Jamie Cook, Arctic Monkeys (Photo: Paul Bachmann for Live4ever Media)
Reading/Leeds organiser Melvin Benn has spoken of the ‘huge, huge demand’ for Arctic Monkeys to make a return to the festival after this year’s headline bill was confirmed with the appointment of Queens Of The Stone Age and Paramore yesterday evening (March 10th).
“There was a huge, huge demand for Arctic Monkeys to come back,” he told NME. “To be honest with you, we’d have had them come back even if there wasn’t a huge demand because just they’re that good. They’re a phenomenal, phenomenal band at the pinnacle of their powers right now.”
The Sheffield band last headlined Reading/Leeds – under-whelmingly it should be said – in 2009, but have since grown immeasurably as a main stage live act.
“That they have a long history at the festival and sharpened their craft here only adds to the magic of them headlining,” Benn concluded.