Music Blogs

Jay-Z is headlining Glastonbury!

That has basically been the news of the week.

It's that time of year - on the NME newsdesk at least - where all anyone's talking about is the names are leaking through of who will headline the summer festivals. And now there's even more festivals than ever before, that means more news avanches than ever, starting from now til the end of spring. Seriously, it's the difference between a great summer and the alternative.

Metal fiesta Download got in there first with the full announcement, dropping its three biggies all at once. Kiss, The Offspring and Lostprophets will headline the iconic rock scrum at Donington Racetrack (history has it that 'Download' will always be called 'Donington' really).

Kiss fit the bill pretty much for the 'legend's slot', though I would raise an eyebrow about whether they might be a bit too garish for what that crowd are used to. South Wales heroes Lostprophets have arguably been a bigger deal in the US that back over here, so there'll be plenty of fingers crossed on a victory, But last year at Dowload, My Chemical Romance made their only real misfire, with their production-heavy pyro freakshow losing plenty in the stripping back to a festival set-up, and the band looking less-than-comfortable at the height of all their line-up reshuffles. So you have to wonder than if the great MCR don't pull it off, can Lostprophets manage?

But whatever. The BIG news is Jay-Z at Glastonbury. Jay-Z! At the greatest show on Earth! He's a complete curveball from what a Glasto headliner usually looks like - think the adultrock likes of Radiohead, Coldplay, The Killers and Brit classic rock legends like Sir Paul, The Who are Rod Stewart. Arctic Monkeys pulled it off last year, but festival founder (and indeed, festival farmer) Michael Eavis told last year of how he wants "the NME generation back" on his farm, following a distinct lack of younger music fans last year being blamed on an adult-oriented line-up.

Eavis said that the choice was a chance to "break with tradition and put on something totally different. He will appeal to the young people and under-25s for sure, so that's a big pull for them. It's not like the traditional one we do, like Radiohead, Coldplay, Muse and Oasis."

For sure it's not.

Could the Jigga be the man to make Glasto get its groove back? I reckon so. Or certainly, hope. For one, the fest needed a sharp tug into the right century, and secondly, the man was born to headline a British festival. Think of the guests he can bring on! Chris Martin seems a dead cert for some sort of appearance, being best friends with both camps. And even if Rihanna can't be there herself (and she certainly should be), can you think of a better anthem for the perma-drenched Glastonbury than 'Umbrella'? Not only does that song sum up the meteorology of the world's greatest rock festival, its innuendo-laden message of friendship to the end gets into a pretty perfect nutshell the spirit of it as well.

Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Kylie Minogue (she was booked in 2005 before her cancer diagnosis forced a cancellation) and The Verve have all been whispered about as potential headliners. It seems unlikely that they'd book two non-rockers, so that rules out Kylie. Organisers were holding a slot open for Led Zep just in case they decide to continue the reunion (and maybe they still are). Which, if they do, leaves two more slots. Radiohead or The Verve people - who would you rather see?

Otherwise, the highlight of my week as a visit to Manchester for the ShockWaves NME Awards Tour. All bands played a blinder, but Johnny Marr's guest appearance with The Cribs, playing 'Panic' in Manchester for the first time since 1986 was approached sexual levels of excitement.

And finally, a special mention for Queens Of The Stone Age, who return to the UK with (I'll be heading out with them next week). Today they launched their YouTube Makeout Competition - the best use for the Internet that I've heard in, ooh, days at least. Fans are invited to come up with the hottest video of making out with each other to the band's recent hit 'Make It Wit Chu'. Let's get it on, shall we? Yes? Good.