Geoff Ellis on the best acts who have played at T in the Park

Jul 6 2008

THEY said it would never work - bands would not play there and fans would snub a massive open-air event.

But T in the Park has proved everybody wrong.

Next weekend, Scotland's No. 1 rock festival celebrates its 15th birthday.

The event - which attracts 70,000 fans each day - has become one of the most respected annual music festivals in the world.

Stellar acts such as R.E.M., Rage Against The Machine, The Verve and Stereophonics top the bill at this year's T in Balado, near Kinross.

It's a far cry from the festival's humble origins on a site off the M74 near Hamilton.

Just 18,000 fans saw sets from Bjork, Del Amitri, Cypress Hill and Primal Scream.

Event boss GEOFF ELLIS looks back at his personal highlights of the past 15 years of T in the Park.

OASIS, 1994

THIS was a similar feeling to when Coldplay first played T.

Everyone thought we were mad to book a fairly unknown band to play so far up the bill in the King Tut's Tent.

But by the time T came along, Oasis were huge. Noel Gallagher hailed this as one of the band's best performances for many years to come.

CYPRESS HILL, 1994

THE rappers had problems getting through customs in London and it looked like they wouldn't make it to Scotland.

But we made sure they didn't miss their first ever T.

We changed the order so they could go on later and they ended up performing Killing In The Name with Rage Against The Machine.

KYLIE MINOGUE, 1995

KYLIE was asked to go into the NME signing tent at the last minute but there was no additional security available and I wasn't happy about letting her go in without it.

Her manager said to talk to her directly about it, so I hobbled off - I'd broken my leg playing football and was on crutches - to see her.

When I voicedmy concerns, she put her arm around me and said: "Don't worry, I'll look after you." An absolute star.

RADIOHEAD, 1996

I SPOKE to the band after they headlined the Main Stage in 1996 and they recalled that I'd cooked them soup and baked potatoes when they supported Kingmaker at King Tut's.

They were really grateful we'd looked after them when they weren't successful. It was a great personal moment.

JOE STRUMMER, 1996

ON his first visit to T as an audience member, Strummer stayed on the campsite.

He and his friends pitched their tents together and invited people to join them for a party, entertaining them by busking.

Later, Joe appeared at my portakabin to tell me about a technical issue in the Dance Tent. He had taken care of everything and had just come to let me know it was sorted. A true legend.

MOBY, 2000

WE had booked Moby to play Stage Two but he had become such a big name we moved him up to the Main Stage.

Ocean Colour Scene were so gracious about letting him go on after them. I don't think we thanked them enough. As the sun went down and Moby performed Go! and Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad there was a little magic in the air.

R.E.M., 2003

WATCHING them play Everybody Hurts is one of themost emotional moments ofmy life.

Not only was it the 10th anniversary of T but a close friend had passed away just a few days before. It's amoment I will never forget.

NEW ORDER, 2005

SIGNING them was a dream.

My favourite memory of their performance is standing side-stage and seeing the silhouette of Hooky and his bass touching the floor.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers asked to perform Crystal with them - an unplanned but truly fantastic moment.

They said it was the best festival they had ever played.

MINUTE SILENCE, 2005

IT was the day of the London terror bombings and the feeling on site was awful.

Our team had friends and family they couldn't reach and everyone was worried.

We held a one-minute silence for the victims and thousands of fans joined in.

It was incredibly emotional and proved why the T crowd has such an amazing worldwide reputation.

PAOLO NUTINI, 2006

HE played a record-breaking three gigs in one day.

Wehad booked him to play the T-Break Tent but after his success we decided he should get a shot on the Main Stage.

He went down an absolute storm - a good indication of what was to come for him.

THE WHO, 2006

BOOKING them was a career highlight. It made my day when the band came told the crowd: "This has been the best festival experience ever. You guys were better than Woodstock or The Isle of Wight."

HEALTHY T, 2007

I WAS proud of the introduction of Healthy T, which provided a variety of delicious healthy food for fans as well as cooking demonstrations.

THE LONE PIPER, EVERY YEAR

THIS is the one moment that makes it all worthwhile.

After the headline band and our spectacular fireworks display, a lone piper plays.

It always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

ALL SAINTS, 2004

IT was the 10th year of T and the lovely Appleton sisters, Nicole and Natalie, presented me with a cake to celebrate. It was a lovely surprise.

I found myself in the middle of an Appleton sandwich when I got a kiss on the cheek from both of them.

PAUL WELLER & NOEL GALLAGHER, 2001

SEEING them perform acoustic Jam numbers together was a magical moment. They are both spokesmen for their respective generations and were on top form.

Personally, I was as delighted as the crowd. Weller is a schoolboy hero of mine and is just as cool now as he was in his days with The Jam.