Features Reading & Leeds 2010: Who Could Fill Guns N’ Roses Shoes?

If we’re not of the opinion Axl Rose is trying his hand at being the new Jeremy Beadle (unfortunate turn of phrase there - Ed), then Guns N’ Roses have pulled out of their headline slot at Reading & Leeds, leaving a great big rock behemoth sized hole to be filled. In less than two weeks. ‘Cheers’.

Of course, you’ll hear a bunch of people screaming Radiohead as hard as their little lungs will let them, but that’s not the Reading way. Whenever issues have hit the festival before, someone on the bill has manned the fuck up, stepped into the breach, and saved the day.

So, who from this year’s line up is about to win the festival lottery?

Queens Of The Stone Age

Nothing - genuinely nothing - would be more amazing than hearing ‘Feel Good Hit Of The Summer’ closing the day. It’s a pretty safe bet that Josh Homme’s troupe find themselves in pole position for the supply teacher role. They were already second headliners on the G N’ R day, and have a significant back catalogue. That would put pay to any lingering hopes they may give us recently rereleased classic ‘Rated R’ from start to finish, mind you.

Paramore

You either love Paramore, or you’re lying to yourself. That’s the theory we’re sticking with, anyway. Currently playing second fiddle to Blink, we wouldn’t want to see Hayley and co turned on by the G N’ R crowd, but quite frankly if that happens, we’ll see them outside. All of them. Now.

Pendulum

Just no.

Limp Bizkit

Just yes.

Biffy Clyro

Despite finding themselves below QOTSA in the original line up, Biffy have turned into a far more crowd pleasing, mainstream affair than their illustrious peers from across the pond. Daytime Radio 1 play is a bit of an essential for any major festival headliner, and these guys have it in spades. Plus, let’s be fair, as underground heroes turned megastars, seeing them top the bill at Reading would be kind of emotional, even if they are massive, massive sell outs. Or something. Can we keep our cool points now?