yep, its on the official site, and NME they've pulled out, jacks hand is still mashed, man this is not good news

..its bloody great news. now some proped metal will actually be played. white stripes suck rectum.

but thats my opinion, and what the hell do i know!

They.ve been promised a headlining slot for Reading 2004.

...not a 'proper metal' band.

My best bets are:

Flaming Lips (like at T In The Park)

Manic Street Preachers (replaced Travis at V2002)

Primal Scream (they'd be happier if they weren't sandwhiched between Sum 41 and Good Charlotte, and so would I!)

Ash

The Vines??

Or, knowing Mean Fiddler, they'll probably move the Darkness all the way up to the White Stripes slot!

I'd prefer Manics. Or maybe Feeder seeing as they haven't done many festivals this summer, that would be really cool. Although I would rather see a good metal band it wouldn't be fair for the indie fans who bought day tickets, but fuck it... GIVE ME SLAYER OR MAIDEN YOU MEANFIDDLER BASTARDS!!!!!Wahahaa:D

...that Maiden would play before Blur? And Beck then Slayer then Blur, oh yeah that'd go down a treat.

id actually like to see the cooper temple claus on there... or bring over electric six. thatd be cool

Cooper Temple Clause would be great. Not sure they would work on the main stage but it'd be cool never the less.

Feeder won't do it, cos they're playing V2003

they might bump up afi to that slot and let hunderd reason headline the radio 1 tent...same manover that happened at t-in the park as the flaming lips were due to headline a tent adn then got bumped up to replace em.... allough i think itd rock to see the darkness further up on the bill as the sun sets that be almost biblical

i fucking love the way u think! get some metal going down, fuck that indie shite!

please no maiden an dont even think it cos if i hear some of my friends cream over maiden again im gonna vomit, cos guys you may like them enough to dream about em but i jus dont care and i didnt need to know, ok!

You sir are a remarkable man yourself! Keep it metaaaaal!! Anyways as some1 has already said here, a good idea would be to move Primal Scream over to Saturday to replace Stripes and get two or three really shithot metal bands on the sunday....like Machine Head, (who are in the UK during week two of August) Deftones, Soulfly/Seps or Slayer. In fact just getting Slayer would be enough conselation for me! I would like Pantera there but Phil Anselmo is arsing around with his damn sideprojects. Grrrrr.

thats not the kind of metaaaaal he's on about most of the ones u suggested arent like what he wants, i know him in real life!!! he's weird

he used the name slayer, i can let the rest go, even deftones

see what i mean!

Put in Cradle Of Filth inbetween the 2 boybands. The contrast would rule sssoooo much!!!

that'd kick major ass. the faces the bands would have when they found out would be priceless

And why did you say they can be replaced with a "proper metal" band. Stripes dont claim to be metal so why would thye replace a garage rock/indie band with a metal band when they already have Metallica, SOAD, and Linkin Park as more metal type headliners, "proper" or not.

...They'll never pu a proper metal band on to replace the indie crap (although i pray every night for it).They need more truly classic legendary bands like maiden, priest or AC/DC. shame theres no hope of Ozzy or Sabbath. I'd like 2 c summit like Pantera,Sepultura or Slayer at reading for once tough.

Muse, Idlewild, The Manics, The Strokes(just finished their album), Mogwai, Spiritualized, Black rebel motorcycle Club, Super Furry Animals, Supergrass, Charlatans, Ian Brown or the Stereophonics. I'd be willing to bet my balls it's one of these.

I just read your message after writing mine. You read my mind!!! Maiden headlining next year would fucking rule. AC/DC too. In fact, next year shall be the year of Hard Rock/Metal!!! That would be well worth the £100 weekend ticket prices for a change!!!

If you just wanted a metal festival why wouldn't you do to download, or kerrang day or rock, or ozzfest if thats on. Fans of many types of music such as myself would prefer that it stayed as it is and it has a much wider appeal.

This is true (I do like other styles of music). But i also think they go all out for the indie syle healiners and main stage acts on Fri an Sat then usually cop out when i comes to the "Metal day" (this year excluded obviously). Ozzfest and download r ok.there jus no as well run and great as reading. And they cant even escape the nu metal bollox.
We need a Wacken style festival in england. Europe gets al the best bands

Hope they're replaced by Muse. Or the Manics, anyone see their Glasto show? What a fuckin stormer! Please, just don't let the Flaming Lips take over. They suck like a granny on the game.

i didnt see them at glasto but ive seen em live an its damn good, muse are sweet live too so either goes down with me fine

I would like to let you know that my band, Oasis, are free on the second to last weekend in august to replace the Stripe Whites. My brother, Noel, told me to ask can we play it, please, please?? It'd be nice to play with our friends, particularly that Doman fella.

Oasis supporting Blur... Likely? Methinks not.

It used to be John-Paul. (Yeah I'm an Oasis anorak, so what?)

It's bound to be aint it.
ah bugger.