Modern bands and artists who could be headlining Glastonbury in 40 - 60 years time

[cakeorwine]

Paul McCartney is 80 and headlined last night - some 60 years after the Cavern Club. A bit like someone who started in 1902 appearing in 1962 as a headline act

So which modern acts do you think will be headlining in 50 years time? Just watching Diana Ross now (playing Baby Love from 1964) Still sounds good.

So a starter..Ed Sheeran? Still doing his stuff

With someone who has written and recorded hundreds of amazing songs and had a huge impact on music and British culture, I really think you can forgive them for not hitting the high notes. Live music is about MUCH more than sounding like the original recording (if you wanted that, why pay to go to see it- you can just listen on spotify). Age and experience adds a different quality and meaning to the songs. There's no point comparing the voice of an 80 year old to the voice of a 20 year old. I'd also much rather see Mccartney perform his own songs at 80 than I would someone with a perfect voice perform them. And the songs are too good to not be performed and enjoyed live.

Diana Ross was just shocking

I was there and I wholeheartedly agree. Surrounded by people having a huge party singalong and buzzing from seeing an actual Beatle doing his thing. The crowd was full of people of all ages - the huge group of early 20-somethings next to us knew more of the songs than we (in our 40s) did!

Harry Styles.

I saw Pet Shop Boys a few weeks ago and they were amazing.

Wow! Hope you enjoyed it. I saw him 12 years ago and it was brilliant. He's a piece of living history. I loved when he brought Bruce and Dave out.

You said "Older singers...are awful" If you meant specific older singers then that's not what you posted.

Justin Bieber will be headlining Glastonbury in 2072 when he will be the same age as Diana Ross is this year,

I think I'm in the 'they don't make music legends like they used to' camp. I can't see any of the current young artists doing the legend slot at Glastonbury in 40-60 year's time. Who knows?

From this year's 68 year old Neil Tennant won hands down for me. Some of the older singers should pack it in IMO.

technology and the music business will change the model. Abba are using holograms now and that show can tour the world long after they have died. Artists will be captured at their peak and wont have to tread the stage at 80. US rock band Kiss have said they are looking at selling the brand to a Corporation eg Disney so there will always be Kiss onstage somewhere if the buyer wants it.

Isn't using holograms cheating though? You may as well watch old video footage on the big screen? Just curious.
I thought the thrill of live bands was the fact your idols were there, on stage, in the flesh.

Ed Sheeran
Lady Gaga

@mewkins : Totally agree. McCartney was/is amazing. He is every bit as extraordinary as John Lennon said he was and he was NOT off key, he was brilliant.

I can kind of understand the (money making) behind the hologram thing but it is totally taking the joy out of live music where anything can happen. Surely you want humans being humans, getting some bits wrong, interacting with the audience? As I've said I would much rather see someone getting bits wrong, etc and singing their own songs than I would some homogenised safe note perfect performance.

I know people parting with loads of money to see Abba and it's not even them as they look like now! It may be the way forwards , but it is a depressing thought I think. I wouldn't pay to see that

I bet Robbie Williams will do the Sunday afternoon slot in ten years time!

I haven't seen the Abbatars but can well believe they are shrewd enough to make things realistic in those kinds of ways.

I totally agree. I don't want to hear backing tracks, and I love all the talky ad lib bits in a performance. Audience involvement etc.
The best parts are when things go wrong, wrong notes etc.

KISS used to mock bands for miming but recent footage show they may have been doing just that recently.

Fleetwood Mac as holograms .. apparently the voices are going these days , but this new way of doing things would mean they could be pitch perfect and look forty years younger too! Would they do this as Abba have done ? .. the new way ?
I can see the appeal, making money without too much of the effort !

Yes, and that’s the difference between ABBA and McCartney. His voice might not be as powerful as it was, but he’s still authentic, and he plays his own instruments and sings songs that he wrote himself - in their original key. He is the real deal, a true artist. The ABBA holograms are manufactured rubbish, like everything else in today’s music industry.

Tom Jones. He sounds as good now as he did in his twenties and seems indestructible. I won’t be surprised if he’s still going at 150 😁

I don't want to go and watch holograms, but I don't want to watch artists live that probably should have given it up a while ago either.

I think I'll stick to Spotify with headphones on and eyes shut. Then I can pretend the band/artist and I are all young again.

For an act today to still be performing in 50 years time, they need to become legends and do something noteworthy.

Where are the next Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson?

Each of them did something noteworthy and became legends. I seriously cannot see anyone performing today being capable of reaching those heights.

I would say none from today will be relevant enough in 50 years time to be a draw. If Elvis, Michael Jackson, John Lennon and George Harrison were still alive today, we all know they would still be a big draw.

I bet that the Gallagher's will get back together for a Glastonbury set one day.
Ed Sheehan will do the legends slot , I'll be in my 80s by then 😂

@YourWinter @EmmaH2022 agreed - Taylor Swift - I only switched on to her when I heard Folklore (IMHO that album will still rank as a great in 20,30 or 40 years time) I had no idea her song writing was so good - great narratives, memorable turns of phrase/plays on words on top of great melodies and fantastic vocal performances - and by that I don't mean she has a good voice - it's the actual performance of the songs - as a stage actor might inject into their lines... I started listening back to earlier albums and tracks and realised that Folklore wasn't just - the moment when it all came together - she has always been writing great songs - I just didn't listen to her her because I thought it was just country-flavoured pop and that she was "all image" - so.... Taylor Swift -

I agree with Tom Jones he is the only one of the "older" singers who has improved with age.
Saw the Rag n Bone Man the other week, his recordings are nowhere near as spectacular as him singing live! His voice was overwhelmingly good.

I think there's less flamboyance/ personality/charisma these days. People that can own the stage and put on a good front man (or woman) performance in a band.
Almost like a MC and a singer.