Wired Up by Wireless

12 July 2008

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With such a big name headlining the opening night, festival-goers could be forgiven for expecting the event to take a downturn on the next three evenings. However, obviously keen to ensure the O2 Wireless festival wins a place alongside better known events such as the Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and V festivals, organisers booked an equally exciting act to headline on Friday: Morrissey.

As if securing the indie-legend as a headlining act wasn't enough of a coup, this was Morrissey's only UK show of the year and he was determined to enjoy it.

"I shall do my utmost not to pull a sour face," he said, when discussing the prospect of rain at the event. "The sun will make up its own mind."

Much to the delight of his fans, he decided to mark the occasion by performing a greatest hits set, which spanned both his solo career and time with legendary band The Smiths and included 'The Last of the Famous International Playboys', 'Irish Blood, English Heart', 'First Of The Gang To Die', 'How Soon Is Now?' and 'Ask'.

The famous vegetarian also unveiled several tracks from his forthcoming album 'Year of Refusal' and proved his beliefs are as stringent as ever by launching a scathing attack on meat-eaters when he caught the whiff of burger drifting across the stage.

He asked the crowd: "Where would we be without it? The scent of dead animals. Death into your body. Hamburgers, yuk!"

According to rumours, the comment may have been due to sour grapes on Morrissey's part. The outspoken singer tried to get festival organisers to ban the selling of meat products at the event, but they refused.

"Morrissey didn't want to see others scoffing meat and, when he saw the VIP area, he was mortified to discover how close it was to the barbeque," an insider said. "He asked organisers to turn off the Barbie but they refused."

His backstage posters proclaiming 'Meat Is Murder' were defaced by mischievous members of The Rascals, who altered the wording to read 'Meat Is Boss' and added a few hastily-drawn hamburgers for good masure.

Meat-eaters weren't the only ones to feel the sharp end of Morrissey's tongue, also issuing scathing comments about Kylie Minogue and took a leaf from Jay-Z's book by criticising George W. Bush. The day before his performance, Kylie was awarded an OBE for her services to music and entertainment.

After announcing he was "thrilled to death" to hear Kylie had been honoured, he quipped: "I'm sure you'll agree, it was completely deserved."

However, Morrissey's set was not solely about controversy - in a lighter moment he delighted fans by ripping off his shirt and throwing it into the audience at the conclusion of The Smiths' track 'What She Said'. Later, a blistering rendition of 'Life Is A Pigsty' culminated in the singer writhing around on the floor pretending to die, only for him to spring back to life as soon as the opening riff of The Smiths' classic 'How Soon Is Now?' began blasting out of speakers.

The ten-minute version of the track went down a storm with fans and Morrissey himself was so pleased with his performance he cockily commented: "I am nameless. I am timeless."

Day three - Saturday - was dance music event, with headliner Fatboy Slim spending much of his set dancing along in front of his decks and his crowd-pleasing choice of tunes went down a storm. Slipped into the set was a track from his latest project Brighton Port Authority, which features rock legend Iggy Pop on vocals. Although he didn't sing along in the flesh, The Stooges' front man delivered his vocals via huge LED screens on stage.

Dressed in his trademark Hawaiian shirt, the 44-year-old ensured revellers stayed on their feet for his whole set with remixes of The Rolling Stones' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', Arcade Fire's 'No Cars Go', Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', House Of Pain's 'Jump Around' and The Chemical Brothers' 'Block Rocking Beats'.

Although the DJ had suffered from the same kind of negative press as Jay-Z - with some people claiming he is past his prime and not a big enough name to warrant a headline set- he refused to let the comments effect him.

Famed for his beach shows in his hometown of Brighton, the spinner - real name Norman Cook - said: "For a long while I've wanted to play outdoors in London. But I just couldn't find a beach. Hopefully, we can bring some of the spirit of the Brighton shows into the heart of London town."

In a fitting conclusion, the dance legend left the stage to a bass-heavy mash-up of Beyonce's 'Crazy In Love' and his own track 'Praise You'. The crowd showed their appreciation with a chorus of cheers and whoops, proving Fatboy Slim was exactly the right choice for the event.

Other highlights of the four-day event included Californian rockers Counting Crows, who headlined the mellower final day. Whispers that the American band - whose latest album 'Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings' peaked at number 12 in the UK charts when it was released in March - were a strange choice to close were quickly forgotten when they took to the stage. The crowd roared with encouragement every time vocalist Adam Duritz flung himself on the floor while singing, keen to show they were enjoying the rocker's dramatic performance.

The band gave the audience exactly what they wanted. A mixture of new and old tracks - including 'Mr Jones', 'Accidentally In Love', 'Round Here' and their cover of Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi' - left onlookers in no doubt the cynics were wrong; Counting Crows were exactly the right band to end the fourth annual O2 Wireless festival.

As well as offering music lovers a feast of top-rated headline acts, the festival also saw a strong supporting bill throughout the four-day event.

Mark Ronson delighted fans by inviting a variety of special guests on stage with him. Wiley, Candi Payne, Daniel Merriweather and Tim Burgess of The Charlatans - who sang a version of his hit 'The Only One I Know' - all made appearances, but it was Lily Allen who really stole the show.

After missing the cue for her own song 'Littlest Things', Lily broke down with laughter part way through her rendition of the Kaiser Chiefs' 'Oh My God' when she forgot the words. Arctic Monkeys lead singer Alex Turner caused a similar stir when he made a surprise appearance onstage with The Rascals, the band fronted by Miles Kane, his The Last Shadow Puppets collaborator.

Underworld, Beck, Robyn, Hot Chip, Roisin Murphy, The Wombats, Guillemots, Dirty Pretty Things, Black Kids, The Courteeners, Sam Sparro and Powderfinger were also crammed onto the bill, and helped ensure the event was a resounding success.

It may only be in its fourth year, but the O2 Wireless Festival is fast joining the likes of Reading and Glastonbury as a summer must. With organisers who steadfastly refuse to bow to critics' pressure, long may it continue.

By Hannah Ferrett.

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