BESTIVAL INTERVIEW: Rob da Bank MEAT ROB DA BANK
Radio One DJ plans to up the style steaks at his annual gathering
DON’T be shocked if barmy Rob da Bank looks OFFAL at this year’s Bestival.
The Radio One DJ is working on his fancy dress costume for the annual weekender.
And he’s not ruled out paying homage to Lady GaGa’s infamous raw meat outfit.
The batty singer wore the bizarre hand-sewn get-up to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.
She turned up in a dress, boots, hat and purse made from strips of uncooked steak.
Rob admits he would have no beef flashing the flesh at his four day extravaganza.
The pony-tailed mix-master grins: “We are going for a Rock Stars, Pop Stars and Divas theme this time around and I’ve been sent plenty of suggestions via Twitter and Facebook.
“A couple of my favourites were Freddie Mercury or Lady GaGa in her meat dress.
“I’m still looking for inspiration - or I might simply backcomb my hair and go as Brian May.”
Rob, 37, - who grew up in Warsash, near Southampton - has presented a Saturday morning show on Radio 1 since 2002.
He first gained attention with his club night Sunday Best, founded in south London in 1995.
This evolved into a record label and two award-winning music festivals - Bestival and Dorset- based Camp Bestival.
Rob fell in love with outdoor musical gatherings after sneaking into Glastonbury as a teen.
He clamboured over the fence 66
www.styleofwight.co.uk
in 1993 after swopping his ciggies - for a rope ladder.
Rob - born Robert Gorham - groans: “As a promoter now, I feel kind of sick thinking about that. “But Glastonbury got me into the festival scene and made it part of my life. “It inspired me to create some fun, a party that made use of the eccentric nature of the Brits. “That was all the aim initially was. I never expected it to get this big.”
Last November Bestival scooped the Best Major Festival at the UK Festival Awards.
It beat off stiff competition from the likes of Glastonbury, V and Reading.
But its founder and curator missed the announcement as he was frantically fiddling with his mobile phone.
Rob was anxiously waiting for news that goth heroes The Cure had agreed to play Bestival.
He recalls: “I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life listening to The Cure and the last five attempting to persuade Robert Smith and the crew to hop on a ferry to our magical Isle. “There was a three week period where I was hoping to find out any day that they were coming.
“I was looking at my phone every 10 seconds. It became like an obsession. It was ridiculous. “I was just sitting there staring at my phone while everyone else was walking up to collect the award.
“It was the next day when I finally got word The Cure had agreed to play. I was jumping
about with joy. “Few bands have had
such a massive impact on my life - and hairstyles.”
Rob always seems to get his eclectic line-ups spot on, with Bestival regularly selling-out months in advance.
He says: “Part of the philosophy is not only to showcase new bands or breaking acts but also to bring in legendary, heritage acts - without them being fuddy duddies.
“Our festivals are very inclusive and for people wanting more than watching a band on stage while drinking warm beer.
“A lot of it is thinking, how can we be different, how can we be exciting.
“I believe festivals are like a little holiday while listening to your favourite bands.”
Rob admits Bestival consumes a huge chunk of his life but
has no plans to slow down. He adds: “I do lots of other things from radio shows to record labels and publishing companies to DJ’ing.
“But Bestival is always at the back of my mind. It’s an all encompassing beast which kind of takes over.
“You can’t really take your foot off the gas especially when you see festivals like Reading and Leeds not selling out yet this year.
“You’ve got to keep moving instead of standing still so who knows what might happen in the future.
“In three years time everyone might have fallen out of love with Bestival and be onto the next festival.
“I want to stay ahead of that and keep coming up with new and exciting ideas.”
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