Just over 24 hours after Kanye West’s confirmation as headline act for Glastonbury 2015, more than 30,000 people have added their names to a change.org petition calling for the unpredictable rapper to be removed from the line-up.
The petition’s call to arms 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 [sic] prevent this musical injustice now.
“There is so much to see that I’ll have a great time regardless of whether Kanye headlines but I’m sure we could have got Fleetwood Mac for the same price.”
The man behind it the petition, Neil Lonsdale, has spoken about his quest to have the hip-hop megastar removed from the bill, and it turns out, he’s never been to Worthy Farm before – and actually set up the online campaign as a joke.
“Two years ago we had The Rolling Stones playing the Saturday night, and this year we get Kanye West? It’s an outrage!” he told NME. “I was a little surprised that people have taken it [the petition] as seriously as they have.
“Don’t get me wrong, if it works, then I’ll be more than happy. I’m not surprised it’s popular though.
“My beef is not with the genre. My beef is with the stage and the fact it’s a headline slot,” Neil continues. “Glastonbury needs upbeat major artists. Glastonbury is an institution. It is expected that it has the biggest names. The biggest performers. Kanye does not represent that.”
Back in 2008, festival organiser Michael Eavis’s decision to book Jay Z as the headliner was called into question, with Oasis front man Noel Gallagher among the many fans who slammed the booking. Jay Z responded by performing a tongue-in-cheek cover of the Manchester group’s signature track ‘Wonderwall’ during his set.
But back to Mr Kardashian . . . this Neil chap has clearly not noticed that not being allowed on stage has become almost a challenge to the self-anointed ‘world’s greatest rapper’.
