Entering its third year and hoping to make a stand as New York City’s premiere music festival, Governors Ball continued to expand in 2013 from two days to three and booked bigger and better acts than its previous two years.
Several weeks ago, two of the three Governors Ball headliners were announced: Kanye West and Kings of Leon, along with dozens of supporting acts across all genres. Yesterday (February 7), the festival finally announced its third headlining act: Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Guns N’ Roses.
Promoters most certainly were ecstatic and assumed festival-goers and potential attendees would feel the same.
Guns N’ Roses added to Gov Ball 2013. Welcome to the jungle people. #yolo
— Gov Ball NYC (@GovBallNYC) February 7, 2013
Not so much. Many of the @-replies to the Governors Ball announcement included comments like “Are you f*****g serious?”, “But why?”, and “no” (with 27 O’s). Governors Ball organizers attempted some quick damage control shortly after the negative reactions, citing the passion of music fans.
Passionate music fans are what makes live music so powerful.
— Gov Ball NYC (@GovBallNYC) February 7, 2013
The @-replies for that tweet weren’t particularly kind either. A few poor reactions on the Internet shouldn’t deter promoters from putting on the show they careful pieced together. But maybe a petition would.
A petition was created at Change.org by site user Andre LeBrun to “remove Guns N’ Roses from the lineup for the Governors Ball Music Festival.” In the petition, LeBrun notes that GN’R has a historically “unfavorable view” among fans and that the band has “become even more of a shell of its former self in the absence of every original member barring Axl Rose.”
The petition proceeds to accuse Rose of being “one of the most frustratingly inconsistent performers of the modern era, is known best for his inconsiderate treatment of audience members and unprofessional behavior in general.”
This part most likely refers to Rose’s perpetual, extreme tardiness at his own performances, which, after almost 25 years, is practically common knowledge.
If you agree with the movement to remove Guns N’ Roses from the 2013 Governors Ball lineup, you can sign the petition here. If not, buy your festival passes here.
– E.J. Judge, WCBS-FM New York
Guns N’ Roses on WZLX.com:
- 10 Rock Star New Year’s Resolutions (Or What They Should Be Anyway)
- Top 10 Rock Stars Who Cheated Death
- Axl Rose Plots New Guns N’ Roses Album, Talks Band Reconciliation
