8 of the most surprising (and memorable) acts in Leeds and Reading Festival history

After the first wave of acts were announced for the eagerly anticipated Reading and Leeds Festival line-up this morning, reaction from fans proved to be less than ecstatic.

Despite American rock bands Kings of Leon and Fall Out Boy topping the bill, with the Saturday headline slot being taken by acclaimed rapper Kendrick Lamar, the announcement failed to hit the right notes, with thousands of fans angrily branding it the worst line-up of all time.

The popular music festival has delivered many a mixed line-up over its history, with plenty of surprises and memorable along the way. Here are just a few that really stand out.

Nirvana

Headlining Reading and Leeds in 1992 at what would be the last shows they played on UK soil, Nirvana’s appearance is remembered as one of the most iconic festival performances in rock ‘n’ roll history. Entering the Reading stage in a wheelchair as a nod to his recent stint in rehab with drug addiction, Kurt Cobain and his band mates went on to deliver a legendary show that affirmed their status as a headline worthy act.

50 Cent

The American rapper’s appearance in 2004 was one that met with a mixed reaction from the crowd, but with Green Day, The White Stripes and The Darkness topping the bill, a warm reception was never to be expected. After taking to the stage at Reading, the rapper was greeted with angry boos and a rain of bottles, which forced him to bring the set to a close just 25 minutes in.

Arctic Monkeys

They were a fan favourite to take the headline slot at this year’s festival and if the Sheffield quartet’s past performances are anything to go by, it’s easy to see why. First appearing in 2005, the band proved they could live up to the hype and it certainly paid off, as they took a slot on the main stage the following year and eventually headlined in 2009 and 2014.

Daphne and Celeste

Much like 50 Cent, the pop duo were brutally bottled during their appearance at the festival and were forced to endure urine, meat, shoes and a wheelchair being hurled at them. Despite the wave of abuse the girls soldiered on through their set, much to the annoyance of the metalhead crowd.

Eminem

While he may have been at the height of his success, Eminem’s announcement as a headline act in 2001 still came as somewhat of a surprise for the typically rock, indie and punk dominated festival. But the rapper proved his worth with a triumphant set, and has returned to both headline the event twice since.

Guns ‘N’ Roses

Despite warnings from festival organisers about the curfew, Guns ‘N’ Roses showed up for their headline slot more than an hour late, eventually resulting in the sound being cut off when the set overran. An already angry crowd was further irritated after frontman, Axl Rose, failed to apologise for his tardiness, prompting a very hostile reaction from the crowd.

Kaiser Chiefs

The homegrown heroes naturally went down a storm on their own turf, when they took to the main stage in 2012. While they may not have been the top of the bill, you’d be forgiven for mistaking them as the winning act after being welcomed by roars of ‘Leeds, Leeds, Leeds’ and expertly rousing the crowd into a riotous state.

Panic! At the Disco

Reading Festival has a reputation for having much more hostile crowds than Leeds, with bottling artists being a long-running part of its history. Panic! At the Disco felt the full force of the cruel reception when singer, Brendon Urie, was hit in the face by a plastic bottle just seconds into the set, knocking him out cold. Commendably he carried on with the set after making a speedy recovery, later winning him favour with the crowd – and it hasn’t put him off, as he will be taking the headline slot at this year’s event.