Rolling Stone magazine recently asked its readers who should follow Madonna as next year's Super Bowl halftime act. The responses that populated the Top 10 ranged from, âHmmm, thatâs a great ideaâ to âWow, people on the Internet are insane.â
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| Several factors make Coldplay a top choice to play halftime in New Orleans. (Roberto Pfeil/Associated Press) |
Here's the list, with our opinion included:
10. Phish
Two words: Not happening. Big Mouth Billy Bass has a better chance of playing the Super Bowl than the stoner rock legends. Seriously, the only way this happens is if Trey Anastasio overthrows Roger Goodell and assumes control of the league. And weâre not even sure that gets it done.
9. Coldplay
These guys are probably the closest to a lock on this list due to the combination of worldwide popularity, relative youth and safe factor (Chris Martin isn't flipping off anyone.) Coldplay has positioned itself as the logical successors to U2 for years, and playing the big game would do wonders on that front (Bono & Co. played a memorable post-9/11 halftime set at Super Bowl XXVI.)
8. Lady Gaga
If Coldplay is this generationâs U2, then Gaga is thought by many to be the evolutionary Madonna. As such, itâd be a surprise if the Powers That Be chose Gaga a year after the Material Girlâs performance at Super Bowl XLVI. Timing necessitates a longer commercial shelf life for Gaga, no small task in a fickle pop world.
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| Lady Gaga playing the Super Bowl a year after Madonna? Not likely. (Chris Pizzelo/Associated Press) |
7. Rush
Weâve heard that Rush is the most underrated band in rock history so often the last few years theyâve become almost overrated because of it. Still, they have an extensive catalog of hits, and the band reached a new generation of fans when âTom Sawyerâ showed up on the video game âRock Band 3.â Still, Rush? We donât want to come off as anti-Canadian, but we donât see it.
6. Metallica
The heavy metal legends certainly have the resume to put together a killer setlist (including the no-brainer âEnter Sandmanâ), but is Metallica mainstream enough to play the Super Bowl? It really depends on who you ask, but if it hasnât happened yet it probably wonât happen now.
5. AC/DC
As The Who proved in Super Bowl XLIV, itâs not always a great idea to trot out a veteran rock band and assume theyâll be able to summon past glories. In fact, weâd like to enact an unofficial bylaw that disqualifies rock bands that feature members in their 60s. (If youâre a Beatle or Rolling Stone, this does not apply). In another decade, AC/DC were a great choice. Sadly, the window has closed.
4. The Black Keys
This would be the painfully transparent choice if the Powers That Be wanted to âhip upâ halftime. The Black Keys have a loyal fan base and some great songs, but if we're going with a critically adored midwestern rock act, we'd much rather see a White Stripes reunion.
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| Foo Fighters and frontman Dave Grohl are a logical choice to play the Super Bowl. (Joel Ryan/Associated Press) |
3. Pearl Jam
Though itâs easy to dismiss this option citing Eddie Vedderâs well-known aversion to the commercial aspects of fame (the man once tried to bring down Ticketmaster, after all), it's possible Pearl Jam might be ready for the Super Bowl. The 2011 Cameron Crowe documentary "Pearl Jam Twenty" showed a group finally comfortable in its skin. Pearl Jam in 1993 wouldn't go near this event, but Pearl Jam in 2013? Could be a different story. Our dark horse.
2. Van Halen
Letâs see if David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen can get through their upcoming reunion tour without killing each other before discussing this one.
1. Foo Fighters
According to Rolling Stone, Foo Fighters were the overwhelming choice by readers to play halftime. Like Coldplay, Foo Fighters are at a stage in their career where playing the Super Bowl makes complete sense. They've been around long enough where even casual fans of rock music know their hits, but are still young enough to make the Powers That Be come off as hip. Let's make it happen.
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