As usual the worst thing about the BBC's coverage of Glastonbury was the presenters. Ignoring the obvious question 'do we really need them?' They were dreadful. But this surely reached its apotheosis (as they would say in an Adam Curtis documentary) on Friday night and their shameful treatment of U2.
It was hard enough to watch U2's set as it was. To catch it in its entirety you had to channel hop like a loon, but it was the general attitude to the band I disliked. Love or despise U2, the one thing they surely must command for their achievements, is a bit of respect. But from the outset, with the 'I'm a ditsy young rock chick' act from Jo Whiley and the odious pomp fest that is Zane Lowe, it was obvious U2 were not well liked. Perhaps they blamed the Irish mega band for the rain? Because, as we all know when the heavens open up at Glastonbury the presenters act like they should get some sort of award for heroism. Ignoring the fact the closest they come to mud is probably a face pack and they sleep tightly in their BBC gravy train trailers.
Anyway, after the set, which was described as 'hit heavy' (oh no, the headliners have played all their big tunes and not a bunch of obscure album tracks from Zooropa) Zane Lowe came out with an absolute classic... he called U2 a guilty pleasure. U2! Not S Club 7 or Bucks Fizz, but U2! And he seemed to mean it! A guilty pleasure to who? The Pete Docherty hat wearing little idiots that Zane Lowe obviously thinks he is 'down with?'
But the indignity hadn't stopped there. After the set, the band joined our brave presenters for an interview. Zane Lowe had departed and we were joined by Mark Radcliffe, a shambling man who can hardly seem to get a sentence out and was dressed like The Wurzels tour manager. Anyway, Bono was his usual self going on about the history of Glastonbury and stuff like that. It wasn't too dull but then just as he was about to say something else, Jo Whiley cut him off abruptly in mid sentence so we could watch a piece on the history of Glastonbury! Surely, if you have the band live in the studio, that's who we want to watch and hear the views of, not some pre- arranged short film.
Unsurprisingly U2 were not about when the piece finished. The whole episode annoyed me, that the presenters and no doubt their super hip producers can dictate a tone. Anyway, that's my rant over.
Over
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