READING/LEEDS Festival Organizer Would Not Book Current GUNS N' ROSES Lineup Again

The organizer of the U.K.'s Reading and Leeds festivals has told NME.com that he would not consider booking the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES again.

GUNS N' ROSES headlined the Reading and Leeds festivals in August 2010 and came onstage an hour late at Reading and 30 minutes late at Leeds, with both shows cut short due to venue curfews.

GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose said from the stage at Leeds as the band's set was halted, "We would like to play a few more songs for you tonight but someone is telling us the show's over." He also launched an F-bomb at the festival's promoters before leaving.

Meanwhile, at Reading, Rose staged a sitdown protest when the band's set was stopped at midnight. The curfew had already been extended half an hour for the group at that point.

Many members of the crowd jeered the band when it arrived onstage 60 minutes late, while a number of audience members also left before the set even started. According to Gigwise.com, the crowd continued to disperse throughout the band's performance.

Melvin Benn, chief executive of organisers Festival Republic, who had previously said that he would definitely book the band again, told NME.com that he would not invite GUNS again in the band's current incarnation.

"I wouldn't have the current lineup, certainly not at the moment. It doesn't feel right," he said.

When asked if he'd consider booking the band's original lineup, Benn replied, "Of course, if it was the original lineup, I would definitely consider it and if they could tell the time, it would be fantastic. With the original lineup, it would be something very special. We'd have to give them all a watch each, but we'd certainly try to get them if they reformed."