I doubt this just about as hard as I can, but maybe Prince and Rage Against the Machine are part of the Bumbershoot ^[1] lineup? Via rumor-loving Ear Candy [# ^[2]], this blurb from Billboard’s guide to summer music:

BUMBERSHOOT
August 30 – September 1
Seattle Center, Seattle
Lineup Includes: Prince, Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams
Festival Web Site: www.bumbershoot.org

Originally beginning as The Seattle Arts Festival in 1971, Bumbershoot consists of a variety of art, including music, film, comedy, theater, spoken word, dance, visual, performance, and literary arts. The festival takes place at the Seattle Center, a 74-acre park with over 20 indoor/outdoor venues and independent vendors located throughout the area. Headliners aside, other must see artists include !!!, Ingrid Michaelson, M. ward, and Del tha Funkee Homosapien.
[billboard ^[3]]

Prince’s long jam, variety show, “Creep”-covering set at Coachella last month was something to behold [mb ^[4]], but it reportedly cost Goldenvoice somewhere in the neighborhood above four million dollars to pull it off for a festival with daily admission tickets hovering close to a hundred dollars. Does Onereel really have that kind of cash on hand?

From Pinkpop in June, to Lollapalooza, Reading and Leeds in August, Rage Against the Machine ^[5] have headlining spots for a slew of ever-multiplying summer festivals, but nothing on their calendar after 23 August. When I saw them a couple years ago (right after they reunited), the crowd was intense and huge. It would certainly change the scene at Seattle Center if their hardcore fans parachuted in for a Battle of Bumbershoot.

I dashed off a note to Onereel to see if there’s any merit to Billboard’s story and will let you know when I hear more. Thoughts?

update: Billboard regrets the error. [mb ^[6]]