Narrowing Down the Possible Headliners

I guess I could've posted this elsewhere but I just decided I'd start a new thread, please don't lock it.

I have come to the realization that Led Zeppelin may just be too big to headline Bonnaroo. It would be very nice, but it would just create chaos, madness and possible destruction. There is no Led Zeppelin tour starting before Bonnaroo because of the Plant/Krauss tour. So having Led Zeppelin play their first show in the states at Bonnaroo would probably be a bad idea, even if that "18 month world tour" starts right after it. There would be too many ticket and security issues and it could very well turn into riots and fires, and the people that run these festivals don't want another Woodstock 99 on their hands.

And while the Led Zeppelin reunion is definitely the biggest reunion of last year and the greatest thing to happen in music in my time (in my mind it's the biggest reunion I think since I've been alive, born in 81) there are other reunions out there that will be happening that are seeming to go unnoticed.

So I'm trying to narrow down all possibilities for headliners:

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood (Blind Faith, I guess). And because B.B. King is already known to be playing, I'm really hoping Clapton is there in some form because I think they would play together at some point. And after seeing that Crossroads festival on tv, I think this could make for a great Saturday night. Maybe they could bill it as Eric Clapton and Friends which could include Steve Winwood, B.B. King, J.J. Cale, Robert Cray, Derek Trucks, the list could seriously go on forever.

The Kinks are preparing for a big reunion this year. I don't really know much about them, I know the song Lola, and I've never really gone out of my way to listen to them, so someone would have to fill me in on the possibility of them headlining. Are they big enough to headline? I know Ray Davies is the frontman, but I don't know who else is in the band. And if they did headline, I'd go into this show with an open mind because I really don't know much about them and because it's a reunion, it would obviously be a special show.

I was on Bonnaroo's myspace and someone posted that Queen would be headlining with Dave Grohl on Drums, and of course Paul Rodgers on vocals - I don't know where he got this information, it may have come from his ass, but it's really not a bad idea - I have better ideas for headliners but this could be pretty decent. I can't remember exactly when they put this Queen reunion together, I think it was at least a couple years ago maybe more, and I'm pretty sure Dave Grohl wasn't drumming for them. And another thing, what's with all these rumors of Dave Grohl drumming for reunited bands?

Roger Waters has had really great tours the past two years here in the U.S. (that was definitely the best overall show I've ever seen, the music, the video, lights, flying pig - it was like I was actually seeing Pink Floyd for the first time) and I think this is the only artist that could make up for no Led Zeppelin.

I'd love to see David Bowie headline, but it just seems unlikely.

The Who seem possible, but I think Bonnaroo can do better. I think this show wouldn't be great but I don't think it would be bad. And it definitely doesn't make up for the hope for Led Zeppelin. And with only Roger and Pete it's hard for me to think of it as The Who. I've also never been a very big fan of them.

I'm thinking no R.E.M. because they're headlining Langerado, but that may not mean anything. I think they could be headlining Austin City Limits later this year.

I'm thinking because The Cure is only available on Saturday, they aren't big enough to be Saturday's headliner, but maybe not.

I'm not sure what's going on in the world of Nine Inch Nails, I know Trent was working with Saul Williams, I think both of them together would make for a great latenight show or something on the Which Stage, but who knows the chances.

I don't think they'll try to get the Red Hot Chili Peppers to play, I think most people probably don't want them at Bonnaroo anyways.

I've always hated AC/DC and I'm not sure what they've been doing over the past several years, but you can't deny the fact that a lot of people of my generation (high school age thru mid-20's) actually like them. I don't know why anyone likes them, to each his own, but I can't like a band that put out the same record 14 or 15 or so times. Just kidding, sort of.

I'm not even gonna touch on who might headline Sunday. It's usually been reserved as a "jamband" spot, and while it could change this year, I don't see it changing. Having a jamband in this spot makes sense because some people like to leave early on Sunday. I have no idea as to how many people leave early on Sunday (I'm guessing maybe 10,000-20,000) but leaving this spot for the die-hard festival fans and hippies is just a great idea because of traffic issues. I'd love for The Dead to come back, hey there's all these reunions, so why not The Dead? I'm okay if it's just Phil and Friends. I'd like to see Dave Matthews Band with several guests including Tim Reynolds because I've seen the DMB 22 times and have never seen them with Timmy. I'd really like to see them with Trey also, and they played in San Fran in 2004 with Carlos Santana, so that'd be pretty fucking sweet too. I know the Allman Brothers could headline, but more than likely I think they won't based on the draw they would bring in. Of course, Trey could headline with whatever lineup he wanted, I'd like to see Phish, but I still think it's too early. And the band Yes, I think would be less of a draw than the Allman Brothers.

I'd also like Neil Young to return in some form because I've never seen him, and with that CSNY tour in 06, I think I'd rather see that go down.

That Mudcrutch reunion could be pretty sweet, but I'm almost positive that would not be big enough for a headlining spot.

And not to be sexist or anything, but I often wonder why they've never had a female fronted band headline. We had Alison Krauss and Union Station on the main stage in 05, but I can't really think of too many options that they have to choose from. Ladies, maybe you could fill me in. Fleetwood Mac would be alright with me, but I don't know what's going on with them, if anything. I know Lindsey Buckingham had that solo release either last year or the year before. It seems that Joan Jett has been trying to make a come back over the past couple years, but leave her for the Warped Tour.

That's all for now. Suggestions, thoughts, comments and ideas are welcome.