Photo: Kravitz/FilmMagic
The crew cleaning up after this past weekend’s Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee, discovered the dead body of a man in his 20s on the camping grounds Tuesday, June 16th, one day after the fest had ended, the Tennessean reports. An autopsy is being conducted to determine cause of death. According to the report, the unidentified man was last seen alive on June 15th at 3 p.m., and police theorize that he was from Alabama. The body showed no signs of trauma, leading Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves to speculate that the death was either drug-related or the result of a pre-existing medical problem.

(See all of Rolling Stone’s Bonnaroo Coverage.)

“All we know is that he was alive [Monday] at 3 p.m.,” said Graves, who added he was unsure whether the man was a worker who stayed behind to help clean up the site. The death marks the seventh in Bonnaroo’s eight-year history, the Shelbyville Times-Gazette reports. (more…)

The eighth edition of the Bonnaroo Arts & Music Festival worked hard to shed its image as the dusty home to eight-hour jam-band noodle sessions. Its most eclectic lineup to date had the heavenly voice of the Rev. Al Green sharing field space with the unholy racket of Nine Inch Nails, and the ensuing throng of nearly 80,000 attendees was accordingly diverse. Beyond the usual granola munchers and tie-dyed flower children, there were healthy flocks of sunglassed indie kids ready to freak to MGMT, headbangers slamdancing in the sand to High On Fire, sock-and-sandal yupsters politely enjoying jùjú legend King Sunny Adé and phratty Phishheads going wherever the party was. Though after Thursday’s torrential downpour, the only two subcultures of import were “wet” and “dry.” Check out Bonnaroo’s unique cross-sections in these photos taken from both the festival floor and the too-close-for-comfort campgrounds.

• Bonnaroo 2009: Faces in the Crowd

Many Bonnaroo ‘09 attendees pitched their tents in the pouring rain Thursday, and it seemed like clouds might shield the fest’s final day from the blazing Tennessee sun. But the sky began to clear around 3:00 p.m. when Citizen Cope started playing their slow emotive funk on the Which Stage, and Erykah Badu brought the metaphorical and physical sunshine for her set on the gargantuan What Stage. She came out with a slow sassy strut, wearing a Public Enemy sweatshirt and a tall bowler hat. “Peace and love y’all,” she announced before singing “The Healer,” a jazzy rap with lyrics befitting the Bonnaroo spirit: “Sex, music, hip-hop is bigger than religion here. Sex, music, hip-hop is bigger than government here.”

(Dive into Bonnaroo ‘09 in our gallery of shots from the stage and beyond.)

Andrew Bird praised the ‘Roo while performing his intelligent brand of rock on the Which Stage: “This is my favorite of all the festivals,” he said before starting up “Opposite Day” with its xylophone, plucked violin and lots of whistling. On the other side of the festival grounds Okkervil River played to a packed crowd in the Other Tent, their red-bearded frontman, Will Sheff, singing energetically and passionately. “I’d like to play a song about jumping off a bridge” he said before kicking into “John Allyn Smith Sails.” In the This Tent Merle Haggard played classics with his fine tuned country band. People raised beers and yelled when he played “Folsom Prison Blues.”

As the late afternoon approached and the crowd began to get giddy for Phish, Snoop Dogg took his place on the main stage. (more…)

At last year’s Bonnaroo, rapper M.I.A. made headlines when she claimed that she was performing her last show ever.

Here we go again: during his late-night set on Which Stage for Bonnaroo Day Three, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor announced that he was performing his last show ever in the United States. (Reznor and his band are headed to Europe and Asia for a 33-date tour that wraps on August 12th.) Reznor suggested that his decision was from too much touring, but he did allude that he would continue to record and release new music. “Don’t be sad,” he said. “I’ll keep going.” If Reznor was growing weary from the road, you would’ve never known it from NIN’s blistering set of raging, anthemic industrial rock, which featured highlights like the propulsive new track “Discipline” as well as an onstage collaboration with the Dillinger Escape Plan for “Wish.”

(Dive into Bonnaroo ‘09 in our gallery of shots from the stage and beyond.)

Just before Nine Inch Nails, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band stormed Bonnaroo with a monster three-hour set that was heavy on hits (”Born to Run,” “Thunder Road”) along with a few rarities. (more…)

As the late afternoon sun beat down over the grounds of Bonnaroo 2009, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was prowling across Which Stage, sporting wild yellow-and-black leopard-print tights and a billowing tank top, when she suddenly stopped for a second, panted into her microphone and shouted: “It’s hot out there, Bonnaroo!” Over at That Tent, futuristic pop singer Santigold echoed a similar sentiment: “Whooooooo!” she hollered. “I’m dripping with sweat but I’m having a really great time!” (Click above to see footage from the Yeahs’ set and watch their pre-show limber up, plus check out our interview with French rockers Phoenix with a dash of their performance of “Lisztomania.”)

(Dive into Bonnaroo ‘09 in our gallery of shots from the stage and beyond.)

It was brutally hot and humid for the second day of Bonnaroo — the temp soared to almost 90 degrees — and there was little shade for fest-goers to escape the swelter. But the afternoon’s performers still managed to bring high-energy performances and attendees were willing to sweat it out (or, in some cases, pass out from exhaustion on the lawn) to catch some great sets, which were heavy on indie-rock bands for the first part of the day. Animal Collective dug deep for some trippy, electronic grooves; Dirty Projectors were joined by David Byrne for a set of knotty, Afro-pop-inspired art-rock and Yeah Yeah Yeahs got the crowd pogoing to raging versions of “Date With the Night” and their fantastic new single “Zero,” as TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe rooted them on.

Later that night, the Beastie Boys delivered a set of classic jams (”Intergalactic”; a raging, set-closing “Sabotage”) and a couple of deep cuts (”Heart Attack Man”). They also unveiled a few surprises: (more…)

For the past few years, Bonnaroo’s kick-off night has typically been devoted to small indie-rock bands but last night’s lineup was one of the best and most diverse openers in years, featuring synth-pop (Passion Pit) country (Zac Brown Band), rave-y acts (Tobacco) hip-hop (the Knux) and comedy from the one and only Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

(Check out photos from Bonnaroo’s opening day.)

Like Vampire Weekend last year, Passion Pit had the biggest buzz going into Bonnaroo and their 11 p.m. set was packed with fest-goers looking get down to the group’s highly danceable synth-pop anthems (check out footage from their set, above). All throughout their set, singer Michael Angelakos (who rocks a giant ‘fro and eerily resembles the Eagles’ Don Henley in the ’70s) led the crowd through sweaty sing-alongs and deafening clapping fits, particularly at the start of their best song “Sleepyhead.” Angelakos has one of the coolest new voices in pop — a shrill, high shriek that could bust glass — and he let it ring out in full over the festival grounds on tight, propulsive jams like “Make Light,” which sent the crowd into a pogo frenzy.

Best-set-of-the-night award goes to Tobacco, who performed a 1 a.m. slot at the tiny Troo Music Lounge. (more…)

To kick off the first night of Bonnaroo ‘09, Rolling Stone did what we do best: we invited some ace up-and-coming acts to play our very own party, sponsored by Vitamin Water. At 8 p.m., Brooklyn synth-pop trio Chairlift heated up the fest as the sun set over the 650-acre Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee. The crew delivered a mellow set of woozy, ’80s-throwback tracks that was heavy on tunes from their gorgeous debut, Does You Inspire You.

(Click above to catch Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes hanging in a hammock with Janelle Monae and Chairlift explaining how it felt to brush against Phish’s Mike Gordon on the festival grounds.)

“I’ve always wanted to do that — play these songs as the sun was setting over some giant field,” singer Caroline Polachek told us backstage. “I always thought our songs were suited to that.” The trio also pulled out a couple of neat tricks, closing their set with a gothic-disco version of Snoop Dogg’s “Sensual Seduction.” A classically trained opera singer, Polachek effortlessly simulated Snoop’s Auto-Tuned vocals — and she did it without the help of the effect. As bandmate Aaron Pfenning told us, “She doesn’t need any Auto-Tune. Her voice is perfect.” Jay-Z would approve.

(Dive into Bonnaroo in our gallery of live shots.) (more…)

Photo: FilmMagic

Bonnaroo 2009 is happening — now! Rolling Stone has offered up valuable information about how to get to Tennessee’s monster fest and the best way to get your camping on, plus an hour-by-hour guide to all the essential acts. Now that the rock is underway, get a look at four can’t-miss up-and-coming bands and relive the fest’s best times in a gallery of shots from the first-ever ‘Roo in 2002 to last year’s megafest featuring Kanye West and Metallica.

• Bonnaroo ‘09 Breakouts: Four Bands to Watch

• The Best of Bonnaroo: Radiohead, Metallica, Pearl Jam and More

Keep up with all this weekend’s action at our Bonnaroo hub.

Okay, we’ll admit it: there might not be one perfect Bonnaroo schedule. The Manchester, Tennessee festival, which goes down this weekend, is mightily packed with big headliners (Phish, Bruce Springsteen), main attractions (Nine Inch Nails, Wilco), a full slate of up-and-comers and a comedy tent (Triumph the Insult Comic Dog!). So where to go when to maximize your ‘Roo experience? Rolling Stone provides a guide to each day’s must-see sets here:

• How to Do the ‘Roo: Building the Perfect Bonnaroo Schedule

See also:

• The Road to Bonnaroo: The Spots You Need to Hit
• Steven Van Zandt Previews Springsteen’s Bonnaroo Gig
• Meet Bonnaroo 2009’s Lineup: Photos

Photo: Gentner/Getty

Bonnaroo is only three days away, which means fans who make the trek to Manchester, Tennessee, for face-melting headlining sets from Phish as well as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band can start experiencing the event’s jam-packed rock lineup in a mere 72 hours. Wondering how to pass the time between now and the summer’s first major event while also transporting yourself to the ‘Roo? Rolling Stone’s got a guide to the perfect road trip from the East Coast to Tennessee — click below to follow the rock from last night’s Phish gig in Camden, New Jersey, to the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, DC to ‘Roo central with loads to radio, motel and munchies advice along the way.

And stay tuned to RollingStone.com for a festival survival guide, a breakdown of Bonnaroo’s hottest new acts, a photo gallery of the best of Bonnaroo, and an hour-by-hour breakdown of how to best plot your schedule once you hit the ground in Tennessee. And once the rock starts, Rolling Stone will be in the trenches and behind the scenes bringing you video, interviews and live reports straight from the scene.

But of course, it all starts on the road:

The Rockin’ Road to Bonnaroo

See also:

• Steven Van Zandt Previews Springsteen’s Bonnaroo Gig
• Meet Bonnaroo 2009’s Lineup: Photos

Photo: West/WireImage
Bruce Springsteen’s Working on a Dream tour wraps its current U.S. run in a week, but the E Street Band are heading to Bonnaroo on June 13th, and guitarist Steven Van Zandt has begun spilling details about what fans can expect at the Manchester, Tennessee festival.

While many acts might feel pressured to cater their set list to the unique venue, Van Zandt insists E Street are sticking to the Working on a Dream script. “Every time [Bruce] writes the new album, he is basically writing a new show. He is saying something with that particular album, and then we build the show around that with the other songs from the past, and then see what connects to it — what amplifies that idea, what complements that idea,” he says. “So, we don’t particularly change things according to who the audience is or not. We kind of do what we do, and then you just hope people dig it.”

That doesn’t mean there isn’t impulsiveness to the E Street show, as the band has rattled off impromptu covers of Clash, Ramones and Troggs tunes in recent weeks. “We build a certain amount of spontaneity right into the show,” Van Zandt says. “These last couple tours, in particular, we’ve been taking requests from the audience and really turning arenas and stadiums into clubs. (more…)

Photo: Haaseth/NBC
With Coachella in the rear-view mirror, the next big ‘09 festival on the horizon is Bonnaroo, which will bring the recently reunited Phish and road warrior Bruce Springsteen to Manchester, Tennessee from June 11th to 14th. While the fest built its name on lineups that jam deep into the night, over the past few years Bonnaroo has emerged as a major destination for comedy aficionados, as well. So just how has the funny business become such an integral part of ‘Roo? “I think because the tent is air-conditioned,” Parks and Recreation star Aziz Ansari joked during a teleconference yesterday. (Grab the current issue of RS for a story on the new Amy Poehler show by Rob Sheffield.)

This year’s Bonnaroo features perhaps its best slate of comics yet, with late-night host Jimmy Fallon, The State’s Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Todd Barry. Ansari will back despite an uncomfortable incident that (probably didn’t) happen to him last time around. “I was at the artist catering area and I’m sitting there getting some mashed potatoes, and the guys from Peter Bjorn and John are like ‘Those mashed potatoes are for us, they’re not for anybody else.’ I was like ‘No, they’re for everybody.’ Then they started beating me up,” Ansari said. (more…)

Photo: Mazur/WireImage

As Rolling Stone first predicted in December 2008, Phish will headline two nights at this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival, with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band also topping the bill. While the two marquee acts don’t really come as a surprise following months of rumors and speculation, the talent underneath the headliners is sure to drop some jaws: The Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, Snoop Dogg, David Byrne, Al Green, TV on the Radio and many more will be on hand at the Manchester, Tennessee festival on June 11-14th. Tickets go on sale February 7th, and are being offered in a recession-happy plan that includes five $50 payments.

Need more incentive to attend? How about Animal Collective, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Elvis Costello, MGMT, Girl Talk, the Mars Volta, Jenny Lewis, Santogold, Merle Haggard and more as 120 bands and over 20 comedians will perform at the 2009 festival. (Want to put yourself in a festive mood? Browse a photo gallery of Bonnaroo 2009’s lineup). For Phish fans, this festival provides an opportunity to get some tickets after the Live Nation ticket troubles from last weekend. The addition of Phish also represents the ‘Roo reconnecting with its more jam-band-oriented past after a few years that saw bands like Tool and Metallica serve as headliners. (more…)

Photo: Getty

Bonnaroo, the East Coast’s premiere multi-day, multi-stage gathering of the vibes (held in Manchester, Tennessee from June 11th to 14th) usually doesn’t release its lineup until early February — but RollingStone.com hears from reliable sources close to Phish that the band will top the bill for two nights, restoring the fest to its jam-friendly roots. It would be the fifth time frontman Trey Anastasio appears on the ‘Roo stage, having performed as a solo artist in 2002 and 2004, with bandmate Mike Gordon in 2006 and alongside Matisyahu in 2005. Phish announced their official reunion and first public gigs in four years (their March 6-9th Hampton, Virginia shows) in early October; reps for the band and the fest declined comment for this story. Also being buzzed about with some legitimacy: Bruce Springsteen as Sunday night’s closer. No pressure, but there is a deadline approaching for pre-sale tickets and VIP packages.

As for Coachella, the fest reputed for reuniting many a dormant band (the Pixies in 2004, Rage Against the Machine in 2007), Blur is believed to be a frontrunner, though a show scheduled for London’s Hyde Park in July raises some doubt (more…)

Photo: Getty

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, deemed Best Festival by this very publication, has announced the dates for next year’s fest: June 11-14, 2009 at its home in Manchester, TN. Pre-sale tickets go on sale this Thursday, December 4th. Perhaps adapting to the current economic recession, for the first time Bonnaroo is allowing customers to buy tickets as part of a payment plan comprised of five installments of $50 each. (more…)