The controversy over Jay-Z’s headlining Glastonbury Festival continues. In the latest report we learn that it was Radiohead who would have headlined Glastonbury had they accepted.

The rapper is topping the bill at the world famous music event on the Saturday night (28.06.08) - much to the anger and disappointment of many fans - but organiser Michael Eavis has confessed Jay-Z wasn’t his first choice. He said: “I was working on getting Radiohead and I had a feeling they wanted to do it but, when it went down, I said to my daughter Emily, ‘Let’s go with Jay-Z. Phone his agent.’ ” Emily - who helps her father organise the three-day music event - has defended Jay-Z as a choice of headliner, insisting it fits with the festival’s ethos.

She told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “People don’t want change and there’s an element who want it to be a Coldplay or Radiohead - but the best thing we can do is give people something different. “A lot of people don’t understand why Jay-Z is headlining but they haven’t seen him live. He is phenomenal. Every time someone comes to this festival they discover new music - this year it will be a headliner.” Emily and Michael have been saddened by the avalanche of criticism over this year’s line-up, with Emily saying: “It’s upset us having to defend the festival this year. It’s our home, we invite people here and it’s the best party in the world.” Michael added: “This has been our life for 38 years, so of course it hurts when people have a go.” Glastonbury festival takes place in Somerset, Southwest England, over the weekend of June 27-29. Kings of Leon and The Verve join Jay-Z as headliners.

Source: Jay-Z headlining Glastonbury in Radiohead’s place

See also:

• ‘People having a go hurts us’ (Interview with Glastonbury Festival organizers Michael and Emily Eavis)

Related post:

• Jay-Z Planning Parties to Celebrate His Glastonbury Festival Appearance

Jay-Z Chosen to Headline Glastonbury Festival After Radiohead Declined