Registration for tickets to the Glastonbury Festival re-opened today, following relatively sluggish sales since Sunday. In previous years, tickets to the three day British event sold out within hours, but over a fifth of the 137,000 tickets remained unsold after the first day. While some blamed the horrible weather that plagued the Festival over the last three years, others claimed that planned headliner Jay-Z was the cause of the lack of enthusiasm. And you know Hov doesn’t appreciate that.
After Jay-Z announced he would headline the upcoming four-day O2 Wireless Festival at Hyde Park (an indoor gig) a week after Glastonbury, rumors spread that he would drop out of the earlier festival, offended by claims that British campers aren’t psyched to wait through three days of mud (and bands like Kings Of Leon) to see him. Word even got out that Prince might replace him. But Glastonbury organizer Michael Eavis says such claims are rubbish.
Speaking to XFM, Eavis said that the reports of a possible Jay-Z cancellation were “completely unfounded” and “nasty, malicious rumours”.
“The Sun was carrying a story that he was pulling out,” he continued. “I’m not sure where they got from, probably from the people that were doing a show in London the following week [the Wireless festival in Hyde Park, which Jay-Z is set to headline], because they were tying to sell tickets for their show.”
Jay-Z’s great and all, but I really can’t think of a context where I would be disappointed if he wasn’t magically replaced by Prince. Songs, concerts, candid tabloid snaps with Beyonce–Prince would always be preferable.
Jay-Z Ready To Pull Out Of Glastonbury [FestivalWise]
Prince replacing Jay-Z at Glastonbury? [DigitalSpy]
Michael Eavis: ‘Jay-Z Is Not Pulling Out Of Glastonbury’ [NME]
Seems that Glasto jumped the shark. I’d love to see bands like Massive Attack or The Verve or Leonard Cohen or Fatboy Slim. But jay-z?
That’s just a shame. I won’t pay 155 quid to see jay-z.
Songs, concerts, candid tabloid snaps with Beyonce-Prince would always be preferable.
Running a label: there’s one place where I prefer Jigga. Yes, even after his lackluster Def Jam stint.
I loves me some Prince, but…
They should move it to Midsummer.
they’re putting a roof over hyde park?
last time i looked wireless was as outside as glasto, just not, y’know outside london…
people are not going to glastonbury this year because there were TOO MANY PEOPLE THERE last year. the rain and ridiculous ticketing arrangements are kind of secondary factors, getting around last year was just a complete pain.
oh, and the Kings of Leon, it’s definitely their fault.