Isle Of Wight organiser reveals why Fleetwood Mac snubbed Glastonbury
The band chose to headline Isle Of Wight festival
John Giddings, the man responsible for the annual Isle of Wight Festival, has claimed that money is the reason Fleetwood Mac chose his event over Glastonbury.
Fleetwood Mac will top the bill at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival alongside fellow headliners Blur, The Prodigy and The Black Keys.
However the US band was hotly tipped to headline Glastonbury this year, before Giddings secured them for his festival.
Speaking to Music Week, Giddings revealed his long struggle to book the ‘Dreams’ band and his joy at beating Glastonbury to the big booking.
“Michael Eavis said, ‘How did you get Fleetwood Mac? I said, I paid them!” he joked.
“Glastonbury are in a privileged position where they sell out in advance. They could book my granny and still have a festival.
“The rest of us are in the realms of having to book a decent line-up and make it attractive to people and want them to come.”
However Giddings conceded that this year’s bill builds up huge expectation for next year.
He said: “The trouble is as soon as you finalise a line-up and see people’s reaction when they find out it’s incredible. You start stressing about what you’re going to book the following year and if you can top it or not.”
Isle of Wight Festival takes place on 11th-14th June and boasts a line-up including Paolo Nutini, Pharrell Williams, Billy Idol, Kool & The Gang and much more.
Check out the full bill here.
Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks recently dedicated the song ‘Landslide’ to the watching Adele on the opening night of Fleetwood Mac’s UK tour in London.
Photo credit: Chris Pizzello/AP/Press Association Images