.

The Killers tickets:

Aug 2, 2008 at Marlay Park, Dublin - Check availability
Aug 23, 2008 at Richfield Avenue, Festival, Reading - Check availability
Aug 24, 2008 at Bramham Park, Leeds - Check availability

More The Killers tickets

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Comments (14)

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TheHopper

Apr 2, 2008

Rage are reasonable but hey they weren't even deemed to be big enough to headline in '96, have they done anything since - hugely underwhelmed

Moz_1983

Apr 2, 2008

"What have Metallica offered music"? Well, genre defining music, legendary and critically acclaimed albums, some of the biggest and best live shows in music history, instantly recognisable anthems......just throwing a few suggestions out there...

thattallguy

Apr 2, 2008

You can never please everyone if you don't like it then don't go.Are nme going to be open air this year and not in a tent since the manics are playing

ladyginaofg

Apr 2, 2008

I'm glad Melvyn Benn has decided to make up for the atrocity of last year's line up (Smashing Pumpkins were amazing, but watching RHCP uningaged and frankly poor performance was possibly the saddest and most dissappointing moment of my life... and Razorlight?! Why was that ever a good idea?!). It's pretty awesome so far - mostly because of Rage... but Killers? One of the biggest American bands?! They're so ddduuuuulllllllllllllll... I was thinking more along the lines of Greenday or Foos, who may not be as intellectual, but have the rock n roll balls that Reading so needs.

themightybutton

Apr 2, 2008

the headliners are incredible (except the killers, why are they playing!)ive been wanting to see rage for years and the same with metallica, the rest of the lineup looks decent as well, with tenacious D, pendulum, subways, qotsa and slipknotshould be a great festival

frankie_goddard

Apr 2, 2008

fuidhsndbfgTHIS LINE UP ~IS AMAZINGi mean i love all type of rock tbh but this is amaze, and i am hoping for an accompanying tour from some of the guys who havent been over here in a whilePEACE! fran

x.vicky.x

Apr 2, 2008

i think the killers is a pathetic choice .. GLasto and V headliners last yearrrr. have some originalety Reading... but womabts then babyshamble plus we are scientist ohh yeahhhh

six_str1nged

Apr 2, 2008

The Killers are a perfect festival band, they have a huge number of "sing alongs" under their belt. Also people should remember that it's not exactly down to "choice" given that the Killers were booked nearly two months after Rage and Metallica, and so bands like The Strokes and The Verve were probably asked first. And so when Brandon Flowers says that "We thought it would be a good opportunity to come over" he means that Festival Republic got shit scared and offered them loads of money.

callaby

Apr 2, 2008

I have seen Metallica headline Download in 2004, and I have to assure everyone that they were an amazing headlining act- I definitely believe that they will surpass the flat performances of both Razorlight and RHCP that we had to endure last year. RATM are an incendiary live band and I think 60,000 people singing "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" at the end of 'Killing in the Name of' will be the defining moment of the festival season. from the organizers perspective, Killers have to be on the bill to attract a wider audience. But Kings of Leon should be the other headliner in the place of The Killers, especially after last years performance- one of the best live performances i've ever seen.My only concern, looking at the position of bands on the billing, that there will be clashes between some of the best bands. RATM, Babyshambles and These New Puritans, all bands I would like to see play at Reading, look as if they will be onstage all at once.

loz-star

Apr 2, 2008

the people complaining are the ones with out tickets.the line ups amazing. Best UK festival line up by far

LoisBobSquarePants

Apr 2, 2008

the killers?sorry but i havent paid my hard earned money to watch those.they have a few good songs yeah, but their albums are pretty much crap.manics should DEFINATELY have been headlining over them anyday, they have loads more going for them, and had the guts to keep on going after richey disappeared, and never really fail to churn out a crackin' tune do they?if you actually wanted a massive american band to headline on the sunday for leeds then you should have thought of green day or something that actually has some get up and go about them, write and play kick ass music and deserve to play there!but beggers, alas, cannot be choosers i suppose.

katypops5

Apr 4, 2008

The Killers are an awesome band! Dunno what you's were doing during Glastonbury but they are definitly one of the best live bands out! They come up with brilliant songs and are perfect for the headlining spot definitly. I cant say that i can say much for Metallica or Rage against the Machine, I would prefer the Foos or The Kings of leon in place of them. But not a bad choice!

03priestt

Apr 8, 2008

so far everyone ive seen has a different music taste. cant handle the metal of metalica not open enough fer the killers or rage.i think that line up is amazing.anyone fancy selling there ticket?

The Killers lover

Apr 12, 2008

If you dont like The Killers, dont go.They certainly do a great job live, and they have heaps of good songs on their albums, maby you should listin to them more than once, and youll understand.They are the best band of this century and if you dont like them thtas your choice, but dont bag them.they rock.