Recently Ear Candy posted the news that Billboard let it slip that Prince and Rage Against the Machine will be headlining Bumbershoot 2008. Shortly after EC caught Billboard's mistake, Billboard has removed its original post.

Ear Candy's bloggers-in-arms over at Metroblogging Seattle poo-pooed the idea that the two acts would be headlining the annual Labor Day weekend festival.

I am a realist and I do recognize that this rumor is just that, a rumor (hence why the blog post had a headline of "RUMOR ALERT" in all caps), which means it likely won't happen.

However, if the rumor is true this would be a major coup for Bumbershoot and catapult it to being the premiere summer festival.

Ear Candy thinks someone at Billboard accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the Rage and Prince additions to BShoot. So I say keep your hope alive because this is something that still could happen and here's the rationale behind how RATM/Prince could actually headline Bumbershoot:

OneReel has an agreement with AEG Live to co-produce Bumbershoot. The deal was set up in 2007 with the thought that AEG Live would help bring in big name headliners. Why can AEG Live help OneReel nab big headliners? Well, AEG Live also happens to co-produce Coachella with Goldenvoice.

Both Prince and Rage recently headlined Coachella,. which means there is a possible connection between them and BumbershootTypically a Coachella headlining spot equals a big tour later the same year (ex: Rage, Pixies) and Prince just headlined this year's Coachella making him prime for a national tour. Also, Rage has mysteriously skipped Seattle on its ongoing reunion tour thus far.

Throw in the fact that Metroblogging isn't citing anyone from OneReel or Billboard denying the rumor of Rage and Prince. Metroblogging simply headlined a post that said Billboard made an error, and as typical with blogs (myself included sometimes) no source was cited..

Add in that Billboard never actually admitted it made an error or posted a retraction, they just rewrote their BShoot description and took Prince and Rage off the original listing, and there's a good chance the Purple One and Rage could be at BShoot.

Oh, one more interesting fact: Anti-Flag is slated for Bumbershoot this year. Why is that important? Well, Anti-Flag recently announced they will be touring with Rage later this summer. Could be a coincidence, but it's still noteworthy.

So Ear Candy isn't saying I've bought the rumor about Rage and Prince being at Bumbershoot hook, line and sinker because like everyone else I will belive it when I see it. But I am saying it's highly possible.