So buckle up for the highs, the hiccups, as we relive Reading’s wildest years, where sounds and and surreal scenes come together in glorious harmony.
A Brief History of Chaos
Back in the ’80s, Reading was so rock ’n’ roll it managed to get banned, yep, actually banned, after a dispute with the local council. But in true punk fashion, it rose from the ashes in ’86 and has been a teenage angst stronghold ever since.
Nirvana, 1992 – The Ultimate Moment
Kurt Cobain wheeled onto the stage in a hospital gown, blonde wig, and wheelchair for his entrance. It was Cobain’s humorous mocking response to the media speculations about his health. Surreal, bold, unforgettable. It was arguably Reading’s most defining performance from the biggest band in the world.
The Bottling, the Bravery, and the Bizarre
Daphne & Celeste 2000: Sharing the weekend with Slipknot and Rage Against The Machine, the pop duo stood on a stage where they clearly didn’t fit the bill and braved a hostile crowd with bottles flying from every direction. Reading, while steeped in rock, has always flirted with the popular and unexpected. Respect where it’s due.
Good Charlotte 2003: The band egged on the bottle tossing crowd, "throw some more" they yelled, even tossing a few back at the audience, eventually leaving the stage without completing their set.
50 Cent 2004: A lineup decision that may have backfired. Quite possibly one of the worst reactions in Reading history. Twenty minutes into his set, he was bottled off, with even a camping chair soaring overhead. Some stand their ground, others get out the kitchen.
Still, even the flops are legend here. Reading isn’t just defined by triumphs, it’s enriched by its glorious disasters.
Eminem, 2001 - Down with the doubters
When Reading gambled on a rising hip-hop star, critics scoffed but Eminem delivered. It marked a turning point, showing any genre could thrive if the energy was right.
Guns N’ Roses, 2010 - Appetite for lateness
True to form, GNR strolled on late and played past curfew… until the festival cut the power mid-song. Savage. A reminder that even legends bow to the clock when Reading says so.
Foo Fighters – Full Circle Moments
They’ve hit Reading four times, but two moments stand out: Dave Grohl jumping back on drums in 2012, two decades after playing with Nirvana; and that 2019 set with Rick Astley because who doesn’t love a spontaneous ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ with Grohl grinning beside him?
Paramore, 2014 - Acoustic Power Play
With the power cut mid-set, Paramore didn’t miss a beat. Hayley Williams
Metallica: Thunder, Tenacity & Tradition
From their thunderous 1997 debut to multiple sets over the years, Metallica have proven that metal can be mythic at Reading. Their ability to shock, rock, and deliver is why they’ve earned a permanent spot in our festival lore.
Reading Festival isn’t just a weekend, it’s a rite of passage drenched in sweat, sound, and a little bit of chaos. Whether it’s dodging bottles, belting out acoustic saves in the rain, or clinging on in the pit with a fever that could floor a small army, these moments are stitched into the fabric of our youth.
They’re messy. They’re magic. They’re ours.
Rhys Tagg
Image: Charles Peterson
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