Reading Festival Memories
Melvin Benn MD of the Mean Fiddler speaking at the opening of Music, Mud and Mayhem, August 2004
1972 - My First Festival, by Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic
"I left school in April 1971 at 15 years old. Music was an interest but not what I was obsessed by. Football and rugby league were equally high on the list and I had some designs on becoming a professsional sportsman. I was aware of the Reading Festival then but only just. Perhaps that year - '71, was the first year I would have had an interest in the style of bill on offer, Genesis, Lindisfarne, Rory Gallagher - but not really thinking about going in any real sense.
'72 however, was very different altogether. I was still 16 at the time but I had been working for 16 months and felt worldly wise and ready to trek down. The bill was Curved Air, ELO, The Faces, Status Quo and Vinegar Joe. Myself and one friend - decided two days before the show to hitchhike down and see what it was like. No tent. No spare clothes, little money and little idea of what we were going to, other than it had bands that I liked. It was fantastic, but we ran out of money big time. Slept rough on the campsite rolled up in plastic, I didn't wash for three days and loved it. Hitched home via Stamford in an Austin 11 car. My first festival experience - rain, sun, bands and booze."
2000 - My First Festival, by James Williams, a Reading teenager
"It was my first festival and a special one because it is in my hometown. On the Friday morning we woke up at 11am, as we wanted to watch the first band of the festival, Ooberman. There was a great atmosphere full of excitement, and anticipation for the days ahead. I stayed in the arena all day, as I didn't want to risk the long queues again. That day I watched lots of bands, including Asian Dub Foundation, The Bluetones, Shed Seven, and Oasis. The atmosphere was still friendly (that night) as we made the way across the muddy fields to the tents.
On Saturday night, after the last bands everyone poured back to their tents again, and people started to play their guitars and sing around their fires. Someone next to us even ended up burning his guitar to keep his fire burning.
Sunday morning, the day I was most looking forward to as my favourite musician was playing, Ian Brown. Later on I met up with my sister (and)... we had dinner at one of the Chinese food stalls - my sister (spotted) Ian Brown! I thought she was joking ... I ran through the crowds, and took two pictures. He was just walking through the crowd soaking up the atmosphere with a minder. He had a strange star like quality, but even though people recognised him he was quite nonchalant.
I went to the Radio One Stage (to see) Ian Brown, the performance I was most looking forward to. It was fantastic, except for the crowd was so huge you could hardly move, luckily I was near the front. It had been a great festival, very hot, at first, and very muddy, which was to be expected, but overall it was a great experience, and I can't wait to go back in 2001."
Date updated: 27 Aug 2010