Features: Melvin Benn Q+A Interview Highlights

The Reading and Leeds festival boss on Sonisphere, Muse, My Chemical Romance, that Guns N'Roses performance and more...

Posted Tuesday, 22 March 2011 in

Melvin Benn Q+A Interview Highlights At the launch of Reading and Leeds 2011 last night we sat down with festival boss Melvin Benn and asked him a load of questions you gave us about the headliners, the costs, the competition and more.

Melvin answered everything with nothing held back if you've not got twelve minutes to head here and listen to the full conversation then read the below to get his opinions on the following subjects...

On The Hidden Cost Of Booking Fees
"As much as I would like it to be less," Benn said. "And genuinely I would like it to be less, it’s difficult for it to be less.”

On The Strength Of My Chemical Romance As Headliners
"My Chemical Romance have definitely paid their dues at Leeds and Reading festival…they’ve always had a clear view, as many, many bands have, that they would like to headline Leeds and Reading festival. I have no hesitation about it. I think a phenomenal amount of people will be delighted at that booking. The idea that they should have had a more heritage act above them, quite frankly I think is a complete and utter insult. I think it’s an appalling thing to say, I think My Chemical Romance are a great headliner for us.”

On Guns N'Roses
"The Guns N’ Roses experience last year just came and went quite frankly. It’s an insignificance in the history of Leeds and Reading festival."

On Competitors Like Sonisphere
"People may talk about Sonisphere but Sonisphere’s massively narrow. Have you seen the same bands at Sonisphere before? Yeah. Will you see them again? Yeah, probably next year. If you want to go and see the same old bands year on year on year, go to Sonisphere."

On Muse's Headline Set
"We’ve been talking to them for 18 months about coming and doing it this year, so we’re pretty pleased. That unquestionably will be the highlight for 2011."

On The Rumours That Green Day Will Headline Reading And Leeds 2012
"It would be a nice thought!”

Listen to the whole conversation in the player below, for the full line-up and tickets click here.