Power: "We'll sell out in two weeks"

22 March 2005

Power was speaking to Virtual Festivals at last night's launch party of Reading Festival, at which Pixies, Iron Maiden and Foo Fighters were confirmed as headliners. Click here for more about the announcement.

The Mean Fiddler boss said: "It's a great line-up, one of our best in years, and I expect tickets are going to go in record time. I think we'll sell out in two weeks. It's great to see Iron Maiden back, playing at Reading for the first time in 23 years. Sunday's always a great rock day at the festival."

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson officially launched Reading Festival, telling the crowd: "Everyone goes on about Glastonbury and Download, but Reading's really what it's all about in terms of rock. It's where I first got into festivals and it's where I got my job in Iron Maiden. I was with my former band, Samson, and the guys asked me if I'd join Iron Maiden. I asked the great Tommy Vance and he told me not to - that's the first time I ever ignored him!"

Dickinson finished his speech with a swing at the metal press, who he's accused of writing off his band in favour of younger acts. He challenged: "We'll just let the babies get on in their cotts, while the men do what they do best, and that's rock." The singer also joked he would be shunning cold ones from sponsors Carling during the weekend in favour of his favourite beer, Fullers.

Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray revealed details of the line-up, before VF caught up with Mean Fiddler's chief band booker Neil Pengelly.
 
He refused to divulge any more names but told us: "We've still got about 80 bands to book, so it's far from done. The headliners came together quite quickly. There will probably be a couple of rap acts announced to the main stage in the next two or three weeks.

"There are loads of new, up-and-coming bands to be added and I think the second stage is going to be really interesting. There's also some dance stuff to programme. So by the time the bill is finalised we should have the balance of music just right - and there may be a few more surprises."  

The Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festival 2005 happens over the bank holiday weekend of 26-28 August. Reading Festival takes place at Little John's Farm while Leeds Festival takes place at Bramham Park. Weekend tickets are priced at £125 and are available now.

CLICK HERE for day and weekend tickets.
CLICK HERE for Reading weekend tickets only.

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