Glastonbury 2023 – latest: Elton John says thank-you to festival audience after farewell UK performance
Rocket Man bids farewell as he played what could be his final live show in the UK, with a jaw-dropping, career-spanning set of his greatest songs
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Elton John performed what will go down as one of the greatest headline shows in Glastonbury history last night (Sunday 25 June), to one of the biggest crowds the festival has seen in years.
Lil Nas X was the final artist to take to the main stage before the 76-year-old at Worthy Farm, Somerset, after a joyful Yusuf/Cat Stevens entertained fans with songs including “Wild World” and “Father and Son”.
The revered folk singer-songwriter performed with his band in the coveted Legends Slot, a gig previously handed to artists including Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue and Dolly Parton. He also gave superfan/comedian Ricky Gervais a shout-out on his birthday, before playing his song “Tea for the Tillerman”.
At 9pm, John launched his performance with some of his best-known songs, including his 1975 cover of “Pinball Wizard” and “Benny and the Jets”. From the moment he sat down at the piano, the show was a pure blast of euphoria from one of the world’s greatest living entertainers, with surprise guests including The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, and Gabriels singer Jacob Lusk.
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Judging by Twitter, fans are having their patience tested by the “Summertime Sadness” singer...
Lana is late...
... for a very important date! Lana Del Rey, babe, where you at?
Rina Sawayama ramps up the drama
Rina Sawayama’s hour set was a throwback riot, the singer-songwriter and actor embracing outrageous theatricality on a festival budget: costume changes, wind and fog machines, a tearaway suit hiding a latex corset (plus whip) underneath.
Sawayama is undeniably a student of the pop form, riffing on everyone from Shania and Gaga to Evanescence and Loreen throughout her hour — but when the effect is this good, it doesn’t matter all that much.
Highlights include the dreamy “Lucid” (“This song is about queer masturbation!” she boasts in her intro), along with the show’s line dancing closer “This Hell”. “It’s pride month and I’m wearing latex and my p**** is about to pop out,” she yells.
Surprise best show at the festival this year?
Rina Sawayama appears to call out Matty Healy during her set on Woodsies
Rina Sawayama, currently slaying over on the Woodsies stage, just took a moment before going into her song “STFU”.
Remarking on how she’s sick of microaggressions, she said: “Tonight, this goes out to a white man that watches Ghetto Gaggers, and mocks Asian people on a podcast... he also owns my masters... I’ve had ENOUGH.”
In case you missed the story earlier this year, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy went on the controversial Adam Friedland podcast, where he engaged in some unsavoury conversations with the hosts that included derogatory comments about women, racism towards Asian people, and a number of remarks about rapper Ice Spice, including several attempts at guessing her ethnicity.
Healy was, until recently, a director at the UK record label Dirty Hit, until his role was terminated on 4 April 2023. Sawayama has been signed to the label since 2019. Following Healy’s podcast appearance, she commented on an Instagram post discussing it: “What the actual f***.”
Matty Healy sparks backlash over podcast interview that mocks Japanese people
The 1975 frontman made a number of inflammatory remarks while being interviewed on US podcast ‘The Adam Friedland Show’
Spotted: Macca watching from side of stage
Rumours are swirling that Paul McCartney will come out for a session with GNR at some point. My source confirms that he’s currently watching their show from the side of the stage.
I just asked people on Twitter what they reckon of the set so far.
“I know its Glasto but Lizzo into GnR is a Venn diagram I’m not sure exists,” says Brandon Egley. “Might liven up when they reach the hits, bit deep cuts so far...”
“Mick Hucknell is giving a good go,” Cameron Clark-Dhir says, rather generously.
My colleague Jacob, who’s onsite, just told me he found getting away from the Pyramid Stage to head to the Acoustic Stage was “a doddle” when it’s usually impossible, which is telling...
And from Julian Stockton: “Surely the real question is why they were booked at all? They don’t care about Glastonbury, it’s clearly just another gig for them. You should ask Emily and Nick why they thought they were Saturday night headliners. Blaming the band seems to be missing the point doesn’t it?”
I’m not sure about that - I think if you say yes to headlining Glastonbury you’re putting yourself up for criticism, no? I’ve spent the months building up to this calling out festival bookers for that very reason, as well, so I think I’m covered.
Countdown to Guns N’ Roses on the Pyramid Stage
I’m not sure quite how they’ll follow Lizzo’s set, but Guns N’ Roses are scheduled to take to the Pyramid Stage in the next 10 minutes. I need surprise guests, I need the biggest hits, and I need them to turn up on time.
Dave Grohl’s been busy this weekend... the Foo Fighters frontman joined the Pretenders on drums for a rendition of “Tattooed Love Boys”
Lizzo fans have all been saying the same thing after that barnstorming performance.
“Nahhh this is a headline set from Lizzo,” one wrote on Twitter. “Should have been top of the bill, I’m so embarrassed for the men who have to follow her.”
I guess the ball’s in GNR’s court now...
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For anyone wondering when Guns N’ Roses will be making their way onstage.
Not too long to go, but a bit of a wait - imagine everyone will need a minute to catch their breath after Lizzo anyway.
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‘Happy Pride, bitch!'
This is going to go down as one of the best Glastonbury sets in history. Lizzo isn’t putting a foot wrong, from the Coldplay cover (from her song, “Coldplay”) to the flag she brought out to celebrate Pride Month, to the flute performance to the all-round spectacle of it. This is pure joy, and I’m actually mad that Glastonbury didn’t book Lizzo to headline this year. She could have done it - just look at the crowds, they’re going absolutely nuts!