A large number of Glastonbury festival-goers have reacted negatively to the news of Kanye West headlining this year's event.

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West will headline the Saturday night of the Worthy Farm event, with organiser Emily Eavis announcing the news on Monday night (March 16). Eavis wrote on Twitter: "We are thrilled to let you know we have the one and only Kanye West headlining Saturday night on the Pyramid stage!"

However, many fans have taken to Twitter to express their anger. One fan wrote: "If Kanye West is headlining glastonbury I'm sending my ticket back. What a shocking shocking idea. He doesn't belong anywhere near it." Others called the announcement a "bandwagon booking".

Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/83594#MlxA3eGZR42KH2hs.99

In the meantime, a petition has also been launched to prevent West from performing at the festival.

The petition - titled 'Cancel Kanye West's headline slot and get a rock band' - reads: "Kanye West is an insult to music fans all over the world. We spend hundreds of pounds to attend glasto, and by doing so, expect a certain level of entertainment."

"Kanye has been very outspoken on his views on music....he should listen to his own advice and pass his headline slot on to someone deserving! Lets prevent this musical injustice now!"

NME spoke to the person who set up the petition - you can read their comments here.

21,000 people have currently signed the petition, while Glastonbury Festival boasts an annual audience of approximately 135,000 overall. Already confirmed to appear at the festival, which takes place between June 24-28, are Friday night headliners Foo Fighters and Lionel Richie.

Earlier in March Kanye West performed a last minute show at London's KOKO venue. Read the NME review.

Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/83594#MlxA3eGZR42KH2hs.99

 Ouze wrote:
Not sure why so many people feel so strongly about Kanye. I mean, sure, he seems like sort of a dick, and I personally am not into his music, but his offenses don't seem to scale with the vitriol. What exactly did he do to be so despised? Not be humble enough? Man, if I had 20 odd Grammy awards, I'd probably never shut up about it either.

Every year when we announce who’s playing at Glastonbury there are complaints and often outrage. We’re well used to that. Scrutiny of our headliners has become something of a national pastime. We’ve had it in recent years with Jay Z, Beyoncé, Metallica and plenty of others. We even had it in 1984 when we booked the Smiths, because people wanted Hawkwind again! This year is no different.

In normal circumstances, we wouldn’t add to the story by commenting. But given the enormous amount of media coverage from all corners of the globe we felt compelled to respond this time.

The Glastonbury festival of contemporary performing arts is the full name of our festival, and my dad and I love doing what we do: working with great, creative people and being able to curate so much music, art, theatre and circus, not to mention the political and green debate.

It’s a feast of culture and diversity that is spread out over 1,000 acres for everyone who makes the pilgrimage to Worthy Farm to enjoy. The people that come here are, we hope, open-minded and they come to experience and devour all of this. At any one time, there are hundreds of things to see and do.

We think the story this year should not be: “Why is Kanye coming?” but: “How amazing is it that Kanye is coming?” One of the world’s biggest superstars and a music legend, always interesting, never boring. He has agreed to play a festival where headliners get paid a fraction of their normal rate in support of Oxfam, Water Aid and Greenpeace as well as thousands of other worthy causes. We think that’s pretty great.

To say that our headliners should be “rock” is, I think, a bit silly. Those acts never have been limited to rock, and they never will be. Stevie Wonder, the Prodigy, Curtis Mayfield, the Chemical Brothers, Jay Z, Gorillaz, Beyoncé and plenty of others prove that.

I’ve realised over the years of announcing line ups that, literally, whoever you reveal will be met with some hate online. I have such faith in humanity, but believe me, some of the vitriol being thrown around this week has made me question the dark underbelly of the web. Who are those people silently shouting in disgust, throwing out threats from behind their screens? It certainly isn’t pleasant to be on the receiving end of that. I can’t even imagine how it makes Kanye feel.

I’ve seen people this week saying that Kanye shouldn’t appear because, in their opinion, he’s not a positive role model or because they think he’s too self-assured. We book our acts by choosing the best and most challenging musicians on the planet – not by applying some kind of arbitrary morality test.

But I would also remind people that this a man who made a version of a worldwide hit single which highlighted the social issues that conflict diamonds cause in west Africa. And wouldn’t you have a bit of a spring in your step if you’d won 21 Grammys?

It’s important to point out that the signatories of the petition are not limited to ticket holders. From what we can see, an awful lot of them aren’t even from the UK. Even the originator of the petition admits that he has never actually been to the festival.

Clearly, the petition has given sections of the worldwide media a pretext upon which to hang a negative Kanye story. But I’m told that there were only four more requests for ticket refunds on the day after we announced Kanye’s performance than there had been the previous Tuesday. The overwhelming majority of our 135,000 ticket-holders are clearly not too concerned by that particular two-hour slot on one of the 100 stages at our five-day event.

Our message to the man who started the petition is that like any other ticket-holder, he is very welcome to get a refund. But better still, come to the festival and open your mind to some wonderful music and performances from all corners of the world. We work year-round with the goal of making the event as good as it can be. Hopefully, once you’ve been to the festival, you’ll be more willing to give us the benefit of any doubt.

Ultimately, there is no question in my mind that we have got one of the greatest artists of his generation headlining, and we have no regrets at all about booking him. As the late, great Glastonbury regular Lou Reed said about Kanye:
“The guy really, really, really is talented. He’s really trying to raise the bar. No one’s near doing what he’s doing, it’s not even on the same planet.”
And we’ve got him coming to our farm! In rural Somerset! That’s great, right? I certainly can’t wait to see his performance.

Computron wrote:
Glastonbury is a Rock concert, Kanye is a hip hop artist, why would anyone have asked him?

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Also Taylor Swift was practically still a kid when he ripped her apart in front of the entire world and made her feel like gak. The man is utter scum and deserves nothing but hatred and ridicule. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment, and I hope no long term emotional scarring happened to her for his actions, but it's quite possible at that age and environment.

Honestly, and I realize this won't endear me to some, I have no respect for people who like him. None. Blanket statement. I call my best friend an idiot every time the discussion about Gold-Digger comes up. He liked it when it first came out, hasn't listened to it in years. He likes the song and doesn't give a crap about the man. So I'm mostly teasing him for having bad taste in music. A further blanket statement: if you like Kanye's music, you have terrible taste in music. Should probably take a pick-axe to your eardrums and do yourself a favor.

 Bullockist wrote:


Beyonce is an overrated pop star that has tracks written for her by other people, unless the video was far superior (which i doubt as it probably featured beyonce in a black leotard) i don't see the separation from taylor swift, they both do the same thing (sans black leotard for one of them)

 angelofvengeance wrote:
One word- MONEY

Also- IMO there is no real talent applied to Rap music. It's just morons flashing cash and "b*tches" and crotch grabbing nonsense. At least where other genres are concerned, there is some sense of people working bloody hard to master various musical instruments/their voice.

 Orlanth wrote:

You say:

Computron wrote:
Glastonbury is a Rock concert, Kanye is a hip hop artist, why would anyone have asked him?

The organisers say:

'To say that our headliners should be “rock” is, I think, a bit silly. Those acts never have been limited to rock, and they never will be. Stevie Wonder, the Prodigy, Curtis Mayfield, the Chemical Brothers, Jay Z, Gorillaz, Beyoncé and plenty of others prove that.'

 Albatross wrote:



Can you even play a single instrument? Anything?

 Albatross wrote:

On the contrary, having a deeper understanding of music means I am able to appreciate different styles and genres on their own merit

making moronic statements to the effect of 'I don't like this [...], therefore you are an idiot.'

 angelofvengeance wrote:

 Albatross wrote:

 angelofvengeance wrote:
One word- MONEY

Also- IMO there is no real talent applied to Rap music. It's just morons flashing cash and "b*tches" and crotch grabbing nonsense. At least where other genres are concerned, there is some sense of people working bloody hard to master various musical instruments/their voice.

Can you rap? Scratch? Make beats?

Can you even play a single instrument? Anything?

I can't play an instrument no. But I am entitled to my opinion same as you.

Rap may as well be spoken word with one of those kids books with the little "push me to make x sound" buttons in.

 Sigvatr wrote:

 Albatross wrote:

On the contrary, having a deeper understanding of music means I am able to appreciate different styles and genres on their own merit

making moronic statements to the effect of 'I don't like this [...], therefore you are an idiot.'

 Slarg232 wrote:

As much as I respect you and your music (BTW, when are you going to release another album like the last one?), it does not take the ability to create anything in order to critique it.

 angelofvengeance wrote:
How about you stop telling me what you think I mean, OK? You're also veering off topic to rant at people about how you having a music degree (which you're making very good use of in your job of Financial Services) makes you superior in all music knowledge, past present and future apparently.

Random Person 1: I can't respect anyone that likes Kanye West. In fact, liking Kanye West means you have terrible taste in music.

Me: Well, I have a degree in music. I also happen to like Kanye West. You're being silly.

Random Person 2: Hip-hop sucks, it requires no skill, not like other types of music that actually do require skill.

Me: Do you possess ANY of those skills?

Random Person 2: No.

Me: So what qualifies you to comment on the relative levels of skill required?

 cincydooley wrote:
While I actually agree with you, Albatross, I think your approach could be better.

I think Kanye's first two albums (CD and LR) are both fantastic. Lots of really revolutionary stuff for the genre. He actually had a lot to say with a pretty unique perspective.

Graduation was okay. It had a few solid tracks, but nothing nearly as strong as the first two albums. Can't Tell me Nothing is probably the best track on the album, but really didn't get nearly enough play. Stronger and Flashing lights are both good "pop-hop" tracks.

I think 808s is crap. It's an album that's basically full of a guy that can't sing trying to sing through autotune. When the best song from the album is made better by an acapella group, there's a problem.

Dark Twisted Fantasy is, IMO, as strong as Late Registration, but I'm also a fan of progressive and experimental gak, which Dark Twisted absolutely is. As such, a lot of hip hop fans hated it. He also got the most help with this album from a lot of other very, very good artists.

Yeeuz has Kanye at the height of his egocentrism, and it shows. I don't particularly like the album, but I think Black Skinhead and New Slaves are his two strongest songs, lyrically and message-wise, since Diamonds from Sierra Leone.

I can only play two instruments and sing, and don't have a degree in music at all, so my opinion probably doesn't matter.

I've listened to everything he's done. I like a fair amount of it. I still think he's a hypocritical, egotistical, POS.

*This thread forced me to pull out College Dropout and Late Registration again, and wow, those two albums really hold up well.

 timetowaste85 wrote:

 Albatross wrote:

 timetowaste85 wrote:
^Good for you? You may have more knowledge, but as the Joker said: "[you have] terrible taste".*

On the contrary, having a deeper understanding of music means I am able to appreciate different styles and genres on their own merit, instead of making moronic statements to the effect of 'I don't like this (critically acclaimed, incredibly popular, multi-million-selling) thing - you do, therefore you are an idiot.'

This is actually a real response to this and your previous comment to me (I was limited on time before):

Having a degree in music and the ability to play 5 instruments doesn't make you a better judge of talent. Let's use this for example: I have a masters degree in English. I went to college to be an English teacher. If I said "Mat Ward is a great writer!", it would be an opinion (and a crappy one at that!), and most people would call me out for it. I can't just say "you guys are wrong because I have a degree in the subject!" Who cares? Honestly. It makes you sound like an egotist. And nobody would take that crappy attitude seriously; which is the same attitude you expressed by talking about being a better judge from your educational background.

 Orlanth wrote:

 Albatross wrote:

 Orlanth wrote:

 Albatross wrote:

 timetowaste85 wrote:
^Good for you? You may have more knowledge, but as the Joker said: "[you have] terrible taste".*

On the contrary, having a deeper understanding of music means I am able to appreciate different styles and genres on their own merit, instead of making moronic statements to the effect of 'I don't like this (critically acclaimed, incredibly popular, multi-million-selling) thing - you do, therefore you are an idiot.'

You have a point Albatross, but are very close to the trap of dismissing a non professional; opinion purely on the grounds of accreditation.
All too often those on the inside are the last to see with fresh vision.

Are you all winding me up at this point!? This isn't about me saying that I have a degree therefore I am right, and that Kanye is a great musician on that basis. REPEAT: That is not what I'm saying. That is not a reasonable thing to say. I am aware of that. I am responding to Random Person 1, who said that anyone who likes Kanye has bad taste. I have a degree in music, I therefore don't think it's reasonable to claim I have bad taste in music, simply because I enjoy 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'. I know music PhDs that like Kanye's music - do THEY have bad taste in music also?

No this is not a wind up. My beef with your comments was that you told the other guy his opinion was inferior because he didn't play five instruments like you do.
Its the same 'professional' Hubris that leads to calamities from WW1 generals to GW games designers, with a long detour though much of the social work profession.

Playing those instruments may give you insight, but insight isn't an exclusive club for performers, one can learn to appreciate music without. You can even be a professional musician without, even a talented one. A lot of modern musicians cannot read sheet music, but know what they can do and some are very clearly talented. Jay Kay is an example of this.

 Bangbangboom wrote:
...and is albatross elitist?

 Bullockist wrote:

 Albatross wrote:


If you think Beyonce and Taylor Swift are the same thing, you're probably not qualified to comment. I mean, your opinion on music is literally worthless.

Right, so although i outlined why i think they are the same, my opinion is completely worthless . I like what I like, and beyonce and taylor swift both hold the same position in my heart, over produced crap that is designed solely to sell. I don't have much time for it really, I'm glad you do musician god.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Try some Bad Company or Billy Joel, and see what real music is.

 cincydooley wrote:

PhantomViper wrote:


I haven't heard of a single thing made by West that isn't absolute garbage, just because it sells well doesn't make it any less garbage.

I think this has more to do with your appreciation of hip-hop as a genre than it does on Kanye's music.

While (IMO) he's a middling lyricist at best, he's done a lot with hip hop production that has pushed the genre forward in a number of ways. While melding genre's has been done in the past (see: Walk This Way, etc.), West has done it with a lot of different genres that continue to push hip-hop forward.

I think a lot of screamy rock is garbage. My ears do not like it. But that doesn't prevent me from recognizing that those guys can play the hell out of their instruments and that their horrible gravelly "singing" isn't absolutely a difficult skill. I'm consistently amazed how they can do it without shredding their voices.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Kanye is better than Bad Company and Billy Joel? Hahahahahahahaha. Thanks. I needed that laugh. You really had me going, until this comment. I actually believed you liked Kanye and were serious, until you said that and proved you were trolling all along. Good show, sir.

Baby, if I think about you, I think about love
Darlin' if I live without you, I live without love
And if I had the sun and moon, we will shine them
I would give you both night and day of satisfyn'

Feel like makin'
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love to you

Inter century anthems based off inner city tantrums
Based off the way we was branded
Face it, Jerome get more time than Brandon
And at the airport they check all through my bag
And tell me that it’s random
But we stay winning, this week has been a bad massage
I need a happy ending and a new beginning
And a new fitted, and some job opportunities that's lucrative
This the real world, homie, school finished
They done stole your dreams, you dunno who did it
I treat the cash the way the government treats AIDS
I won’t be satisfied til all my n****s get it, get it?

 timetowaste85 wrote:
I know Bad Company had a few band changes over the year, but the stylistics I was most used to were around the time of Holy Water. Which was a brilliant album. I stole my dad's copy when I was a kid and never returned it. They covered love, gang fights and loss, and everything inbetween on that album. But, if BC is not your thing, argue that Journey or The Eagles are worse than Kanye. Boston. Led Zepplin. Lynard Skynard. Ozzy/Black Sabbath.

I'm not even listing my favorite bands, because my favorites are in a small niche: I like Offspring and Alkaline Trio. Top two bands. But I'm leaving them out of the running, because I know they don't even hold a candle to some of the big dogs. And I accept that.

Actually, your liking Kanye given the fact that Kanye doesn't play an instrument at all is the biggest shock, what with your appreciation and background. I would think you'd consider people who can sing and play an instrument (or many) would deserve more praise than a guy who can only do beatbox poetry with a heavy amount of cursing.

 Albatross wrote:
ITT: Nerds wishing rock music was still relevant. Kanye is the natural choice to headline Glastonbury. He's the biggest artist in the world right now.

So he's a bit outspoken at times, big deal. Jimmy Page abused a 14 year old girl. Presumably you would be OK with a reformed Led Zep playing?

 daedalus wrote:
Seriously, there's only three things America does better than anyone else:

1: Microcode (software)
2: Rock n' roll
3: High speed pizza delivery