This years Glastonbury Festival has certainly been one to remember, with countless memorable moments occurring over the course of the festival. Visits from the Dalai Lama, a surprise set from The Libertines and Kanye West’s lack-lustre but eventful set were all major talking points.
Since 1970 the small Somerset village of Pilton has been transformed almost every year into the biggest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. It has come a long way since its humble beginnings 45 years ago, when just 1,500 people attended, paying the £1 entry fee which included free milk from the farm.
So as the clean up of this years efforts begin and in celebration of the famous UK festival we look back over the years and pick 10 memorable moments it has brought us…
10. Pulp – 1995
Pulp stepped in last minute to take the headline slot after the Stone Roses cancelled their performance. They were even forced to camp at the festival as all the local hotels were already fully booked. The performance appeased the crowd originally expecting the Stone Roses to play and made for an era-defining moment in Brit-Pop history. Jarvis Cocker famously took a photograph of the crowd and has since expressed his regret at losing the picture.
9. Keith’s hamster ball – 1995
Keith Flint of The Prodigy rolled out onto the stage in a giant hamster ball for their performance in 1995. The 45 year old created one of the biggest mosh-pits of all time when the crowd was encouraged by his antics on stage.
8. The birth of the Pyramid Stage – 1971
One of the main stages at the festival, and one of the most iconic performance environments in the world, the Pyramid Stage was first introduced in 1971. Notable acts to have graced the stage over the years include REM, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder and Van Morrison. The stage actually burnt down in 1994 in the early hours of the morning.
7. Muse – 2004
The UK trio’s 2004 performance has been voted the greatest Glastonbury appearance of all time by NME readers. It was made especially significant for drummer Dominic Howard after his Father tragically died backstage after the band’s set. The show was rounded off with ‘Plug In Baby’ which was also voted to have the best riff of the decade.
6. David Bowie – 2000
For the festival’s 30th anniversary Bowie wowed the crowd in what organisers dubbed ‘best Glastonbury ever.’ He performed ‘Little Wonder’, ‘Let’s Dance’ and ‘Ziggy Stardust’ as well as a host of others to mark the special occasion.
5. Radiohead – 1997
Plagued by stormy weather and frequent technical difficulties, the band still managed to pull off a show considered to be one of the greatest Glastonbury headline performances. The band played an unforgettable set which included ‘Paranoid Android’, ‘Karma Police’ and ‘The Bends’.
4. Glastonbury makes money – 1981
The first year the Eavis family was in charge also saw the festival generate a profit for the first time as well as establishing the festival’s longstanding charitable relationship with Oxfam and Greenpeace.
3. Paul McCartney – 2004
Fans gathered in the pouring rain to witness Macca give his rendition of a host of Beatles classics which had everyone chanting ‘Hey Jude’ all the way back to their tents. The awe-inspiring performance also included ‘We Can Work It Out’, ‘Blackbird’, ‘Live And Let Die’ and ‘Eleanor Rigby’.
2. Jay-Z -2008
2008 saw the first year Glasto didn’t sell-out immediately with many blaming this on the festival booking rapper Jay-Z taking issue with his style of music not sitting in line with the aesthetic of the festival. Despite a sceptical crowd and a spat with Noel Gallagher, Jay-Z, 45, stunned critics with his 2008 performance with many calling it one of the greatest Glastonbury performances of all time.
1. Blur reunion brings Damon to tears – 2009
The London band were so excited to play the headline slot they appeared on stage a few minutes early! They proved many sceptics who thought the bookings were too ‘middle-aged’ completely wrong with their energetic and profound set which brought frontman Damon Albarn, 47, to tears. Blur took the crowd on a journey from upbeat anthems ‘Advert’ and ‘Song 2’ to the emotional ‘The Universal’ and ‘To the End’.
