Imagine Dragons announced as Grey Cup headliners
The CFL has chosen American alternative rockers Imagine Dragons to perform in the halftime show at next month's Grey Cup game.
The Grey Cup contest will be played Nov. 30 at B.C. Place.
For a league with strict Canadian content rules on the field, the CFL has opted once again to go with an American act for the entertainment.
"This is a dynamic young band that reflects today's CFL and the excitement that has always surrounded our biggest game and Canada's biggest party, the Grey Cup," Sara Moore, the CFL's vice-president of marketing and events, said in a statement. "The millions who saw Imagine Dragons steal the show at this year's Grammy Awards, where they won a Grammy for best rock performance, will know how exciting it is that they will command Canada's biggest stage."
Past shows featured local talent
The choices for Grey Cup halftime entertainment have ranged from the local — Saskatoon's Sheepdogs performed at the Saskatchewan-hosted Grey Cup in 2013 — to the popular Canadian classics — The Tragically Hip in 2004, Guess Who in 2000 and of course, who could forget (Canada's greatest party band) Trooper in 1997 in the frigid cold at Commonwealth Stadium.
Many critics have denounced the relatively recent decisions to bring American performers into the mix (it's not like there's a shortage of Canadian talent). The Black Eyed Peas were the first to break the barrier, performing at the in 2005 Grey Cup in Vancouver. Lenny Kravitz followed up two years later at a Toronto-hosted championship game.
Imagine Dragons will be the third American band to play the Grey Cup halftime show when they take the stage at the end of November.
The band from Las Vegas released its debut album "Night Visions" in 2012 and it was certified three times platinum in Canada. The single "Radioactive" went platinum seven times while follow up "Demons" was platinum five times over.
"We're thrilled to be coming to the Grey Cup to entertain CFL fans in Vancouver and right across Canada," lead singer Dan Reynolds said. "Canada has supported us from the beginning so it's always exciting to go back."
Well, Canadian music fans, at least it's not Bieber. The Canadian popstar and native of Stratford, Ont., was booed mercilessly when he performed at the halftime show in 2012. His co-star Carly Jae Jepsen didn't fare much better with the football fans. Call her maybe? How about never.
Warning: The following paragraph contains a Nickelback reference
And then there's Nickelback. Remember when they performed at the 2011 Grey Cup in B.C. Place. Of course you don't. You spent the past four seasons trying to put that memory out of your head.
