The troubled Big Day Out has added three bands to its 2014 line-up in the aftermath of Blur’s shock withdrawal and an intriguing Britpop subplot has emerged.
Popular American alternative metallers Deftones and theatrical Swedish garage band The Hives join the line-up, but the biggest new name is Beady Eye.
The post-Britpop quartet is fronted by former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and also features Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Chris Sharrock, who are all former Oasis members.
The Hives are also set to join BDO’s bill.
Blur and Oasis played out an at times fractious battle in the media for supremacy of the Britpop movement over 20 years, with Oasis compared to the Rolling Stones and Blur to The Beatles. Liam’s brother Noel departed Oasis after a backstage altercation in 2009 leading to the break-up of the band.
One can almost imagine Liam Gallagher, one of rock’s great loudmouths, taunting Blur’s frontman Damon Albarn that he will finish what Blur couldn’t – electrify the fans at the 2014 Big Day Out.
There were strong rumours this week that Jane’s Addiction were set to join the line-up but hopes were dashed when guitarist Dave Navarro took to Twitter to deny it.
Sorry, that isn’t true! RT @normo94: @DaveNavarro heard you could be heading to AUSTRALIA Soon with @janesaddiction
— Dave Navarro (@DaveNavarro) November 29, 2013
Beady Eye is well regarded by the British music press and usually covers Oasis songs (including Cigarettes and Alcohol and Live Forever) plus the odd Rolling Stones classics (such as Gimme Shelter). But as respected as they are in the United Kingdom, Beady Eye isn’t a household name here.
