U2 will rock the stage at Glastonbury as headliners for the 40th anniversary celebration of the music festival next year. The Irish quartet will lead the pack on June 25 for the Somerset show. The gig, which will bring U2 to the UK in the middle of a tour in North America, is considered to be their first for a festival after 25 years. Tickets were sold out in 24 hours after it went on sale during the previous month and 177,500 people are expected to grace the event.
“The 26-year-old rumour has finally come true. At last, the biggest band in the world are going to play the best festival in the world,” said Michael Eavis, the festival organiser. “Nothing could be better for our 40th anniversary party. And there are even more surprises in the pipeline…”
U2 will perform on June 23 in Edmonton Canada as part of the band’s 360 Degrees world tour. A custom-made giant claw stage set has been built for the band, but they will be using the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury during the first night of the festival. The band will then resume their North American tour by flying back to Minnesota the following evening.
“It is true, U2 headline the Fri night @ Glastonbury. They fly back for the weekend in the middle of their US tour”, U2 promoter John Giddings tweeted.
U2 has not played a festival gig since their early days as they have chosen to perform using their own stage sets. Only bassist Adam Clayton has played in Glastonbury with the Hothouse Flowers in 1989.
“The expectations are really high. So we have to deliver on that,” Eavis said. “We’re trying to get the best headliners in the world.”
