Photo: Wenn
The Isle Of Wight Festival boss John Giddings has gone back on his claims that Ed Sheeran would make a 'boring' headliner - hailing him as a 'serious artist'.
Giddings made the news last year when he publically said: "Nobody can invest in building a band over five albums. And if boring acts like Ed Sheeran are the future then we're all screwed."
Sheeran soon tweeted Gigwise, explaining that Giddings' complaint may have another cause rather than mere musical differences. "He asked me to do the festival next year a few weeks ago funnily enough and I couldn't do it due to another gig."
Now, Giddings has spoken out in praise of Sheeran.
"I watch a TV show called Sons Of Anarchy and I’ve started getting the playlist on Spotify," he told Music Week
Speaking of the Sheeran spat, he added: "I’ve since met him and we had a good time together and laughed it off. It was a throwaway comment really. Good on him, he’s sold out three Wembley Stadiums and you can’t complain about that. The guy’s a serious artist."
Watch Ed Sheeran discussing the 'boring' claims with Gigwise below
Speaking to Gigwise about the incident, Sheeran said: "I don't mind people speaking their opinions, but I was definitely asked to do the festival," Sheeran told Gigwise. "If I'm boring, then don't ask me."
When asked who should be stepping up to top the bill in future, he continued: "I think to headline a festival it just takes a back catalogue of songs that people like. I'd say now there' definitely potential for people to get to that point, we just need to let artists get to that space. A band like Royal Blood could easily headline Glastonbury in like five to ten years."
He added: "I think in terms of headlining festivals, I think George Ezra will definitely do that - Ben Howard too, Hozier, Sam Smith, I reckon he could probably do that now."
Ed Sheeran's Wembley Stadium dates are below. For tickets and more information, visit here.
The full line up for each show will be:
Friday 10 July
Ed Sheeran
Onerepublic
Foy Vance
Saturday 11 July
Ed Sheeran
Rudimental
Example
Sunday 12 July
Ed Sheeran
Onerepublic
Passenger
