The 1975 replace Rage Against the Machine at Reading & Leeds festivals and angry fans are demanding refunds

It’s not Rage Against The 1975, everyone! (Picture: Sergione Infuso/REX/Corbis)

It’s official: The 1975 will replace Rage Against the Machine on the line-up for the Reading and Leeds Festival later this month, but a fair few fans are not happy.

The pioneering American rap rock band was originally slated to headline the festival in 2020, but the Covid pandemic meant they had to cancel their plans.

And yesterday they officially dropped out of the reorganised festival, which will be taking place across the two sites between August 26 and 28.

The vacant slot was taken by the Cheshire pop group, fronted by Matt Healy, after Rage backed out, leaving some fans demanding refunds.

After the news was announced on Twitter, scores of festival-goers took to the replies to declare their intentions to no longer attend.

‘Not impressed!’ one user said. ‘You’ve gone from Rage Against the Machine to The 1975? How do I get a refund?’

Rage Against the Machine performing in 2010 (Picture: Christie Goodwin/Redferns)

Another added: ‘This is a substantial change [to the line-up], as per the terms and conditions, I’d like a refund please.’

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’s social media accounts have been responding on Twitter to those who are intending to get rid of their tickets, and it appears it cannot be done.

Ticketmaster wrote to one disgruntled fan: ‘It’s not a RATM show – it’s Reading & Leeds festival.

‘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!’

They headlined before, back in 2018 (Picture: Roberto Ricciuti/WireImage)

Rage frontman Zack De La Rocha sustained an injury last month which has resulted in the band having to drop out of their commitments.

The California quartet stole the headlines in the UK back in 2009 when their 1992 song ‘Killing in the Name’ beat X Factor winner Joe McElderry to Christmas number one.

The 1975 previously headlined the alternative festival back in 2019, alongside Foo Fighters, Post Malone, and Twenty One Pilots.

The band is made up of singer Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel.

Arctic Monkeys will be headlining the festival ahead of a new album (Picture: Santiago Bluguermann/Getty)

They have released four albums, entitled The 1975, I Like It When You Sleep…, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, and Notes on a Conditional Form.

Their headline set will arrive just a few weeks before the unveiling of their fifth album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, which is set for release in October.

Other headliners for the festival in 2022 include Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me the Horizon, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion, and Dave.

More: Trending

In order to warm up for the festival, Arctic Monkeys have been playing shows to smaller crowds in Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.

A new album from the Sheffield rock group is expected to be announced soon – their latest album, Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino, was released back in 2018.

Reading & Leeds coverage will be live across the BBC.

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