Jay-Z, whose appearance at Glastonbury last year irked Noel Gallagher but thrilled the Somerset masses, will headline next year's Isle of Wight festival, it was announced today.
The US rapper will appear on the Friday night, with fellow New Yorkers The Strokes doing the honours on Saturday. Other acts include Pink, Blondie, Orbital and Squeeze.
Jay-Z's 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3, recently shot to No 1, beating Elvis Presley's record of 10 top-placed albums.
Gallagher famously objected to the rapper's presence at Glastonbury last year, saying: "Glastonbury has a history of guitar music … I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong."
However, the crowds were won over by Jay-Z, who came on stage to a video montage of Gallagher's comments.
The Strokes recently picked up the NME album of the decade award for their 2001 debut, Is This It.
Pink, who has achieved more than 23m album sales, has been announced as a special guest for the Sunday night.
Vintage "uber-cool" rockers Blondie will also play on Saturday, while Squeeze – best known for their hits Cool for Cats and Up the Junction – will perform for campers on Thursday before the festival gets fully under way.
After their comeback last year and the recent release of their album, 20, Orbital will headline the event's Big Top stage on the Saturday.
Festival promoter John Giddings said: "Ever since I heard the first Strokes album, I've wanted them for the Isle of Wight. Jay-Z and Pink are two of the best live acts I have ever seen and the Blondie hits speak for themselves. I can't wait."
Some 55,000 music fans are expected to attend the festival, which runs at Seaclose park, Newport, between 11 and 13 June. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
