![Mumford & Sons - Reading + Leeds 2015: We're sure the organisers of Reading + Leeds didn't book one of the most divisive bands around thinking,]()
Mumford & Sons - Reading + Leeds 2015: We're sure the organisers of Reading + Leeds didn't book one of the most divisive bands around thinking, "Everyone will love this!" Mumford & Sons committed the heinous crime of becoming too popular, too quickly, and a significant proportion of the population turned against them. They've got more than a handful of huge, atmospheric songs up their sleeve though, and we're fairly sure most who watch their set will be won over.
![Muse - Download 2015: Though a hell of a lot of people are ecstatic about this announcement, many hardcore Download fans have been quick to question whether Muse can be classed as 'hard rock'. We're paraphrasing here, what they actually said was a lot ruder. Fellow headliners Slipknot will give Download fans the heavy hit they need though, and should leave them more open to a touch of anthemic rock from one of the best live acts around.]()
Muse - Download 2015: Though a hell of a lot of people are ecstatic about this announcement, many hardcore Download fans have been quick to question whether Muse can be classed as 'hard rock'. We're paraphrasing here, what they actually said was a lot ruder. Fellow headliners Slipknot will give Download fans the heavy hit they need though, and should leave them more open to a touch of anthemic rock from one of the best live acts around.
![Metallica - Glastonbury 2014: The controversy that surrounded the announcement of the 'Enter Sandman' icons to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage this year was inescapable. Some were furious it wasn't Prince or Fleetwood Mac, others (understandably) angry at their support of bear hunting. They're one of the biggest bands on the planet, proud to have brought hard rock to the mainstream, and brought something truly historic.]()
Metallica - Glastonbury 2014: The controversy that surrounded the announcement of the 'Enter Sandman' icons to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage this year was inescapable. Some were furious it wasn't Prince or Fleetwood Mac, others (understandably) angry at their support of bear hunting. They're one of the biggest bands on the planet, proud to have brought hard rock to the mainstream, and brought something truly historic.
![Avenged Sevenfold - Download 2014: A7X were met with controversy when they were announced to headline the hallowed stage at Donington Park this year - presumably because they aren't the usual monolithic legacy rockers we've come to expect. But it's important for newer hard rock bands to step up to the plate, and AS absolutely smashed it.]()
Avenged Sevenfold - Download 2014: A7X were met with controversy when they were announced to headline the hallowed stage at Donington Park this year - presumably because they aren't the usual monolithic legacy rockers we've come to expect. But it's important for newer hard rock bands to step up to the plate, and AS absolutely smashed it.
![Muse - Glastonbury 2004: Yes, believe it or not, Matt Bellamy and co have not always been the supermassive stadium weirdos that they are today. In 2004, Absolution marked their first true mainstream breakthrough album and saw them embark on their first arena tour. But they were yet to headline a major UK festival - were they ready for Glasto? HELL YES. Their Pyramid Stage set truly launched them into the stratosphere, but the event was sadly marred by tragedy when drummer Dom Howard's father died on the Worthy Farm site shortly after their performance.]()
Muse - Glastonbury 2004: Yes, believe it or not, Matt Bellamy and co have not always been the supermassive stadium weirdos that they are today. In 2004, Absolution marked their first true mainstream breakthrough album and saw them embark on their first arena tour. But they were yet to headline a major UK festival - were they ready for Glasto? HELL YES. Their Pyramid Stage set truly launched them into the stratosphere, but the event was sadly marred by tragedy when drummer Dom Howard's father died on the Worthy Farm site shortly after their performance.
![Blink 182 - Reading & Leeds 2014: Yes, Blink's pop-punk anthemics didn't sit too well with many of R&L's rock-based and indie giant faithful when they played back in 2010 either, but they pulled off a pretty impressive set.]()
Blink 182 - Reading & Leeds 2014: Yes, Blink's pop-punk anthemics didn't sit too well with many of R&L's rock-based and indie giant faithful when they played back in 2010 either, but they pulled off a pretty impressive set.
![Pulp - Glastonbury 1995: Stepping in to replace The Stone Roses at the last minute, Jarvis Cocker and his rag-tag band of Sheffield ruffians only just tasted mainstream success with the chart-topping 'Common People' the month before, despite months of toil. Was it enough to conquer the Pyramid Stage? Well, history speaks for itself.]()
Pulp - Glastonbury 1995: Stepping in to replace The Stone Roses at the last minute, Jarvis Cocker and his rag-tag band of Sheffield ruffians only just tasted mainstream success with the chart-topping 'Common People' the month before, despite months of toil. Was it enough to conquer the Pyramid Stage? Well, history speaks for itself.
![The Prodigy - Download 2012: Joined by fellow ravers Chase & Status, this combo invited the usual sneers of 'THEY'RE NOT METAL!' No, but they were awesome.]()
The Prodigy - Download 2012: Joined by fellow ravers Chase & Status, this combo invited the usual sneers of 'THEY'RE NOT METAL!' No, but they were awesome.
![The National - Latitude 2011: They'd only headlined the smaller Word Arena tent the year before. Had that much really changed for them to make it necessary to return just 12 months later and jump straight to the top of the bill on the main stage? Well, not really - but that didn't stop The National delivering another absolutely game-changing performance.]()
The National - Latitude 2011: They'd only headlined the smaller Word Arena tent the year before. Had that much really changed for them to make it necessary to return just 12 months later and jump straight to the top of the bill on the main stage? Well, not really - but that didn't stop The National delivering another absolutely game-changing performance.
![My Chemical Romance - Reading & Leeds 2011: After year's of people bottling Gerard Way and his poor emo mates, many took bets on the same happening again when they topped the main stage in 2011. It was pretty glorious and career-defining of course, with even Queen's Brian May joining the party.]()
My Chemical Romance - Reading & Leeds 2011: After year's of people bottling Gerard Way and his poor emo mates, many took bets on the same happening again when they topped the main stage in 2011. It was pretty glorious and career-defining of course, with even Queen's Brian May joining the party.
![Kings of Leon - Glastonbury 2008: Sure, Caleb and co were no strangers to going down a storm at major festivals - but 'Sex On Fire' was yet to fire them into the stratosphere. Many raised an eyebrow at whether they could fill the muddy wellington boots that the Pyramid Stage at Glasto demands. Of course they bloody could.]()
Kings of Leon - Glastonbury 2008: Sure, Caleb and co were no strangers to going down a storm at major festivals - but 'Sex On Fire' was yet to fire them into the stratosphere. Many raised an eyebrow at whether they could fill the muddy wellington boots that the Pyramid Stage at Glasto demands. Of course they bloody could.
![Jay Z - Glastonbury 2008:]()
Jay Z - Glastonbury 2008: "I'm not 'aving hip-hop at Glastonbury - it's wrong," grunted Noel Gallagher when Hov was announced in 2008. PAH! The rest is, quite literally, musical history.
![Interpol - Latitude 2008: Their third LP Our Love To Admire divided opinion as somewhat of an acquired taste. But as the dapper New York foursome took to the Suffolk stage in their suits as the rain lashed down for a lesson in pure post-punk majesty, you'd struggle to find a more perfect booking.]()
Interpol - Latitude 2008: Their third LP Our Love To Admire divided opinion as somewhat of an acquired taste. But as the dapper New York foursome took to the Suffolk stage in their suits as the rain lashed down for a lesson in pure post-punk majesty, you'd struggle to find a more perfect booking.
![Franz Ferdinand - Reading & Leeds 2006: Muse had just gone supermassive and the mighty rock icons Pearl Jam had returned. Completing the trio of bill-toppers in 2006 were Franz Ferdinand. Just two albums into their career, many sneered at Alex Kapranos and co as a gimmick better left forgotten. However, with sass, anthems, hedonism, robot legs and a whole lot of dancing, Franz made R&L feel oh so 'lucky lucky'.]()
Franz Ferdinand - Reading & Leeds 2006: Muse had just gone supermassive and the mighty rock icons Pearl Jam had returned. Completing the trio of bill-toppers in 2006 were Franz Ferdinand. Just two albums into their career, many sneered at Alex Kapranos and co as a gimmick better left forgotten. However, with sass, anthems, hedonism, robot legs and a whole lot of dancing, Franz made R&L feel oh so 'lucky lucky'.
![Fatboy Slim - Bestival 2013: Bestival-goers has been spoiled rotten with the likes of New Order, The Cure, Bjork, Stevie Wonder and more in the years leading up to the 2013, leaving many feeling a little cold when Fatboy was announced as the Saturday night headliner. He usually played in the big top after hours most years after all, what made him a worthy main stage headliner? The answer: one hell of a good time.]()
Fatboy Slim - Bestival 2013: Bestival-goers has been spoiled rotten with the likes of New Order, The Cure, Bjork, Stevie Wonder and more in the years leading up to the 2013, leaving many feeling a little cold when Fatboy was announced as the Saturday night headliner. He usually played in the big top after hours most years after all, what made him a worthy main stage headliner? The answer: one hell of a good time.
![Biffy Clyro - Sonisphere 2011: 'Biffy who?' grunted an army of metalheads when the 'Biff were announced to the top the bill, throwing their horns as they questioned if Biffy were 'hard' enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Metallica and Slipknot. As it turned out, they were, as they paved their way to headlining Reading & Leeds the years that followed.]()
Biffy Clyro - Sonisphere 2011: 'Biffy who?' grunted an army of metalheads when the 'Biff were announced to the top the bill, throwing their horns as they questioned if Biffy were 'hard' enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Metallica and Slipknot. As it turned out, they were, as they paved their way to headlining Reading & Leeds the years that followed.
![Beyonce - Glastonbury 2011: Of course, the usual naysayers said 'nay' when Queen Bey was announced as the headliner of Glasto a few years ago, instead of some dinosaur of rock. She totally killed it, of course - including her Kings Of Leon cover.]()
Beyonce - Glastonbury 2011: Of course, the usual naysayers said 'nay' when Queen Bey was announced as the headliner of Glasto a few years ago, instead of some dinosaur of rock. She totally killed it, of course - including her Kings Of Leon cover.
