The Stadium Test

The Stadium Test was an idea conceived by Stephen Merchant to see if a band was bound to go down in history or be relegated to novelty and obscurity. The test consists of announcing a band as if they were being introduced to a huge stadium full of people. On 16 February 2002, Ricky and Steve went through a battery of bands declaring which ones passed the test. Karl added a stadium applause sound effect after naming each band, until Ricky thought it sounded too much like Chris Moyles. The test was discussed a second time on 30 March 2002 after Ricky read out the Xfm Gig Guide.

Bands That Passed the Test

• Depeche Mode
• Rolling Stones
• The Who
• Hundred Reasons (used for a link)
• Beck (used for a link)
• The Smiths
• Sonic Youth
• Nirvana
• Bread (used for a link, but mockingly)

Bands That Failed the Test

• Visage
• Idlewild
• Ned's Atomic Dustbin
• The Levelers
• Megacity Four
• Franklin Walters
• Jimmy Eat World
• Cooper Temple Clause
• Pop Will Eat Itself
• Chumbawumba
• The Parkinsons
• Cyclefly
• Coach
• Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia
• The Scaffold
• Dandy Warhols (debatable)
• Where's Me Jumper (name guessed by Ricky)
• Splodgenessabounds
• Carter Unstoppable Sex Machine
• Lazybirds
• The Paperclips
• Treehouse Casino
• Chimney Factory