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Benn talks MCR, 50 Cent and Daphne & Celeste
Reading and Leeds festival organiser Melvin Benn has said that 'you can never tell' who is going to get bottled at the event, and also referenced 'that' Daphne and Celeste set in the year 2000.
Speaking to Gigwise about the acts that have been less well received at the event, the Festival Republic boss said that Daphne and Celeste was perhaps not the wisest booking. He also paid tribute to My Chemical Romance for overcoming their bottling experience to return and headline, while adding that 50 Cent had 'an attitude problem' when he appeared on the Main Stage in 2004.
When asked what it is about these acts that didn't go down so well with the Reading and Leeds crowd, Benn responded: "It's impossible to know.
"Daphne and Celeste was just the wrong thing to do. It was meant to be a little light-hearted and it just backfired - no one got the lightheartedness of it. Being a very dedicated music audience, they didn't want to do 'lighthearted', they wanted another credible band and that was a lesson learned very quickly."
Watch footage of Daphne and Celeste being bottled at Reading Festival 2000 below:
When asked about the time 50 Cent was bottled in 2004, Benn said that it was entirely down to the rapper's 'attitude', and that hip hop was 'always welcome' at Reading and Leeds.
"50 Cent was very different," he said. "He brought the attitude on to the stage of being above and better than everyone and having seen it all and the crowd like their music and won't be told what to like and what not to like.
"They're very clear about that and I think it was just an attitude problem - it wasn't a genre problem. We've had hip hop and rap at the festival consistently year after year."
Watch 50 Cent being bottled at Reading in 2004 below:
Another band to be infamously bottled were My Chemical Romance, who received a very mixed response from the crowd when they played to promote their Black Parade album in 2006. However, the band continued throughout their set and later returned to headline the event in 2011, with a performance that was seen as 'a triumph' by many critics and also saw a guest appearance from Queen guitarist Brian May.
Melvin Benn continued: "My Chemical Romance was just one of those things where at the time, people thought that they were a bit light for Reading and Leeds.
"That said they came back and headlined two years ago and it was amazing. I saw them in Leeds and the place was rocking. There was absolutely no one complaining about it and they came through that and I am so pleased."
He added: "It was all about a period of time and they were strong enough, big enough and credible enough to come back and headline."
Watch highlights of My Chemical Romance's performance and bottling at Reading 2006 below:
Reading and Leeds festival takes place from Thursday 22 - Sunday 25 August with performances from Biffy Clyro, Eminem, Green Day, Foals, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, Chase & Status and many more. Reading tickets are completely sold out, but day and weekend tickets for Leeds are still available. For more information visit Gigwise gig tickets.
Below - The 23 coolest must-see acts at Reading and Leeds Festival 2013
The 1975: British pop-rock done properly. Expect a tent full of swooning teenage girls. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds.
Bipolar Sunshine: Soulful, feel-good R&B from a talent whose star is rapidly rising. Where: BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage - Sunday in Reading, Friday in Leeds.
Bondax: Evocative electronica from a dance duo that defy genres. Where: BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds.
Crystal Fighters: Not only are they a genre-defying out of body experience, but they're probably the best festival band on the planet. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds.
Drenge: Northern noise in the form of filthy blues grunge that forces MPs to resign. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds
Fenech-Soler: Dance yourself into oblivion with disco-dominating, sexy synth-pop. Where: BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
Ghostpoet: Making the ordinary seem extraordinary with streetwise trip-hop, don't miss this Mercury-nominated genius. Where: BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds
Jagwar Ma: It may be an Australian cliche, but everywhere that Jagwar Ma go, they always take the weather with them. Lose your mind and dance your face off to one of 2013's best new bands. Where: BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds
MO: Compared to the likes of Grimes for her sultry electronic music, Danish sensation MO cites Santigold and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as heavy influences. Sounds awesome, right? Right. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds.
Mount Kimbie: In a weird world where dub meets electronica via post-rock, you'll find the enigmatic sound of Mount Kimbie. Imagine the sound of a Gameboy malfunctioning underwater. It's pretty special. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Sunday in Reading, Friday in Leeds.
Savages: Dark post-punk from London's fiercest female four-piece. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds.
Deftones: When it comes to metal bands with imagination and integrity, they don't come any more awesome that the mighty Deftones. Expect hard moshing and deafening calls of "CHIIII-NOOOOO". Where: Main Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
British Sea Power: 'Exceed The National Average' is the in-band slogan of BSP. They certainly do that. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds
Dry The River: Heartfelt power-folk that makes Mumford & Sons look like posing posh-boys. Oh, wait. Where: BBC Radio 1 Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
Frightened Rabbit: Gigwise favourites F'Rabbit completely dominated Glastonbury and T In The Park this summer. Expect more brilliance at Reading and Leeds. Miss them at your peril. Where: BBC Radio 1 Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
Foals: Festival boss Melvin Benn has already marked Yannis and co as future headliners. If their career-defining sets at Glastonbury and Latitude are anything to go by, then it couldn't come a day too soon. Where: Main Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds
CHVRCHES: These Scottish pop-rockers are going to be absolutely massive in the next year, and rightly so. Catch them on a smaller stage while you still can. Where: Festival Republic Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
Peace: Birmingham's best-looking psych-rockers are the perfect way to wind away a hazy hungover afternoon. Where: BBC Radio 1 Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
Deap Vally: Get down and dirty with the duo who only know how to rock n' roll the good old fashioned way. Where: BBC Radio 1 Stage - Friday in Reading, Saturday in Leeds
Disclosure: Undeniably infectious dance from the true sound of 2013. Expect a smattering of special guest in what's likely to be a highlight of the weekend. Where: BBC Radio One Stage - Sunday in Reading, Friday in Leeds
Tame Impala: Aussie dream-rockers round off their Lonerism tour with a stomping set of psychedelic craziness. Where: BBC Radio 1 Stage - Saturday in Reading, Sunday in Leeds
Haim: Festival favourites Haim are sure to draw a huge crowd after dominating the airwaves with their R&B-tinged Americana. Expect a fair amount of twerking and some awesome bass faces from Este Haim. Where: BBC Radio 1 Stage - Sunday in Reading, Friday in Leeds
London Grammar: The hype around this young trio is completely and utterly justified. Prepare to be left utterly stunned by their captivating blend of subtle beats and soaring, classical sounds (if you're off the Leeds that is - they're not playing Reading, which is massively heartbreaking). Where: Alternative Stage - Transgressive Late Night Take Over, Leeds only.
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