Yahoo Finance Reading and Leeds festival 2022: Angry fans demand refunds after The 1975 replace Rage Against the Machine
The 1975 have been confirmed to replace Rage Against the Machine on the line-up for this year’s Leeds and Reading festivals with some unhappy ticket holders now calling for refunds.
The pioneering American rap-rock band were originally due to headline the festivals in 2020, but were forced to postpone their appearance due to the Covid pandemic.
They officially dropped out of the reorganised event on Thursday due to frontman Zack De La Rocha being out of action after sustaining an injury last month.
The festival, which is due to take place across the two sites between August 26 and 28, swiftly announced The 1975 to take their slot.
We heard you 👀 @the1975 will now be headlining #RandL22 🤩🔥 Don’t say we never treat you 🤝 pic.twitter.com/c8DzAcbVfN
— Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) August 12, 2022
Some ticket holders felt that the pop group from Cheshire which is fronted by Matt Healy, were not suitable replacements due their widely different style of music.
Many took to social media to vent their frustration and question how they could get their money back.
“Not impressed!” fumed one person on Twitter. “You’ve gone from Rage Against the Machine to The 1975? How do I get a refund?”
“This is a substantial change [to the line-up], as per the terms and conditions, I’d like a refund please,” agreed a second.
While a third user argued: “If [the organisers] were listening to people, you’d be giving them information on how to get a refund since Sunday’s main stage has been decimated by these cancellations.”
Ticketmaster responded to a number of the tweets and advised that the line-up change would not qualify for a refund.
“It’s not a RATM show – it’s Reading & Leeds festival,” they replied to one disguntled music fan.
“Unfortunately under the event’s terms of sale, changes to the line-up of a multi-performer event such as a festival don’t make a booking eligible for a refund. Thanks!”
