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I was watching a documentary on Britpop not too long ago about Oasis and Blur and whatnot and I just think there are these moments in time where music just encaptures what is going on in the world and what’s going on with what they are going through. And I just think it’s those moments that make history. I think that musically Britain has made those moments quite well.

My first gig was Alabama when I was probably about 15. So a long time ago!

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— What Kimberly Wyatt has to say about why Music is GREAT

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Pulp | Glastonbury 1995 | Setlist

  • Do You Remember the First Time?
  • Razzmatazz
  • Monday Morning
  • Underwear
  • Sorted for E’s & Wizz (live debut)
  • Disco 2000 (live debut)
  • Joyriders
  • Acrylic Afternoons
  • Mis-Shapes (live debut)
  • Pink Glove
  • Babies
  • Common People

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Max Helyer from You Me At Six supports Music is GREAT

Who are your favourite British live performers?

Muse, Biffy Clyro, The Police, Dizzee Rascal.

The best show you’ve ever played?

Brixton Academy on the 3rd April 2012 or Reading Festival 2010

The best show you’ve ever attended?

Foo Fighters Milton Keynes Bowl last summer or Thrice at the forum 30th April 2012

Greatest festival moment?

Playing Main Stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals 2010

Any crazy stories or memories from touring

Our plane getting struck by lightening in Indonesia, that was crazy, yet very scary.

The first gig they each attended

Spice Girls was mine.

Memories from first headline show:

We played Guildford community centre to about 30 people and it was a floor show, nervous could describe our feeling that night seeing as we had never played to an audience before.

Last gig:

Thrice at the Forum 30th April 2012

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Queen’s 1986 Wembley Shows

  1. Originally only one night at Wembley was planned, but as the first show on Saturday July 12th sold out within just a few hours, it was decided a further concert be added on Friday. Thus, Queen became only the third rock act in history to play two successive concerts at the stadium.
  2. The two Wembley shows broke all previous attendance records, and this had also been the case elsewhere in Europe. 
  3. The show itself incorporated the largest lighting rig ever assembled for a live show, weighing over nine and a half tons. The stage was the largest ever erected at Wembley Stadium and measured 160 ft wide and over 52 ft high from ground level to the top of the lights. It was capable of filling one entire end of Wembley and was so heavy that supports had to be bored into the concrete foundations of the stadium. 
  4. The immense sound system was powered by over half a million watts, with revolutionary delay towers, and entailed the use of 180 speakers facing the audience at every show.
  5. A 20’ x 30’ Starvision screen made its debut appearance at Wembley and was used again later at Knebworth (for the last ever Queen concert) to bring the stage action to the audience members at the very back of the venue. Due to the tremendous weight of the screen, which was positioned above the centre of the stage, a huge water reservoir was required at the rear of the stage to counterbalance it.

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Jessie J introduced by Melanie C at HMV instore to kick off Music is GREAT week

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My fella on Brighton Beach 13th July 2002– one off his finest hours. Crowds from Pier to Pier as far as the eye could see, Groove Armada played and then Norm came on as the sun set, the whole place went crackers, one of the best nights of my life.

Super Furry Animals in Bethesda in 2003 – we made a pilgrammage to see our heroes in a marque eon their home turf 6 hours there and 6 hours back. They were mind-blowing.

Stevie Wonder at Glastonbury 2010 – watched with my man and bunch of friends, such a love in, he is a god. And he sang happy birthday to Michael Eavis – hard to top that.

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— Zoe Ball’s three favourite gigs…

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- What Was Your Best British Gig - one you’ve played or one you’ve been to?

My favourite I’ve played has to be shepherds bush empire ! It was a venue I always dreamed of playing and the crowd was fantastic. Most of my family came down to that one too so it was all round an amazing night for me.

- Where is your favourite venue – have you played it or do you aspire to?

I love the roundhouse in Camden ! I’ve been going there to see gigs and circus acts and all sorts since I was little and I’ve been lucky enough to have got to play there once. I’d love to play there again ! And it goes without saying really, my goal is to play Wembley arena !!! I saw the spice girls there when I was 10 years old !

- Most random gig you have been to?

Hmmm most random !? Well I got to play at Arthur’s day in Dublin which was amazing ! My gig was in a tiny little pub and I also got to see Kelis, Plan B, Brandon Flowers and Paulo Nutini in tiny little venues and pubs all around Dublin …it was amazing to see such artists in such venues !

- How old were you at your first gig?

I think it was the spice girls one when I was 10.

- Most bizarre act you have supported / seen?

Prince ! Prince is one of my favourite artists ever ever everrrrrr !!! It was completely bizarre to get to support him at hop farm festival ! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing !

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— We asked Eliza Doolittle some questions…

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Jessie J | Music is GREAT instore | Monday 14th May

Jessie J | Music is GREAT instore | Monday 14th May

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Renowned artists such as Florence from Florence & The Machine, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Will i am, Nicole Sherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, Huey Morgan from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, & Rizzle Kicks, all share their insights as to why music in Britain is great, whether you’re touring, recording or are home-grown talent.

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"When we played in ‘95 things took off for us and we went in a strange orbit around the earth, and now we’re back home in one piece."

— Jarvis Cocker (during Pulp’s 2011 Glastonbury set)