Beck

21st Century Apperances: 2003 Main Stage, 2000 Main Stage

The Defining Reading Moment: Beck’s insanely all over the place set in 2003, drifting from wild and ragged performances of “Devil’s Haircut” and “Loser” to a painfully insular reading of “Nobody’s Fault But My Own”.

Beck Hansen became the epitome of Generation-x slackers in the early-90s with his track, “Loser,” which helped propel him and third album Mellow Gold to stardom.

Following the release of Mellow Gold in 1994, a year later Beck made his Reading debut in 1995 on the Main Stage, before returning five years later as a sub-headliner to Pulp and again in 2003, as a sub to Sunday headliners Blur.

While he may not have released any new material since 2008’s Modern Guilt, Beck has reinvented himself in the studio, this year producing albums for fellow 90s slackers, Thurston Moore and Stephen Malkmus. Also, he contributed heavily to the soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, writing the songs for the fictional band Sex Bob-omb.

Whilst he may not have played for almost 9 years and, perhaps, would not be at the same heights again, Beck would surely be welcome on the Line Up again. Siobhan Gallagher