IfImagine Dragonswere to ever play theSuper Bowlhalftime show, they’d want to make sure they can bring the lightning and the thunder their way.
The band’s frontmanDan Reynoldsappeared on a new episode ofSiriusXM’sThe Jess Cagle Show with Julia Cunninghamand spoke about how the “Radioactive” group has been in talks about performing at the sporting event. He admitted, though, that they would only be interested under certain conditions.
The topic came up when co-host Julia Cunningham shared that she was hoping for a lineup of Las Vegas-themed acts for next year’s Super Bowl LVIII in Sin City beforeUsher was announcedas the upcoming halftime show headliner.
After explaining she envisioned a handful of Vegas icons such asWayne Newtonand bands from the city likeThe Killersand Imagine Dragons to take the stage, Cunningham asked Reynolds, 36, if that was ever discussed.
Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons.Matthew Baker/Getty
Matthew Baker/Getty
“We did have talks about Super Bowl stuff with Super Bowl people,” the musician admitted.
Reynolds went on to share, though, that the rockers would only be interested in the future if there was a focus on them playing live, as opposed to the theatrics. “Until I know that we can perform in the way that we want and our instruments can be playing live, we’re never gonna play the Super Bowl,” Reynolds continued. “And that’s my honest answer to you.”
The vocalist added, “We have a very specific way that we perform and we’ve been really lucky to stick to our guns for this many years and perform in that way.”
Imagine Dragons.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Reynolds emphasized that he has “no hate on the Super Bowl,” but reiterated how committed bands like Imagine Dragons are at playing live. “If you’re a band, it’s just a different thing,” he added. “You gotta have live drums, you gotta have, you know, live guitar. And that’s a non-starter for us.”
Super Bowl LVIII will see the second appearance from the hitmaker, who previously performed alongside theBlack Eyed Peaswhen the hip-hop group headlined the halftime show back in 2011. Along with the performance, he’sconfirmed to releaseComing Home,his ninth studio album and first major release since 2016.
Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Imagine Dragons focused on performing for much of 2022 and 2023 — having recently wrapped up their Mercury World Tour in support of their latest albumsMercury – Acts 1 and 2.
Reynolds is now turning his attention to his upcoming, touringLOVELOUDfestival, which he founded in 2017 andaims to uplift the LGBTQ+ community.
The “Bones” singer — who was raised in a Mormon family in Las Vegas — recently spoke to PEOPLE about why he feels as if LOVELOUD is as important as ever.
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Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons.Kevin Winter/Getty
“In the last few years, there’s so much legislature that is really scary, that’s setting us back, that’s creating more divides and a riskier place for our LGBTQ youth,” Reynolds explained. “A lot of our youth feel fearful, fearful of going to school, fearful of being out in the world in so many places in the U.S., especially in heavily Orthodox communities.”
He continued, “If our youth are not being celebrated in the same way that our heterosexual youth are, we’re setting them up for a disastrous life. If they feel that dagger behind the back of, ‘I accept you, but I don’t agree with…,’ whatever it is that’s going to come after that, that’s what’s really hurting our youth."
source: people.com
