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I've never been to the Glastonbury festival, and it looks as if I am probably never going to go now. So what is stopping me from going? There are a few reasons as to why I haven't been before, but the main reason is that my taste in music tends to lean more towards heavy rock and generally there isn't a lot of that on offer at the Glastonbury Festival.
What really irritates me now however is the narrow-minded attitude of the festival organisers in regard to the bands that have been chosen for the line-up this year.
I found out today that they will not be including heavy rock bands because, and I quote "We've avoided that heavy American rock like Offspring because you get crowd surfing, and all those things that seem to cause problems " - from BBC NewsWhat gives? I saw that particular band at Milton-Keynes bowl, and although its not even close to the same scale as Glastonbury, I still didn’t see a line of stretchers going by.
Yes it’s true that there is usually some degree of crowd surfing and ‘moshing’ when a heavy rock band is on stage, but these shows usually take place without the stream of casualties and trouble that Michael Eavis our Glastonbury man seems to think will occur. And besides, if they concentrated more on security at the site (as I believe they are doing this year) and preventing people without tickets entering there would definitely be a lot less trouble.
The deaths that took place at Roskilde, in Denmark were very unfortunate, but I don’t think they should be jumping the gun and placing a ban on all heavy rock bands. Not everyone wants to come along to watch Rolf Harris and Rod Stewart, and the fact that bands such as Oasis and Radiohead didn’t want to perform means that this event must surely be loosing its appeal to a fair number of people.
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yeah they really should of brought in more heavy bands to boost the meth sales
30/06/14 Dead and Buried
0
I don't see the big deal with metal. Ive been to Glastonbury in 92 and 95 and really enjoyed the atmosphere and general vibe of the place. I like all kinds of music from folk, dance, electronic, world to metal and punk, no problem. There are many people at Glastonbury who love metal also but come there to appreciate the variety as i did.
The question whether metal bands should be allowed to play is debatable. Heavy Metal is well catered for with Download, Aardshock and other world metal events because it is a specialist genre that attracts a certain kind of person and attitude. I don't think mosh pits and crowd surfing is safe at Glastonbury its just not that kind of gig, however i appreciated Metallica who just played there but i watched it from home!
As a metal fan though i don't think it should be part of the event. Glasto is great as it is and keep it that way. Metal is well catered for elsewhere. I will add though i find the stereotyping of metal fans rather stupid. Most people that like metal also like all other kinds of music including the artists themselves but it is a genre that will i guess never be fully accepted into mainstream culture which perplexes me somewhat as metal bands sell the most worldwide.
30/06/14 Rush Shukla
The question whether metal bands should be allowed to play is debatable. Heavy Metal is well catered for with Download, Aardshock and other world metal events because it is a specialist genre that attracts a certain kind of person and attitude. I don't think mosh pits and crowd surfing is safe at Glastonbury its just not that kind of gig, however i appreciated Metallica who just played there but i watched it from home!
As a metal fan though i don't think it should be part of the event. Glasto is great as it is and keep it that way. Metal is well catered for elsewhere. I will add though i find the stereotyping of metal fans rather stupid. Most people that like metal also like all other kinds of music including the artists themselves but it is a genre that will i guess never be fully accepted into mainstream culture which perplexes me somewhat as metal bands sell the most worldwide.
0
To be fair, Metal festivals are the safest places you could possibly go to. But the best ones are put on for Metalheads BY Metalheads. Metal will never be mainstrem and neither should it ever be. Fashion? Pah! You can keep it.
Monsters of Rock was awesome when it was around, Download tends to be too emo. This years lineup had most of the bands I wanted to see on the Saturday with odd ones on the other days. Glastonbury is too varied, sure a stage dedicated to proper rock would attract me, but that wouldn't justify the ticket price for me. Like someone else has said a lot of people go for the atmosphere rather than the bands, but if I'm at a festival it's for the bands, so I go to Wacken Open Air in Germany, to see bands that I like or Download if it isn't too emo. I think Glastonbury has people that "get" it and people that don't. Maybe I'm one of the ones that doesn't.
30/06/13 Kipling
Monsters of Rock was awesome when it was around, Download tends to be too emo. This years lineup had most of the bands I wanted to see on the Saturday with odd ones on the other days. Glastonbury is too varied, sure a stage dedicated to proper rock would attract me, but that wouldn't justify the ticket price for me. Like someone else has said a lot of people go for the atmosphere rather than the bands, but if I'm at a festival it's for the bands, so I go to Wacken Open Air in Germany, to see bands that I like or Download if it isn't too emo. I think Glastonbury has people that "get" it and people that don't. Maybe I'm one of the ones that doesn't.
-1
The Offspring aren't even heavy! Crowdsurfing is based on the principle that you don't drop the person, and the first rule of a mosh put is if someone falls, you help them back up. Glastonbury has quite varied artists, but honestly, I'd rather go to T in the park or Download.
08/04/12 Holloway
2
Glasto has always been very light on the rock side of music, and completely ignored the metal side.
From watching various interviews with Eavis it seems, to me, these musical styles are not to his taste, ergo the above. Additionally for the past 10 years or so Glasto has become increasingly mainstream and keen to get away from the old 80's image of itself. From Eavis's point of view its not really that surprising considering the events at Glasto during the 80's and 90's very nearly brought about its demise.
Personally I'm disappointed that the once beacon of counter culture in the UK has turned into a mainstream, heavily corporate sponsored event. But at the end of the day the event has always been Eavis's vision, the current state of affairs is presumably what he wants then so be it
09/11/11 anonymouse
From watching various interviews with Eavis it seems, to me, these musical styles are not to his taste, ergo the above. Additionally for the past 10 years or so Glasto has become increasingly mainstream and keen to get away from the old 80's image of itself. From Eavis's point of view its not really that surprising considering the events at Glasto during the 80's and 90's very nearly brought about its demise.
Personally I'm disappointed that the once beacon of counter culture in the UK has turned into a mainstream, heavily corporate sponsored event. But at the end of the day the event has always been Eavis's vision, the current state of affairs is presumably what he wants then so be it
5
They don't take heavy metal bands because most heavy metal bands get mosh pits going, this means that Glastonbury would have too have more doctors on site. Furthermore most heavy metal bands enter some were that is new and clean and they leave with the place destroyed. SO THESE ARE THE REASON WHY THEY CAN'T GO TO GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
25/05/11 Anonymous
-10
Glastonbury will always be the best festival in the uk if you want metal go download if you want offspring go reading and hang out with sixteen year olds getting drunk on carling for the second time and throwing up and just to clarify you think glastonbury organisers are narrowminded? have you ever even seen a reading, leeds or download line up?
30/06/09 the truth
-35
Glastonbury will always be the best festival in the uk if you want metal go download if you want offspring go reading and hang out with sixteen year olds getting drunk on carling for the second time and throwing up and just to clarify you think glastonbury organisers are narrowminded? have you ever even seen a reading, leeds or download line up?
30/06/09 the truth
-2
I love metal music, but I don't agree that they should play at Glastonbury. That's not their demographic. If you want to see rock / metal bands, go to Leeds, Reading or Download, or go abroad and check out Bloodfest.
I've just got back from my second Glasto, and have to say it was completely amazing. You could have a great time without going to any bands at all. The community and the shear scale of the thing is immense.
By being so close minded you're missing out on an amazing life changing experience.
But no bother, I'll be there again next year, and it'll be you guys that miss out.
30/06/09 Tom
I've just got back from my second Glasto, and have to say it was completely amazing. You could have a great time without going to any bands at all. The community and the shear scale of the thing is immense.
By being so close minded you're missing out on an amazing life changing experience.
But no bother, I'll be there again next year, and it'll be you guys that miss out.
0
Metal fans should be glad that metal is banned from Glastonbury. It's just a pop festival. Same as those Radio One gigs that you get at the seaside.
23/06/09 WolvoExPunk
-2
I am so angry because I was so pumped up to check this festival out, and every time they announce a new line-up, the disappointment mounts.
And you know what, I've already got those tickets the months ago (plus I'll be flying in from asia).
For one thing, I do not understand the marketing style of "PRETENDING TO SELL OUT" when you've probably got tones of tics lying around everywhere, and trying to make some kinda artificial demand (just my opinion).
Another thing is, why all this hard sell tactics when the line up hasn't even been fully published???? It's only 2 months to the big show, and no list? What's going on?
Maybe it's because I'm new to Glastonbury, but I seriously think the organizer should learn a thing or two from the rock festivals in Japan (Fuji Rock anyone?).
I've been waiting for this gig for 6 months now, and I guess I'll make do with whatever they dish out.
Btw, what was up with Jay-Z being the headliner last year?
That put me of big time.
I want mayhem!!!!!!!!! Not bouncy crap hip hop or feel good country side nonsense!!!!
30/03/09 Nick
And you know what, I've already got those tickets the months ago (plus I'll be flying in from asia).
For one thing, I do not understand the marketing style of "PRETENDING TO SELL OUT" when you've probably got tones of tics lying around everywhere, and trying to make some kinda artificial demand (just my opinion).
Another thing is, why all this hard sell tactics when the line up hasn't even been fully published???? It's only 2 months to the big show, and no list? What's going on?
Maybe it's because I'm new to Glastonbury, but I seriously think the organizer should learn a thing or two from the rock festivals in Japan (Fuji Rock anyone?).
I've been waiting for this gig for 6 months now, and I guess I'll make do with whatever they dish out.
Btw, what was up with Jay-Z being the headliner last year?
That put me of big time.
I want mayhem!!!!!!!!! Not bouncy crap hip hop or feel good country side nonsense!!!!
-7
Yeah, Glastonbury blows chunks. Didn't they have some rap guy and that whinehouse woman there. I mean who would actually pay to see that kind of crud!
11/10/08 Glastonbury blows
-4
Metal will be round alot longer than Glastonbury, and it'll ALWAYS be the bigger dog.
11/10/08 The Trooper
-13
Please. Come to Mexico City, sometime.
Unknown Kisses.
Johana Does.
http://mx.geocities.com/johanadoes
11/05/08 Johana Does
Unknown Kisses.
Johana Does.
http://mx.geocities.com/johanadoes
2
BigTrev