A new report has claimed that Kanye West’s absence from the Coachella lineup is a direct result of organisers’ refusal to build the artist a giant dome for his headline spot.
Earlier this month, Coachella organisers revealed the lineup for the 2019 edition of the festival, with Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, and Tame Impala serving as headliners.
Of course, music fans might have noticed this lineup was far different to the rumoured bill from October, which saw Gambino joined by Kanye West and Justin Timberlake.
While the lineup announcement coincided with reports that Kanye West had pulled out of the festival due to the 60×40 foot stage being “artistically limiting”, further info has now come to light, explaining just what went on behind the scenes.
As Billboard reports, Kanye West was supposed to lead the festival’s lineup when it was set to be announced on New Year’s Day, only to drop something of an organisational bombshell at the last minute.
According to an unnamed source close to the festival, West explained to Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett that he didn’t want to perform on a traditional stage. Rather, he wanted organisers to construct a large, custom-built dome in the middle of the festival grounds.
After being informed that not only could the dome not be constructed in the allotted timeframe, but that such a project would require the removal of a number of portable toilets, West reportedly grew frustrated.
As Billboard explained, Kanye stated that “he was an artist with a creative vision who shouldn’t be spending his time talking about port-a-potties.”
Check out Kanye West’s ‘Yikes’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orGu5lQsgNg
While it soon became clear that Kanye West wouldn’t be able to headline the festival, Coachella organisers managed to snare Ariana Grande as the final headliner within 24 hours of West’s cancellation.
However, this wasn’t the first replacement organisers needed to make either, with Tame Impala’s headline spot actually coming about after Justin Timberlake became unavailable.
Reportedly, Timberlake had rescheduled a number of shows back in December, with the dates of these new gigs putting him in breach of Coachella’s infamous radius clause.
As a result, organisers decided to elevate Tame Impala to the top spot, making them only the second Aussie band (after AC/DC in 2015) to serve as headliners of the fest.
Despite these incredibly high-profile cancellations, it seems as though Coachella have managed to recover in a remarkable fashion, especially considering that tickets to both of the festival’s weekends sold out within six hours.
The 2019 edition of Coachella is set to take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California from April 12-14, and again from April 19-21.
Check out Tame Impala’s ‘List Of People (To Try And Forget About)’:
Coachella Lineup 2019
Friday, April 12th and 19th
Childish Gambino
Janelle Monae
The 1975
DJ Snake
Diplo
RÜFÜS DU SOL
BLACKPINK
Anderson .Paak
Kacey Musgraves
Juice WRLD
Ella Mai
Fisher
Jaden Smith
Nina Kraviz
Gorgon City
Mon Laferte
Khruangbin
Kayzo
dvsn
King Princess
Chris Lake
Jauz
Hot Since 82
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Sophie
Nicole Moudaber
Tierra Whack
Polo & Pan
Beach Fossils
Yellow Days
The Frights
Nora En Pure
Yves Tumor
SG Lewis
Kero Kero Bonito
JPEGMAFIA
Nic Fanciulli
Kolsch
CamelPhat
Let’s Eat Grandma
U.S. Girls
Anna Lunoe
Amelie Lens
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Walker & Royce
Turnstile
Ross From Friends
Lauren Lane
Still Woozy
Blond:ish
Tomasa Del Real
Las Robertas
Dave P
Saturday, April 13th and 20th
Tame Impala
Solange
Kid Cudi
Weezer
Aphex Twin
J Balvin
Billie Eilish
Bassnectar
Four Tet
Christine and The Queens
Wiz Khalifa
Mac DeMarco
Bazzi
Maggie Rogers
Sheck Wes
Gryffin
Bob Moses
Virgil Abloh
Tale of Us
Sabrina Claudio
Ty Segall
White Fence
Deep Dish
Smino
FKJ
The Interrupters
SiR
Idris Elba
Parcels
JAIN
Soulection
Turnover
SALES
Clozee
A R I Z O N A
Murda Beatz
Jambinai
Ame
Chon
Little Simz
Adriatique
Lee Burridge
The Garden
Agoria
Hop Along
Shame
Superorganism
Serpentwithfeet
Ookay
Steady Holiday
Javiera Mena
The Messthetics
The Red Pears
Heidi Lawden
Sunday, April 14th and 21st
Ariana Grande
Khalid
Zedd
Gesaffelstein
Bad Bunny
Dillon Francis
CHVRCHES
YG
Cirez D
Playboi Carti
H.E.R.
Blood Orange
Pusha T
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Kaytranada
Gucci Gang
Jon Hopkins
Sofi Tukker
Lizzo
Dermot Kennedy
SOB X RBE
Clairo
NGHTMRE
Perfume (Japan)
Boy Pablo
Guy Gerber
HYUKOH
Emily King
Dennis Lloyd
Alice Merton
Shallou
070 Shake
Soccer Mommy
Rico Nasty
Cola Boyy
Wallows
Mansionair
Nocturnal Sunshine
Dusky
Yotto
Patrice Baumel
Iceage
Men I Trust
Charlotte de Witte
Ocho Ojos
Razorbumps
Tara Brooks
April 12th-14th, and 19th-21st
Empire Polo Club, Indio, California, USA
