Well it's that time of year again, Christmas and New Year's is over and I find myself racking my brain over who will headline this year's Rock on the Range. Who's it going to be, I honestly don't know but here are some possibilites while we wait for the lineup to drop in February.
Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl and company had a big year in 2011 releasing their hugely successful 7th album
Wasting Light, and going on a large tour behind it. The Foo put on a hell of a show and would be a great headliner for this year's ROTR, but sadly they always seemed booked that weekend. Last year we lost them to the Hangout Festival in Alabama and this year they're already booked to headline one day of the Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey. New Jersey is around 9 hours from Columbus so it's possible for them to do both festivals if they wanted but......don't hold your breathe.
Linkin Park
After continued touring in 2011 behind
A Thousand Suns (and a new Transformers song), LP look to have a quieter 2012 planned as they work on their 5th studio album with producer Rick Rubin. A lot of people had them pegged for headlining last year's ROTR (myself included) so maybe they'll stop by Columbus this year. The only date they have booked so far for 2012 is June's Rock Ring Am in Germany.
Soundgarden
This year should see the Seattle rockers solidifying their recent reunion with more touring and a brand new album. I think Soundgarden would be a great headliner for ROTR, and with festival plans this spring for Australia and Europe why not give us a festival showing in America. The closest booked date to ROTR is The Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands on May 27, but with a week off it shouldn't really affect ROTR.
System of A Down
Having reunited last year for a limited US tour and some European festival dates, System will hopefully have a larger American trek this spring/summer. Right now the only thing they have on the books is the Soundwave Festival in Austrailia. Here's hoping this Armenian rockers make it to Columbus this year.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Riding high with a new album, a new guitarist, and a pending admission into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Red Hot Chili Peppers would be a fun and funky addition to ROTR. Reworking the first leg of their US tour because Anthony Keidis's broken foot, the Peppers are booked from March 29th till April 12th. Than the band has a sizable break of about two months (time that includes ROTR) before heading to Europe in June. I think they're a real possibility for a headliner this year.
Tool
One never knows what Maynard is going to be up to year to year, fans wait years for new music and after prolonged hiatus tour dates from his three bands can suddenly appear out of nowhere. Last year Maynard headlined ROTR with A Perfect Circle, could he roll out the bigger more popular Tool to Columbus this year? Why not. So far, as fans pine for a new Tool album in 2012, Maynard has Tool dates booked January through early February and Puscifer dates almost immediately after, late February to mid March. After than it's anyone's guess how Maynard will spend 2012 (back to the vineyard maybe).
Slipknot
In five years of festivals there as never been a repeat headliner at ROTR, but going into year six and beyond a repeat headliner seems inevitable; really how many headlining hard rock bands are there (excluding the ones that are too big to headline ROTR). Slipknot has big touring plans for 2012 including the not so well kept secret of them headlining the Mayhem Festival June 30 through August 5. Before that they'll be in Austrailia late February and early March for the Soundwave Festival. I don't think we need a repeat headliner yet for ROTR this year, but it could happen.
Marilyn Manson
Shock rocker extraordinaire Marilyn Manson is returning to music this year with a new album,
Born Villain, and a growing tour itinerary. So far he has dates scheduled for the end of February and March playing Austrailia's Soundwave Festival before heading to Japan. While some will undoubtedly bemoan a Manson headlining show, it would certainly be a memorable one.
Rage Against the Machine
So far Rage has no plans for 2012, but since the band has been playing random shows and festivals here and there since 2007 they're still a possibility.
everything you said is true except linkin park are headlining rock am ring in june and it says on thier website this is just the first of many tour dates this year
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for a Nine Inch Nails reunion...however dont see that happening, but I wouldn't count out Black Sabbath being a possible headliner this year they are back together planning a world tour and new album despite Tony Iommis recent diagnosis of cancer. Not to mention a rumor mill of Ozzfest comming back this summer with a 29 city run highly rumored co-headiner is System of a Down so I could see both of them headlining a day a ROTR this year...THAT WOULD BE SICKKKKKKKK.....But ill say what I say every year give me TOOL and INCUBUS please and more METAL!!!!!!!!!! Would not be surprised one bit to see a reunited Killswitch Engage on the bill as well. I just hope that they stop recycling bands and include some new stuff this will be year 5 for me personally id like to see a little bit more variety like Flogging Molly, Mindless Self Indulgence, Hellyeah (Mudvayne would be ideal but wont see them till next year), Cake, The Black Keys, Cage The Elephant, Nightwish, The Offspring, Otep, Primus , The Dirty Heads, Sublime with Rome, Rehab, Down, Tantric, Volbeat, Candlebox, 311, Dropkick Murphys, Devildriver, Breaking Benjamin and as for other new headliners id like to see Metallica or even The Gorillaz to come out...but my luck ill get to see Shinedown, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, All That Remains and Avenged Sevenfold for the 50th times
ReplyDeleteIn addition bands that I wouldnt mind seeing come back would be Mushroomhead, Helmet, Static-X, Rob Zombie, Sevendust, Apocalyptica, Danzig, Mastodon, Airbourne, Ashes Divide, Alice In Chains, Clutch, Black Stone Cherry, Hurt, Nonpoint, Taproot, 2 Cents, POD, Red Fang, and Steel Panther!!!
DeleteOn a side note Stone Sour cancelled last year so I would put money on seeing Slipknot again due to Cory's absence last year so theres one headliner I would safely say has a spot.
Just because I think this would make my year my vote for the "Friday Night 4Play" TENACIOUS D!!!!!!!!
Deleteno hate but you only got 1/11 right on last years predictions so idk how much faith i have in this years.
ReplyDelete^ Aaannndddd 1 correct again this year. At least he's consistent.
ReplyDeleteLol, its only a list of possible bands that could be at ROTR, its not a guess list.
ReplyDeleteThis will be our first ROTR and we could not get field tickets, are the stadium seats just as good?
ReplyDelete