Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl recently recently broke his leg when losing his footing on stage in Gothenburg, Sweden. As a result, the band have had to cancel the remainder of their UK and European tour dates. This, sadly, means that those of you who are heading to the West Country next weekend won’t be able to see the American rockers on the Pyramid Stage.
Glastonbury’s organisers had already said that they have a contingency plan in place, should they have to deal with a cancellation. Now that it has become a reality, some of The Edge’s writers have come up with 12 artists who they can see replacing The Foo in that Friday headline spot.
Biffy Clyro
Who could you replace a legendary rock band with? Enter another rock band who are very quickly gaining legendary status – Biffy Clyro. Guitars? Check. Nice guys who would happily do it? Check. Songs everyone knows? Check (thanks Matt Cardle). The three-piece smashed Reading and Leeds in 2013, and T in the Park last year, so it’s only a matter of time before the Scots headline Glasto. ‘Mon the Biff!
Words by Toby Leveson
Coldplay
Even though the four-piece are on a small hiatus at the moment, the band could headline any festival in the world – the obvious act to replace the Foos. They’ve played the festival multiple times, the last in 2011, and are a ‘safe’ bet alongside the controversial Kanye choice, as everyone has a soft spot for them. It was also confirmed earlier in the year that frontman Chris Martin will be involved with another of the Glasto headliners, The Who. So if he’s already there…
Words by Marcus Bridgland
Queen with Adam Lambert
Who better to replace the Foo Fighters and easily upstage a certain Mr. West than arguably the country’s favourite rock band of all-time? Queen have countless hits that can get tens of thousands of people singing along to every word (ask anyone who was at Live Aid in 1985…) and would quite easily get the Glastonbury crowd into the palms of their hands within minutes. Since the passing of dear Freddie, the band have struggled to find another frontman who can do the greatest frontman of all-time proud. However, when they decided to team-up with former American Idol finalist Adam Lambert last year, they found his reincarnation. Lambert has a vocal range that many established artists can only dream of, and he accompanies this with a stage presence that is second-to-none. When Queen and Adam Lambert performed on the BBC in the build-up to New Year in December, I honestly left the party, went to my room and watched it all on my own because I was in such awe. Glastonbury organisers, if you’re reading this and you’re just bluffing with that contingency plan, please give Brian May a ring!
Words by Will Hodgetts
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs have and always will be gods of the festival. With hits like ‘I Predict a Riot’ and ‘Ruby’ there’s no way that you won’t end up jumping up and down waving your arms around to their set. The band have performed everywhere from Isle of Wight Festival to Reading and are always a fan favourite. There’s not a person alive who can’t get into their music and once you’ve seen their energetic performances you’ll be hooked. Besides, for all those Voice UK fans, who wouldn’t want to see Ricky up close?
Words by Natalie Fordham
The Xcerts
Who would I like to see replace Foo Fighters at Glastonbury? For a good old laugh and to watch people run screaming from the main stage, I’d say a deathgrind band like Cattle Decapitation or Pig Destroyer.
To see a band that I think deserves more recognition and that may actually appeal to Glasto goers’s tastes however, I’d say hands down it would have to be The Xcerts. Their 2014 album There Is Only You was a beautiful manifestation of modern Scottish rock, even better I dare to say than Twin Atlantic’s recent releases.
Words by Oli Polhill
Fall Out Boy
I get Foo Fighters and Fall Out Boy muddled up at the best of times! Maybe it’s because my memory is so poor, or maybe it’s because they both begin with ‘F’… So to save embarrassment when I say I’m looking forward to the latter when in fact I mean the former, I would choose Pete Wentz and co. to replace Dave Grohl and the gang! Their last two albums have arguably contained some of their best music to date, and I would pay a lot of my hard earned cash to see them perform some of those at Glasto!
Words by Beth Lempriere
Oasis
Here me out here… In recent weeks/months brothers Noel and Liam have publicly appeared to be on better terms. Liam was a AAA VIP for his bro’s gig with his new band, and Noel did not completely and utterly rule out a future reunion. So, what better time to do it than saving the day at Britain’s most prestigious festival?! Can you imagine the hysteria that would surround that announcement? No, me neither. But to hear ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ by the guys who it should be performed by instead of some hipster kid with his shitty acoustic guitar that mummy bought him for Christmas, would be absolutely insane! Don’t ya think?
Words by Will Hodgetts
Beyoncé
Look, I know what you’re thinking: “She did it in 2011”, “but we already have Kanye, we need another rock act”, “it’s Glasto, are you serious?”, and to that I say: “It’s Beyoncé.” If anything was proven by her set in 2011, it’s that she can put on an amazing show. The controversy around Beyoncé headlining contended with that of Kanye this year, yet after her set nobody could argue that she was the highlight of the weekend. Her performance has gone down in Glasto history, and yes, she might not be another rock act as per usual, but if you want somebody to put on an breathtaking show and get a disgruntled crowd going, then Queen Bey is the one for the job.
Hannah Mylrea
Green Day
I write this through my stream of tears due to the Foos cancelation. But, if I cannot have my dream band, I will go for my second favourite which is the mega-pop-rock-punk band – Green Day. The band have played Reading and Leeds festival endlessly and wholeheartedly, but have never had the call from the Glastonbury organisers. I have seen Green Day play twice, once at Wembley Stadium and once at the Emirate Stadium, and both times they were incredible. They put on such a show with their pop-punk classics that rock the stadium; tunes such as ‘American Idiot’, ‘Basket Case’ and ‘Minority’ are particular highlights. These tunes would absolutely kill at Worthy Farm and really get the crowd going with an undoubtly amazing light show with flame throwers and power-house electric guitar. Green Day should be the band to replace Foo Fighters, or at the very least be called up next year to headline Glastonbury 2016.
Words by Georgia Simpson
Muse
Just released a new album, headlined Download, and with no other ‘confirmed’ (Bellamy may have let slip a slot at Bestival later in the year) dates this summer in the UK, Muse are one of the best rock bands around to replace the legendary Foo Fighters. Over the years they’ve won every live act award imaginable. The trio also herald from that area of the country and are Glastonbury veterans; Muse were initial favourites with the bookies to be headlining this year’s festival anyway.
Words by Marcus Bridgland
Taylor Swift
A certain contender for the Foo Fighters’ vacant headline slot on Friday night is the dazzling Taylor Swift. The performance would come in the midst of the UK leg of her 1989 world tour, where the songstress is showing she has what it takes to cement herself as one of the biggest popstars this century. Evolving her sound from country to full-blown pop pomp, Swift has proven herself as more than a one trick pony. The wonderful Ms. Swift has gone from strength to strength since the release of 1989, including her recent ‘Bad Blood’ remix and the accompanying celeb-studded video, and her upcoming sold-out show at Hyde Park. Swift is more than capable of giving Worthy Farm a – *hem* – worthy performance.
Words by Evan Smithson
Ray J
Just to see the look on Kanye’s face…
Words by Will Hodgetts
