John Giddings was nervous about booking Queen and Adam Lambert to headline the Isle of Wight Festival.
The 63-year-old festival organiser took the plunge and asked the band to top the bill this summer but he admits he deliberated over his decision for two years because he wasn’t convinced the group would work as a major attraction without late frontman Freddie Mercury.
Speaking at the NME Awards in London on Wednesday night (17.02.16), he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "The thing about Adam is I was really unsure about booking them. It took them two years to persuade me. But Adam’s great isn’t he? All the girls love Adam. I kept getting all of these tweets and Facebook messages saying how much they love him. It’s incredible. As for Brian May and Rodger Taylor, they are the biggest rock gods you could ever meet in your life. They are like Genesis; they are like Pink Floyd. They know the story, they’ve been through it."
Giddings also addressed reports he has been in negotiations with Prince to headline the annual music extravaganza on the English island – and it’s disappointing news for fans of the ‘Purple Rain’ hitmaker.
The concert promoter said: "I came up with the idea of booking Prince for the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix appearing at the festival. I thought, ‘Why doesn’t Prince do a tribute to Hendrix? Because he is the only person who can play guitar like him.’ People printed articles saying he was in negations to play Isle of Wight Festival and that was years ago and he said no. I wish he’d play the Isle of Wight Festival. But I am sorry he’s not coming."
Queen will close the festival on Sunday June 12 and Stereophonics and Faithless have also been confirmed as co-headliners for Friday June 10 leaving one more mammoth act still to be announced for Saturday June 11.
John Giddings was unsure of Queen as Isle of Wight headliners
