Eminem kicks off festival appearances

Eminem warned fans to expect the unexpected

Eminem's first UK festival headlining slot has passed without incident after he warned fans to expect the unexpected.

The controversial rap star headlined Friday's show at the Leeds festival and will play at Reading and Glasgow over the weekend.

"We're not going to tell you what is in the show because then it won't be a surprise," he told the BBC's Top of The Pops Plus in an interview to be screened on Sunday.

"We might do something different, you will have to wait and see.

Marilyn Manson: At Reading on Sunday

"We can promise you a lot of energy, 45 minutes of energy and a lot of swearing. It will be a great show, I can guarantee that."

Eminem, Travis and the Manic Street Preachers head the line-up at this year's Reading and Leeds festivals which are expected to attract more than 50,000 people at each site over three days.

Some of the same performers are also due to play the Gig on the Green in Glasgow this weekend.

The Grammy-winning rapper, who played a warm-up gig in London on Thursday for just 2,000 people, will be performing after his latest court controversy in the US.

Lyrics

When the chainsaw-wielding star played in the UK last February, his notorious lyrics were slammed as being misogynistic and homophobic.

In July he escaped a prison sentence in the US by pleading no contest on gun charges. He was put on probation.

Travis: Among the other big names at the festivals

Travis headlined Friday's show at the Reading site, and broke their trend of making the heavens open whenever they play their hit Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

Other artists who appeared included hotly-tipped New York rock band The Strokes, who were moved to the main stage, plus rock veteran Iggy Pop, PJ Harvey and Ash.

Also on the weekend's bill are Green Day, Supergrass and the Fun Lovin' Criminals.

Reading has long been one of the highlights of the UK musical calendar, and expanded to take in a second site in Leeds in 1999.