Hi Robert, it is very hot at the Pinkpop site this weekend, with temperatures of 32 and 35 degrees. Is the festival prepared for that?
‘To be honest, I’m a little disappointed with that. When I got here there were long lines for the wristbands. They were in full sun, sometimes for half an hour. There were no umbrellas or white tents as they do at Schiphol. If you’ve stood in line there for so long, you’re already completely wrung out and the festival has yet to start.
‘The biggest problem is that there are hardly any shady spots. Just walking across the field here, I saw that all the shady spots are occupied: be it next to the chip shop or by the toilets. If you want to visit a performance, it is impossible to be sheltered anyway: you have to be full with your head in the blazing sun.
‘There are water points, but there are very long lines. The effort you have to put in and the time you have to wait there already costs you more sweat than you drink. The temperature felt between people is 45 degrees. People are already falling for that. Everyone is very helpful, brings water, but with these temperatures it is simply unavoidable.’
In the past two years, Pinkpop, like many other festivals, could not continue because of corona. What’s it like to be there again?
‘Pinkpop always starts on the train there. It is always pleasant there. ‘Finally another reunion,’ I heard the people in the compartment say to each other. That’s how it really feels for many. Pinkpop is one of those festivals that you always go to because you’ve always been there. It’s a tradition.
‘The festival is especially unique because of the type of people who come there. You actually see just about all layers of the population. Young and old, all generations together. What I think is wonderful: I just saw a grandfather, father and (grand)son dressed in Metallica shirts walking side by side. You don’t see that at other festivals, like Best Kept Secret. Pinkpop is really unique in that regard.’
This year’s edition is especially special because Jan Smeets, founder and ‘Mr. Pinkpop’, officially leaving. How is he going to say goodbye?
‘In addition to being the festival director, Smeets was also everyone’s family man. He invariably addressed the festival-goers from the stage in a fatherly manner and emphasized that they should lubricate well and drink plenty of water. And he was everywhere: you could also see him at the campsite. I saw Smeets cycling past once in the morning when I got out of my tent. “The garbage has to go in the bins people,” he shouted. You won’t find any other festival boss who does that. That too makes Pinkpop unique.
“Nobody knows exactly what his goodbye will look like. Because of his health, he had actually already said goodbye a few years ago. But tomorrow there will be an official moment on stage. That certainly promises to be special, if only because he meant so much to Pinkpop.’
Pinkpop is always known for the big artists, like this weekend Metallica. Are there any surprising names you are looking forward to?
‘They certainly are. There are even very striking names, bands that have never played in the Netherlands. For example, I’m really looking forward to Turnstile, a hip hardcore band. They made one of the best records of recent years.
‘Another surprising artist is KennyHoopla. That is an American hip-hop artist who recently discovered the guitar and makes very fine pop punk. He has released very little music and is really quite new. The fact that he has just appeared on Pinkpop is very striking and very nice.
‘But of course bands that have been here before, such as Metallica and Pearl Jam, remain artists to look forward to. Metallica has one of the best frontmen in pop history with James Hetfield: the shows never disappoint. The same goes for Pearl Jam with Eddie Vedder. Moreover, young fans of 17 or 18 will probably see them here for the first time. Among the old fans. That remains the beauty of Pinkpop.’