The Who's Roger Daltrey: 'Weather to blame for Glasto downturn'

The Who on the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage, Sunday June 24, 2007

Last year's Sunday night headliner also criticises line-up and prices

Apr 8, 2008
21 Comments
The Who news, reviews, video and tour dates
Add The Who to MyNME

The Who's Roger Daltrey has said that he blames both recent bad weather and the 2008 line-up for the downturn in demand for Glastonbury tickets this year.

Speaking to NME.COM, Daltrey, whose band headlined the last night of the festival last year, said that he wouldn't consider going to the festival as a punter if the weather mirrored that of the last two festivals.

"I blame the weather and line-up," he said, speaking of the downturn in the number of Glastonbury ticket registrants this year.

"I take my hat off to those people who were there last year," he continued. "I wouldn't have paid money to go and live like that for three days, to suffer like that. It's such an expensive festival too – SO expensive."

To read the full interview with Daltrey get the new issue of NME, out tomorrow (April 9).

Meanwhile Daltrey's annual Teenage Cancer Trust gigs kick off at the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 9.

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

Comments (21)

Add a comment

jamesheal

Apr 8, 2008

"I wouldn't have paid money to go an live like that"...."It's so expensive"......yeah, Roger, expensive innit? I'm sure you can find 170 quid stashed away in your millions....maybe if artists didn't take a fee for Glasto it would be cheaper.....

Soundedd

Apr 8, 2008

I have to say I disagree with the great man, it's simply an awful line up this year, absolute drissle. It wouldn't have look good in 1998 let alone 2008. I expected something along the lines of Coldplay on the Friday Night, Oasis on the Saturday and Led Zeppelin on the Sunday only that could have matched or better last years, fabulous line up of Arctics, The Killers and The Who. This year we have washed up has beens like The Verve who will never be more than a one hit wonder, Kings Of Leon, what does Noel Gallagher see in them, there awful, terrible voice and choruses like "Ow she's such a charmer, oh no", crap, asbolutle garbage. Finally you have a hip-hop man at a Rock festival, not for me, he's a legend in hip-hop but shouldn't be here, terrible, maybe next year aye.

TheHopper

Apr 8, 2008

to be fair, it WILL sell out. there are literally hundreds of bands to still be announced. it isn't a rock festival. i don't think mr eavis helped by suggesting that he didn't want as many 40 plusses attending this year and yet the bill seems more in tune with older people (leonard cohen, verve, neil diamond, etc) at the moment. i for one can't wait and just pray that it is sunny this year (still have nightmares about getting the coach at 3a.m. last year that didn't turn up)

gazmassie

Apr 8, 2008

Soundedd - "The Verve who will never be more than a one hit wonder" - Would that be Bittersweet Symphony that charted at Number 2 or would it be The Drugs Dont Work that got to number 1???? And it is obvious you have never had the pleasure of seeing Kings of Leon live either

ladypenelope

Apr 8, 2008

I only have one thing to say to those who are whining about Glasto, if you don't like it don't go!! I'm really looking forward to getting covered in mud and making friends with random nutters like last year. I also want to say that I was watching The Who last year and I thought they were awful.

joviangel

Apr 8, 2008

Yeah - blame the weather. That's the easiest way of all. And it's not as like it has rained & was muddy in the last years, right? *rollseyes* I'm really getting pissed when I hear that. For me it is deffo the shitty acts so far - not only the headliners (only the verve would freak me out - they're absolutely class live & do not deserve anything else but a headline slot) but the rest is shit too. I intented to buy tickets - but without knowing whos playing it's hard to spent that amount of money. So I decided to give V festi a chance...I'm not expecting a great line up as last year for Glasto anyway....After all I think it will be selling out anyway, but I personally hope for next time that they announce more acts prior....otherwise I don't see myself getting a ticket anytime in the future....

iharkis

Apr 8, 2008

Why is it that people insist on saying that this years slow sales are becuase of the three headliners? Surely the fact that normally you don't know who's playing til after you buy your ticket kind of puts paid to that arguement. And personally, I'm really looking forward to both KoL and the Verve. And will people please realise that so far about 30 or 40 bands have been announced, thats barely enoughto fill a couple of hours of one day, never mind a whole three day festival. Why don't people hold fire and wait to see the whole line up before they start slamming the festival. If you're the kind of person who is really so convinced that 90 minutes on ONE stage is going to ruin the entire week then perhaps Glasto will be better off without you. Personally, I'm so excited about this year I'm having trouble concentrating at work

maupa

Apr 8, 2008

So...The lead singer of the most overrated band of all time has a little dig at this years line up? The Verve and Kings of Leon are two of the most important bands of the last twenty years. As for Jay-Z, well, I remember a similar amount of bullshit spouted about Black Eyed Peas when they were announced for the main stage a few years ago. Big deal. Go and watch something else. There are literally thousands of amazing things to do and see at Glastonbury, and a frightening amount of people are completely missing the point as to what it's all about. Hasn't anyone noticed that the full lineup hasn't been announced yet? Why are all these idiots complaining about a poor lineup when only three acts have been officially confirmed? The stupidity of some people is astounding.

CinemaDan

Apr 8, 2008

Whoever goes to Glastonbury solely for the headlining bill is solely missing the point.Being dragged to the Pyramid Stage last year to watch The Arctic Monkeys and The Killers by the group I was with left me bored stupid longing for some fun. Yes fun.The night I spent in Lost Vagueness, mud and all on the other-hand however... :@)

rubbersoul7

Apr 8, 2008

Soundedd - congratulations, you have just proven that you don't know the first thing about music! You really think The Verve are one hit wonders? Not only have they had more than one hit (not that it makes one blind bit of difference when refering to a band's talent) but they are also one of the best bands around period. Anyone that went to their live shows before Christmas will testify to that. And as for Kings Of Leon, what the fuck are you talking about? Calebs voice is just incredible, they are amazing musicians and they have quality songs. To call them crap is an absolute joke! You think last years line up was fabulous do you? Bloody hell, you really do know fuck all! The Killers are shite and Arctic Monkeys can't hold a candle to the likes of KOL and The Verve. You'd be doing yourself and everyone else a massive favour if you didn't bother going to any festivals, ever again.

neweducation

Apr 8, 2008

I am getting proper bored of all these moaners. It would be nice to read something about Glastonbury that was positive... It's gonna be amazing! If you aren't going, unlucky. If you are... see you at the stone circle, what's for breakfast?Mud.... Bothered!Headliners... Bothered!Not sold out.. Definitely not bothered!Glastonbury is incredible, If Mike Flowers pops were headlining I'd go there instead of horrible corporate campaigns like V and Leeds.I can't wait.

RuiRuiRuiRui

Apr 8, 2008

I'm greatly amused that Soundedd considers the Killers to be an acceptable headliner on the strength of two disappointing albums, but dimisses Kings of Leon despite three absolutely cracking albums.

The Northern Lights

Apr 8, 2008

FAO Soundedd "This year we have washed up has beens like The Verve who will never be more than a one hit wonder".......Thank god people like you arent going. The Verve are the best rock and roll band of the last 20 years. BETTER THAN OASIS. The new Verve tunes are mindblowing, Noel and Oasis keep churning out the same old shite but everyone bums him. Roger Daultry is a cock in an overrated band, who never made a great album, just a couple of good singles. The Verve have 2 great albums, 3 come the summer, and will put on an AMAZING show to close the festival. Your loss

The Northern Lights

Apr 8, 2008

Since when did anyone go to a Festival purely based on the headliners anyway?!

Midgeman90

Apr 8, 2008

FAO 'The Northern Lights'- No offence mate...i respect your opinion and all, but The Verve don't come close to Oasis, Verve are a great band but they just aren't anywhere near as good as Oasis. End of. And Glasto will be mega whoever is on.

Soundedd

Apr 8, 2008

HaHa The Verve better than Oasis, thats given me a good laugh, haha. Ok so maybe not a one hit wonder, I've certainly only heard them because of Bitter Sweet Syphany though. Another thing that got to me, Kings Of Leon, one of the most important bands of all time?, How. Oasis now there not one of, but the most important band of the last 20 years. Also The Killers shite?, I don't think so sir, World class, and now rubbersoul you diss Arctics as well. HaHa Also Northern Lights, Noel is a god, Ashcroft is a twat, simple as that. Finally The Who are one of the greatest bands of all time, and Folan, thats a shit voice, Daltrey, thats a good voice. The Verve, I would rather stick pins in my eyes than listen to that shite, Roll on Oasis tour 2008.

sinister1

Apr 9, 2008

After last year's agonising and frustrating morning spent trying (and failing) to get tickets we decided to just opt for another festival this year. We are off to Werchter in Belgium where all 3 of this year's Glastonbury headliners are playing as well as Radiohead and REM along with many other great names. Although it won't be the same as Glastonbury's great choice of stages to go and see it was some consolation that the ticket-buying process took only 10 mins in total. A lot less stressful! Oh, and duty-free on the way home too!

henryadams

Apr 9, 2008

soundedd and arguers, thought i'd stay nuetral but comment on this article; Bittersweet Symphony was written not by The Verve but by two of Britains most succesfull songwriters, 2 guys named Jagger and Richards. Null and void as a success on the Verve's part as far as i'm concerned

hatekitty

Apr 9, 2008

Ok, this is getting silly (but the reason why the Stones are credited for the Verve track is because of the sample used and a whole load of legal crap, not because they composed the track in the first place). But i digress. Glastonbury this year has a lot of competition from an awful lot of fetsivals, whereas back in the day it was mainly Glastonbury, Reading, and maybe a couple others on the go. Now it's every other week there's some kind of festival somewhere. And this year they all seem to be having the same bands playing them all. I don't think it's because of a hip-hop act playing - the simple answer to that would be to not see them and go elsewhere to another tent if that was the case. Bad timing (early easter means less people get time off) and also the fact that people just can't afford to go and perhaps choose to go to another festival later in the year with the same acts. Just an idea. ;o)

JanenJoe

Apr 9, 2008

So Glastonbury is a Rock Festival now instead of being a Festival Of Contempary Arts? It shouldn't matter at all that one of the headliners is a "Hip Hop Man" as long as he's good (and he is). One of the best things about going to a festival like Glastonbury is the diverse choice of artists on the bill. If you don't like Jay-z then don't watch him but it will be your loss.

wellduhobviously

Apr 9, 2008

I went to Glastonbury twice, and was fortunate enough to catch some wonderful bands there; and there is more to it than just the music.That being said, I have to agree with Roger:- This year's headliners are average (not that The Who's addition to last year's bill made it any better)- The weather is always poxy- It is hugely over-priced- The facilities are revoltingI moved to the US last year and managed to experience Lollapalooza. It's cheaper, the line-ups have been consistently excellent for the last few years, and it's not in the middle of nowhere so transport and amenities are abundant. Oh, and the weather's gorgeous.Compared to other festivals, Glastonbury does have a lot of flaws. Regardless of your take on his music, Roger's on point.