After the first few rounds of announcements for the 2013 Roskilde Festival, things are starting to have a very familiar feel.
Today's addition of the masked metallers Slipknot brings back another festival veteran. The Des Moines, Iowa band played Roskilde in 2004 and 2009. Next summer's appearance will be one of just a handful played by the band, which has been in something of a state of limbo since the accidental overdose death of bassist Paul Gray in June 2010. A Des Moines physician was later charged with involuntary manslaughter for prescribing large doses of painkillers that led to eight overdose deaths, including Gray's.
So while the Roskilde Festival has clearly snagged one of only a few upcoming performances from one of the biggest metal acts in the world, it is also coming under some early criticism from fans who would like to see fewer recycled acts.
Two other previously-announced big name acts – Sigur Rós and Queens of the Stone Age – are also no strangers to Roskilde. The Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Rós played the festival in 2000 and 2006, while QOTSA will be making their third appearance in ten years.
On Roskilde's Facebook page, some fans expressed frustration that the festival was bringing back acts that had recently appeared.
"When are we gonna get some bands that haven't played Roskilde before"? one commenter wrote. "Every second or third year it's the same bands – come on Roskilde, [you] can do better than that."
The festival organisers, however, were quick to defend their bookings.
"Every year, we present [approximately] 200 bands and at least half of them haven't played here before. Good enough for ya?"
And if the Facebook reaction is any gauge, the answer is 'yes'. Many fans were writing that the early announcements for the 2013 Roskilde Festival had them more excited than they were for this summer's incarnation, which featured headliners such as Bruce Springsteen, The Cure and Björk.
Tickets for the 2013 Roskilde Festival are on sale now.
For those who can't wait until the summer to relive Slipknot's 2009 show, here it is in its entirety:
