TUE MAY 12, 2015
IAN WILLIAMS
ISLE OF WIGHT MAIL
ISLE of Wight Festival organiser John Giddings broke down in tears when he discovered Fleetwood Mac had agreed to headline his bash.
The American musical legends will close the Main Stage on the Sunday when they play the event for the first time.The Little Lies band are rumoured to have turned down Glastonbury for the opportunity to perform at the festival which takes place between June 11-14.
Giddings revealed he started to sob after receiving email confirmation that the group would be topping the bill at his annual musical gathering.
He said: “I was standing in my bedroom and I was too scared to open the email because I was convinced it was going to say: ‘Thank’s very much, but no thanks’.
“It came from their manager and their agent. I had gone directly to their manager because their is more than one with five people being in the band.
“He said I had no chance. So I tried to surround them all and talk them all into it at the same time.
“I started crying when I read the email. I read it out to my wife. It was a magic moment. Saturday morning, 10.30.”
Giddings admitted Fleetwood Mac and fellow headliners Blur had long been on his wishlist.
He went on: “We’ve talking to them both for six or seven years now. It takes that long to put these things in motion.
“There’s not always a tour period that coincides with the Festival, so you have to set it up years in advance effectively.
“With Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie rejoined and they decided to extend their tour.
“They didn’t want to do any open air shows until they spoke to the Kings of Leon and Tom Petty and found out what a great time they had at the Isle of Wight Festival.”
Britpop stars Blur and The Prodigy will also perform at the Festival alongside the likes of The Black Keys and Pharrell.
Giddings – who promotes the likes of Madonna and U2 – admitted he is over the moon to have attracted a host of massive names to grace Seaclose Park this summer.
He said: “Judging by the reaction to it, it seems to be the best line-up we’ve ever had.
“There is music from all genres, Pharrell Williams to Fleetwood Mac, The Black Keys to The Prodigy and of course Blur.
“I went to Carisbrooke School recently to give a speech to the kids and they said: ‘We can’t believe you’ve booked Fleetwood Mac’.
“I said: ‘You’re 14, how do you know who Fleetwood Mac is?’ And they replied: ‘We all know who Fleetwood Mac is’.
“The response has been phenomenal.”
Giddings told how they are already planning the 2016 Festival – but was keeping tightlipped about who would grace the bill.
He added: “There is a couple on the list for next year, one of whom has already phoned me.
“As soon as you fully book this year, you start stressing about next year. It’s a full time occupation. It’s never finished.”