Decided to camp for the full 3 days for the first time with a group of 10 mates, and I have to say it was aaaaabsolutely incredible. Still feeling dreadful now to be honest.

Highlights included:

Rage against the Machine's 'Guantanamo' entrance was very powerful stuff and the remainder of the set was equally epic.

Foals were good fun, Justice, The Whip and Simian Mobile Disco (only saw the beginning of the set) were awesome - really good sound in the dance tent. Friendly Fires also had a really good crowd atmosphere (album coming out soon, check it out)

BUT, predictably, Metallica, the band I have waited 11 years to see, stole the show with a ridiculously accomplished two hours of the very finest metal. Hetfield is old enough to be my dad, but is impossibly cool, and Hammett is out of this world on the guitar. Add to that a very impressive stage show, lots of lights and fire, and a huge crowd and you have the best possible end to a very very good weekend.

On my own here, or did anyone else go and think it was equally epic?

No, Tim. I also went with about 15 of my mates for the full weekend.

Quite possibly the best 4 days of my life.

And, yes, i too still feel pretty low. :D

Nice! Highlights?

Thank god it didn't rain, thought our luck had run out on the Sunday, but it cleared up VERY nicely.

Where'd you camp?We wussed out and did the Tangerine Fields thing (didn't have my own tent and they provide you with one, so made sense really), which was miles from the main site, but didn't take too long to get in (half hour or so) and was a hell of a lot nicer. Seeing all the kids smashing up the portaloos on the final night made me quite glad I wasn't camped near there!

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by Tim

Only saw some of it on the box - none of the above BTW and have to say that most of what I saw/heard was not good.

Lots of derivative stuff played too quick by band members who seemed to be having a 'who can play louder' competition

But then I am an old git

(Having said that, the pathetic little runt who fronts the Enemy is funny - Paul Weller impersonator without the talent)

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by bonetti

Well to be fair, The Enemy, Fratellis etc aren't really my bag either - all a bit generic - so I'm also in the old gits club on that one as well!

We are Scientists were good though - they did an inspired cover of 'All that she Wants' by Ace of base as part of the encore!

Nice! Highlights?

Thank god it didn't rain, thought our luck had run out on the Sunday, but it cleared up VERY nicely.

Where'd you camp?We wussed out and did the Tangerine Fields thing (didn't have my own tent and they provide you with one, so made sense really), which was miles from the main site, but didn't take too long to get in (half hour or so) and was a hell of a lot nicer. Seeing all the kids smashing up the portaloos on the final night made me quite glad I wasn't camped near there!

My top highlights were definitely Queens Of The Stone Age, and Rage... (Goes without saying really...).

I'm not a massive thrashy metal fan, so was'nt overly interested in Metallica, although i can appreciate they are rock gods.

Also really really enjoyed Killers, Bloc Party, Hadouken, Pendulum, Editors, Dirty Pretty Things, The Enemy, & Biffy.

I was'nt too aware of Editors before i went, but really enjoyed their stuff, so consequently ended up buying both their albums for £10. - Some of it is a bit slushy, but the more up-tempo tracks are wicked.

We were staying in Indigo zone, which was about 10 mins away from the Main Arena. - I didnt see much trouble myself, although some young-uns were climbing all over the loo's at one point, and some tents got spray painted/covered in tomato ketchup. General 'tom foolery' but nothing too serious. (Until i saw the burnt out cars in the field where mine was left!!!).

Did you manage to catch the Chels? Me and mates walked into town and caught it in The Crown On The Bridge.

Nah, sadly not mate, no other Chels fans with me, so didn't have much support for a cheeky trip into town. Followed it on the BBC via my phone though.

QOTSA were good you're right. Wanted to see Bloc Party, but have done a few times, and Justice clashed with it, so went with the latter.

Yeah that car stuff was a bit mental! Something like 17 cars burnt out? Don't really know the details...

Nor do i mate... Although my car was about 20 seconds away from them! I would have been very disappointed to say the least.

Any albums you have been tempted to purchase as a result of seeing the bands live?

Did you see Dirty Pretty Things cover of 'In Bloom'?

Going next year?

Yeah sounds like you had a lucky escape!

Friendly Fires album I will definitely buy, and might look into The Whip's one, although I've been told it's actually nothing special, they're just really good live.

Also just downloaded the new Bloc Party one, but yet to give it a listen.

Didn't see much of Dirty Pretty Things actually. Do you mean the Nirvana song? Sounds interesting!

Not sure about next year. The main reason i went was because two of the headliners were so so good, and not sure if they will repeat that feat next year. Reading used to be and should be about rock, but until this year they had lost their way a bit - Razorlight headlining last year for christ's sake! ACDC are rumoured for next year, as are The Cure, but although I rate both bands, I wouldn't say im a fan of either really.

Will see how it pans out I guess, but won't be buying in the pre-sale now. you?

Yep, the Nirvana song. Was'nt a bad cover to be fair.

As you say, depends on the line up. I wont be particularly interested in either the Cure or ACDC either, but then again, if all my mates are going once more, i wouldnt want to miss out on the fun.

Dilemma!

I didn't go... I can't say the lineup thrilled me much.

Rage kind of lost it for me when their frontman got a perm...

And Metallica lost it after 1991. As a pretty heavy Thin Lizzy fan, I lost all respect for them the day I heard their cover of Whiskey in the Jar.

What happened to the good old days where Thin Lizzy would headline Reading and there was none of this filler 'indie' garbage to ruin everything?

I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves though.