If Knebworth Park Concerts began in 1974, then this year, 2013, must be their 40th year. A shame, then, that Sonisphere will not be returning in 2013. Knebworth Park has no rock concerts scheduled for this summer – there is talk of other types of music events – but no classic Knebworth concert to mark the 40th year. I hope, at least, we can mark the 40th anniversary in 2014. There are already a couple of enquiries for 2014 and a television company is contemplating a retrospective.
It’s been a remarkable 40 years – the last Led Zeppelin concert with its original line up in 1979, the last Beach Boys concert with its original line up in 1980, the last Queen concert with its original line up in 1986, the Nordoff Robbins charity concert in 1990 that was broadcast worldwide and advertised “Knebworth” on a giant billboard on Sunset Boulevard, the defining weekend of Britpop with Oasis in 1996, and the largest British music event ever with Robbie Williams in 2003, which produced a record-selling DVD across the world with the word “Knebworth” written all over it. Prince Cnebba – the Saxon after whom it is presumed we are named – would I hope be proud that his name has travelled so far!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com