Interesting reading this thread back in hindsight, and how dismissive people were of Glastonbury. Didn't turn out so bad did it ;-)
How well it went it doesn’t change the fact that the majority of people were prohibited from seeing their favourite band at probably their biggest gig! That’s my only gripe, otherwise I’m really chuffed how well it went.
Interesting reading this thread back in hindsight, and how dismissive people were of Glastonbury. Didn't turn out so bad did it ;-)
How well it went it doesn’t change the fact that the majority of people were prohibited from seeing their favourite band at probably their biggest gig! That’s my only gripe, otherwise I’m really chuffed how well it went.
Sure, I was commenting more on the performance itself, and the ability the entertain what was probably an initially agnostic crowd. That said, given the number of people that are ambivalent to The Cure at festivals, and the fact that the Glasto ticket/lineup situation is well known, did that many fans miss out (compared to an actual Cure tour)? To be honest, the coverage was good and it was a nice change to be quite so 'close' to the action while not actually being there. You could also argue that a festival tour is a great way to win over new fans, and a new generation (whether you think that's a good thing or not I don't know), rather than preaching to the converted. That's been proven out by increase in sales of their albums this week. That said, I would only call this year a success if a) the new album does actually make it out and more importantly b) a new tour happens next year. Finishing on a festival tour would not be the perfect way to retire, which is surely imminent now.
How well it went it doesn’t change the fact that the majority of people were prohibited from seeing their favourite band at probably their biggest gig! That’s my only gripe, otherwise I’m really chuffed how well it went.
Sure, I was commenting more on the performance itself, and the ability the entertain what was probably an initially agnostic crowd. That said, given the number of people that are ambivalent to The Cure at festivals, and the fact that the Glasto ticket/lineup situation is well known, did that many fans miss out (compared to an actual Cure tour)? To be honest, the coverage was good and it was a nice change to be quite so 'close' to the action while not actually being there. You could also argue that a festival tour is a great way to win over new fans, and a new generation (whether you think that's a good thing or not I don't know), rather than preaching to the converted. That's been proven out by increase in sales of their albums this week. That said, I would only call this year a success if a) the new album does actually make it out and more importantly b) a new tour happens next year. Finishing on a festival tour would not be the perfect way to retire, which is surely imminent now.
Well yeah, hundreds and thousands missed out on the biggest gig of their career. You can’t tell me that if tickets were on general sale after bands announced folk wouldn’t have been jetting in from here there and everywhere for it, just as they have been for all the other various festivals they are playing, the pull of Glastonbury for many would’ve been much bigger. And just as many went to Glastonbury the previous times based mostly on seeing them.
The performance and coverage itself I agree was great, all the performances I’ve seen so far this year have been superb. They are at the top of their game and it’s great to see.
From a home viewing perspective, nearly all the festival gigs have been streamed, all had great performances and all won over the crowd in front of them - Glastonbury is a big gig but it's more of the same with added flags and sold out before even announced.
The thing that strikes me as most ironic about the post-festival increase in album sales, guitar sales (?), and their quite sudden increased popularity in general is that they have been fantastic for a very looooooong time and not exactly the most obscure of bands. I am betting all of this would never have happened at this level were it not for a multitude of memes, videos and other various and sundry foils of "the internets" with this lady, god bless her sequined glory:
In another ten minutes, people will have moved on to something else. Wait for it...
The thing that strikes me as most ironic about the post-festival increase in album sales, guitar sales (?),
I find the "massive spike in guitar sales" stories a little bit sensationalist really. The Cure were not the only band at Glasto using guitars. Moreover, the comment on Schecter in the story only implied more searches & not necessarily sales. Most of those searches were probably from us looking for the new paint jobs
The thing that strikes me as most ironic about the post-festival increase in album sales, guitar sales (?),
I find the "massive spike in guitar sales" stories a little bit sensationalist really. The Cure were not the only band at Glasto using guitars. Moreover, the comment on Schecter in the story only implied more searches & not necessarily sales. Most of those searches were probably from us looking for the new paint jobs
Yes, exactly. It just feeds my disdain for the Internet. Spew anything online and people will believe it.
I find the "massive spike in guitar sales" stories a little bit sensationalist really. The Cure were not the only band at Glasto using guitars. Moreover, the comment on Schecter in the story only implied more searches & not necessarily sales. Most of those searches were probably from us looking for the new paint jobs
Yes, exactly. It just feeds my disdain for the Internet. Spew anything online and people will believe it.
Exactly. I read it in The Independent last week & watched as every third rate blog on the planet parroted it without apparently reading it first. It actually reads
Store bosses said the website also saw a 20% boost in the number of visitors aged 18 to 24, while website searches for Schecter Guitars – used by Robert Smith and Simon Gallup of headliners The Cure – rose by 55% after the band took to the stage on Sunday night.
& then goes on to say
The music retailer said the number of guitars sold can rise by as much as 20% between the end of June and the middle of August each year – the period when several major UK music festivals take place.
So the sales spike every year around festival season. But hey! Click bait right?
Interesting reading this thread back in hindsight, and how dismissive people were of Glastonbury. Didn't turn out so bad did it ;-)
How well it went it doesn’t change the fact that the majority of people were prohibited from seeing their favourite band at probably their biggest gig! That’s my only gripe, otherwise I’m really chuffed how well it went.
They weren't reeeeally though were they? I get that most festivals do not sell out before the bands are announced but it was long rumoured that they were going to play before tickets went on sale. I pretty much decided to go for Glastonbury tickets paying the £50 deposit thinking they were likely to play, but if they weren't then I would have likely not gone and got the refund instead of paying the balance. I am not on the attendees list as forgot to post at the time, but was down the front and it was (i'm not sure what that really means but the smile and bobbing summed it up quite well even if it is on a banana!)
Wembley Arena 1991, Cambridge Corn Exchange 1992, Wembley Arena 2008, Bestival 2011, Royal Albert Hall 2011, Leeds Festival 2012, Royal Albert Hall 2014, Hammersmith Apollo 2014, Wembley Arena 2016 (Thur/Fri/Sat), Robert Smith / Curaetion Royal Festival Hall 2018, Glastonbury 2019, Wembley Arena 2022 (Sun/Mon/Tues).
How well it went it doesn’t change the fact that the majority of people were prohibited from seeing their favourite band at probably their biggest gig! That’s my only gripe, otherwise I’m really chuffed how well it went.
They weren't reeeeally though were they? I get that most festivals do not sell out before the bands are announced but it was long rumoured that they were going to play before tickets went on sale. I pretty much decided to go for Glastonbury tickets paying the £50 deposit thinking they were likely to play, but if they weren't then I would have likely not gone and got the refund instead of paying the balance. I am not on the attendees list as forgot to post at the time, but was down the front and it was (i'm not sure what that really means but the smile and bobbing summed it up quite well even if it is on a banana!)
Good for you, glad you made it mate. Even then though there was no guarantee of getting a ticket, (i know plenty of non cure fans who applied and didn’t get one),so ex-thousand people aren’t really gonna a) apply and b) “win” tickets based on what at that point wasn’t really that solid a rumour. Then there’s the cost, I know Glastonbury has a lot to offer but it’s a bloody expensive gig for a lot of people.
Besides I’m not angry with the band, just think it’s a shame for people that they couldn’t generally see one of the bands biggest moments by being there.
They weren't reeeeally though were they? I get that most festivals do not sell out before the bands are announced but it was long rumoured that they were going to play before tickets went on sale. I pretty much decided to go for Glastonbury tickets paying the £50 deposit thinking they were likely to play, but if they weren't then I would have likely not gone and got the refund instead of paying the balance. I am not on the attendees list as forgot to post at the time, but was down the front and it was (i'm not sure what that really means but the smile and bobbing summed it up quite well even if it is on a banana!)
Good for you, glad you made it mate. Even then though there was no guarantee of getting a ticket, (i know plenty of non cure fans who applied and didn’t get one),so ex-thousand people aren’t really gonna a) apply and b) “win” tickets based on what at that point wasn’t really that solid a rumour. Then there’s the cost, I know Glastonbury has a lot to offer but it’s a bloody expensive gig for a lot of people.
Besides I’m not angry with the band, just think it’s a shame for people that they couldn’t generally see one of the bands biggest moments by being there.
True, all good points, and forgot about the ticket scrum so yeah, other festivals would be easier. I guess that's what in the end made it such a special one rather than 'just' another festival date.
Wembley Arena 1991, Cambridge Corn Exchange 1992, Wembley Arena 2008, Bestival 2011, Royal Albert Hall 2011, Leeds Festival 2012, Royal Albert Hall 2014, Hammersmith Apollo 2014, Wembley Arena 2016 (Thur/Fri/Sat), Robert Smith / Curaetion Royal Festival Hall 2018, Glastonbury 2019, Wembley Arena 2022 (Sun/Mon/Tues).
Good for you, glad you made it mate. Even then though there was no guarantee of getting a ticket, (i know plenty of non cure fans who applied and didn’t get one),so ex-thousand people aren’t really gonna a) apply and b) “win” tickets based on what at that point wasn’t really that solid a rumour. Then there’s the cost, I know Glastonbury has a lot to offer but it’s a bloody expensive gig for a lot of people.
Besides I’m not angry with the band, just think it’s a shame for people that they couldn’t generally see one of the bands biggest moments by being there.
True, all good points, and forgot about the ticket scrum so yeah, other festivals would be easier. I guess that's what in the end made it such a special one rather than 'just' another festival date.
Totally mate, and for the ones that did make it like yourself, I’m really happy that you did, must’ve been a special night for you.