Bonnaroo Explains 2014 Kanye West Headliner Show After Debacle in 2008: "It's In The Past"

Just yesterday, Bonnaroo revealed its festival lineup for 2014, but the move to place a familiar face – Kanye West – as a headliner came as a surprise to many who are familiar with the event, particularly with the festival in 2008. Kanye, who was a headlining act in 2008, hit the stage at 4:30am, hours after his scheduled performance, and later proceeded to his blog to express anger towards festival organisers as well as the act before him, Pearl Jam, for mishaps and delays. Upset by fan reactions to his delayed performance and concerned about stage equipment, Kanye lashed out at the festival itself, so the move to place him as a headliner this year was arguably unexpected.

This Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I’ve ever had in my life. This is the most offended I’ve ever been … this is the maddest I ever will be. I’m typing so f*cking hard I might break my f*cking Mac book Air!!!!!!!!   Call me any name you want…. arrogant, conceited, narcissistic, racist… whatever you can think of…. BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL!
- KanyeUniverseCity blog in 2008

Bonnaroo promoter Superfly still went ahead tapped Kanye West as a headliner for this years festival, and Rick Farman of Superfly explaining further below:

First and foremost, we think Kanye is one of the most prolific and groundbreaking artists of this generation … He’s hugely influential. His albums are as great and as acclaimed as they get. He’s also a great live performer. He takes a lot of chances and he’s adventurous with the live space. All those things are what Bonnaroo performers are about. That’s why we booked him [in 2008]. Everyone has moved on—it’s in the past. We’re happy he wants to come back to Bonnaroo and is embracing this. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to look forward, and we think it’s a great opportunity for the Bonnaroo community to show what it’s made of. It goes back to what Bonnaroo stands for: It’s about having good time, radiating positivity and that whole message. We couldn’t be more excited about what we think has the potential to be another historic Bonnaroo moment.