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25/4/98

The big news in today's Guardian is that the Glastonbury organisers have released the full band line-up, in part due to speculation on the Internet. Until I get things updated, you can read the (almost) complete details on the Guardian's Glastonbury site. The dance tent details have still to be released, and there seems to be an entirely new venue called, logically, the New Tent.

23/4/98

Strangelove have announced they're splitting up, which makes an appearance at Glastonbury highly unlikely.

22/4/98

Ozric Tentacles are headlining the Avalon Stage on Saturday night.

19/4/98

I've not updated this page for a while, so this is a big catch-up exercise. The major new names are: Chemical Brothers, Lightning Seeds, James, Placebo, Saint Etienne, Cornershop, Kenickie, Stereophonics, and Strangelove. Previous rumours now confirmed include: Kula Shaker, Propellerheads, Robbie Williams, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Tony Bennett. New rumours for the mill (or rehashes of old ones): Jesus And Mary Chain (heard on XFM); Radiohead and Prodigy (the problem with these two being that there aren't any Main stage headline slots left, unless anybody else thinks Primal Scream aren't quite big enough to fill one); Pearl Jam (still won't die but not even a possibility); Kylie Minogue (who was rumoured to be playing last year as well); Leftfield, Dodgy, Beastie Boys, and Smashing Pumpkins.

31/3/98

From nme.com

"Pulp and Primal Scream have been confirmed for headline performances at this year's Glastonbury Festival which runs from June 26-28. Pulp close the festival on the Sunday night while the Primals will headline the opening Friday night. James are onstage just prior to the Primals. The Lightning Seeds are also confirmed for Friday. Other acts confirmed for Glastonbury include Bob Dylan, Placebo, Blur, Embrace, Spiritualized, Underworld, Ian Brown, Finley Quaye, Dawn Of The Replicants, Ben Folds Five, Tori Amos and Idlewild."

30/3/98

Radio 1 have been reporting that both Robbie Williams and Blur are confirmed. Morcheeba are also definitely playing the Jazz/World Stage. The Verve have announced their European festival dates and Glastonbury isn't amongst them; they're playing Rosskilde in Denmark on Saturday 27th so it seems unlikely they'll be at Glastonbury this year. Finally, I haven't got a clue who they are, but The Casswells are playing.

27/3/98

Sonic Youth are confirmed to be playing, although the date is not known. Underworld are being mentioned enough times in enough places for them to seem pretty certain as well. Latest rumour on Neil Young is that he's taking the entire summer off and not playing any gigs at all.

25/3/98

News of the acts on the Jazz/World stage is starting to filter through. The three headliners are going to be Portishead (Friday), Roni Size and Reprazent (Saturday), and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters (Sunday). Other names for the Jazz/World Stage are Dr John, Terry Callier, Morcheeba, Tranquility Bass and Trilok Guru.

Ben Folds Five are going to make another attempt at playing this year after falling victim to Sinking Stage syndrome last year. Also set to play are Idlewild and Dawn Of The Replicants.

11/3/98

Today's NME has Blur as the hot tip to play their only UK show this year on Saturday night at Glastonbury. They also reckon the headliners for the second stage will be Embrace, Placebo and Spiritualised. Other names mentioned include Finley Quaye, Kula Shaker, and the ever popular Pulp.

7/3/98

Neil Young is organising a European festivals tour for this summer, so unless he's been frightened off by the mud, he may still be a possibility.

A tour around the web has turned up the following rumours: The Verve, Dodgy, James, Propellerheads, Beastie Boys, Blur, Pulp, Primal Scream, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, and The Rolling Stones. Pulp seem like a good bet since they were a big success as late substitutes in '95 and have an album due out. Getting the Stones to play is one of Michael Eavis' great ambitions, so they're a perpetual rumour.

23/2/98

According to a tour schedule released by her record company, Tori Amos will be playing on Saturday.

To clarify the Bob Dylan/Tony Bennett situation, Glastonbury are in negotiation with Bob Dylan to play, and it's Tony Bennett's ambition to appear which Michael Eavis is of a mind to fulfill.

21/2/98

The NME named Leftfield, Underworld, Pearl Jam, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Neil Young as possibilities. You can forget Pearl Jam since they're playing Wisconsin on June 26th and Chicago on June 29th. Usually reliable Neil Young sources say he's not going to be there.

15/2/98

The band line-up is apparently being kept secret again this year until immediately before the festival. More aimless web wandering for yours truly. Contributions to my phone bill will be gladly received.

Latest rumour comes from the Guardian newspaper last week. I haven't read it but apparently Bob Dylan has shown an interest in playing and Michael Eavis, wise man, wouldn't want to stand in the way of him fulfilling his dream. Also mentioned was the possibility of Tony Bennett playing.

The two bands so far "confirmed" are Ian Brown, formerly of the Stone Roses, who is headlining the second stage on Saturday, and Spiritualized filling the same spot on Sunday. Rumours, aka wild guesswork, include Pulp and Blur.

10/1/98

Michael Eavis was a guest in the audience at Jools Holland's New Year Hootenanny. His prediction for 1998 was that Jools and BB King would appear together at this year's festival; I'm not sure if he managed to get them to sign a contract while he was there.