In true Bonnaroo spirit, Superfly, the festival’s promoter, is giving Kanye West another chance to headline the festival in 2014 after problems arose when Mr. West came to perform in 2008. That year, Kanye took the stage at 4:30 AM – which was several hours later than scheduled – on the last night of the festival due to “production issues, schedule changes, and various requests” from Mr. West’s camp. On top of that he played a short and unimpressive set. Then just days after he took to the internet and posted a blog blaming the festival and Pearl Jam who played before him, stating: “WE WERE OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH F*CKING IDIOTS WHO DIDN’T REALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REALLY PUT ON THIS SHOW PROPERLY.”
Pictures below, and above, clearly emphasize how angry fans were.
Here’s what Rick Farman, co-founder of Superfly, told Relix about booking Kanye this year:
“First and foremost, we think Kanye is one of the most prolific and groundbreaking artists of this generation,” Farman admits. “He’s hugely influential. His albums are as great and as acclaimed as they get. He’s also a great live performer. He takes a lot of chances and he’s adventurous with the live space. All those things are what Bonnaroo performers are about. That’s why we booked him [in 2008]. Everyone has moved on—it’s in the past,” he continues. “We’re happy he wants to come back to Bonnaroo and is embracing this. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to look forward, and we think it’s a great opportunity for the Bonnaroo community to show what it’s made of. It goes back to what Bonnaroo stands for: It’s about having good time, radiating positivity and that whole message. We couldn’t be more excited about what we think has the potential to be another historic Bonnaroo moment.”
Other hip-hop acts on the bill for this year include Ms. Lauryn Hill, Ice Cube, Die Antwoord, Chance the Rapper, A$AP Ferg, Frank Ocean, Wiz Khalifa, Danny Brown and Pusha T, to name a few.
Be sure to check out “Why Bonnaroo Is Our Favorite Summer Festival.”
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