Reading Festival Recollections
Reading Festival mayhem
We asked visitors to the Music, Mud and Mayhem exhibition in 2004 for their festival memories, good and bad!
Music
In the good old days when rock ROCKED!!! Mid to late 70s.
New Order '89 and seeing John Peel walk into the Arena with a box of 7" singles. Class.
Muse 2002. There was a thunderstorm, fork lighting - all throughout the set - the most electric, most awe inspiring, most memorable set.
I have been going to Reading on and off for 20 years! Have just brought my three daughters for the first time and still loving it (so are they!)
1989 to 2004 and beyond, great times, great memories (Wonderstuff, carter, My life Story, Prodigy, Frank Sidebottom, Etc Etc). Great camp fires!!
I think the bands are best heard from Pangbourne [Several miles to the west of the site]
Miles Hunt of the Wonderstuff pointing towards Reading as he sang 'Red Berry Joy Town' in 1992
John Peel (1939-2004), a true pioneer, without him the line-ups could've looked very different.
Listening to Eminem from our top room in Wilson Road
2000 Foo Fighters, Dave [Grohl] you're one of best musicians around today!
1998 picked up my GCSE results and ran straight down to see the Chemical Brothers that night.
I took my kids to the very first festivals in the early 70s, when it was a 'family treat'.
THE END OF THE FESTIVAL, ANY YEAR - resident of the Warren, Caversham (not every one loves rock).
Mud
Knee deep in mud watching Golden Earring (about '76 I think), well worth the discomfort.
Everyone at 2004 festival was wearing wellies round Reading and knee-deep in mud
Weekend ticket = £105
Alcohol = £20
Seeing muse = wicked
Forgetting to put top flap of tent on, and having your tent flooded and sleeping on a garden chair = priceless
Smiling glowing growing, we've survived the pouring rain, we're gathered here to worship one we'll never see again. In one gigantic chorus, we'll sing our hero's song, an all defining moment, he fed back, then was gone… '92
Muse Muse Muse! I didn't even notice the rain
Mayhem
Green day pouring lager all over their kit, smashing it up and burning it to the ground
My first Reading was 1988 when queuing (wristbands, car park) made the vow never to return again. Have been almost every year since!
Crawling under five fences and going through the back of a shop to get into the VIP area
Standing on Caversham Bridge drinking light and bitter and watching people walk to the festival
Catching the Cucumber fish thrown into the crowd during Marillion's set in 1982. Kept it pickled in a jar for years.
Being bounced out of the Crown pub by drug squad officers dressed as Hippies, for 'inciting a riot'
1974 - Swimming across the river to cool down, and the Police making me swim back immediately.
Walking straight in to the Manics with a bottle of Newcastle Brown.
1988 - worst festival ever! Spent more time in the town in the pub!
Going to the first festival in '71 and sitting on chairs!
Date updated: 27 Aug 2010