Coachella 2013 Lineup: How to Complain

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Rule number one about Coachella rumors is never trust Coachella rumors. However, as far as gossip goes, hints about The Rolling Stones made them seem like a shoe-in for this year's festival. The band's official smartphone app briefly listed a tour date that lined up with Coachella, and Keith Richards dropped winking hints that the band might be up for the show. Coachella organizers got the ball rolling even faster when they sent out this symbolic (?) photo: 

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It's a Stone, Rolling through the Coachella Valley—right? "No," clarified those teases at Goldenvoice this morning: 

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And what happened to Daft Punk? 

A suspicious email was supposedly circulated to Songkick's concert mailing subscribers, foretelling an appearance from French robot-house duo Daft Punk. But they're nowhere to be found on the official lineup. Again, the lesson here seems to be that Coachella rumors shouldn't be trusted (we warned you). 

Really, the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

It's not like this is the first year Coachella's cashing in on '90s nostalgia with their choice of headliner. But nevertheless, the Twitterazzi have a valid point about the Red Hot Chili Peppers not being the most current choice. No matter how you feel about Flea and the gang, we know Neil Hamburger won't be attending.

Lots of these bands are missing crucial members. 

Sure, Coachella 2013 attendees will get to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers and New Order—but in a diluted form. Guitarist John Frusciante left his funk-rock brethren behind years ago, and bad blood led to bassist Peter Hook's departure from New Order. 

This might have been a really great festival ... in Europe. 

Between Friday's Britpop double-whammy and Saturday's spotlight on French band Phoenix, this huge American festival has a pretty European focus. Last year, only one non-American group (Radiohead) had a headlining spot. And in 2011, Canada's Arcade Fire shared top billing with Kanye, The Strokes, and The Black Keys. Plenty of festival goers will love the acts regardless of what country they're from, sure—but this year's lineup could've been ripped straight from the hanbills for big U.K. gatherings like Glastonbury or T in the Park. Where's the home-grown talent?

The choice of headliners is pretty rockist. 

If you read the small print, you'll see a good number of DJs, rappers, and other artists who don't rely on guitars. But the men Coachella put at the top this year (they're all men) invariably play some type of rock. The festival has some hip hop (Wu-Tang Clan, Earl Sweatshirt, 2 Chainz), some EDM (TNGHT, Bassnectar, Baauer) and a few electronic acts (Grimes, The Postal Service, Purity Ring). But headliners always make the strongest statement, and the statement Coachella 2013 makes is guitars reign supreme. 

Needs more holograms. 

Hologram Tupac at Coachella 2012. Never forget.