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.
‘This doesn’t look bad’: Glastonbury clean-up team say site left better than ever
Glastonbury viewers stunned at ‘insane’ crowd size for Elton John’s Pyramid Stage concert
How to get tickets for Glastonbury 2024
Elton John review, Glastonbury 2023: The glitziest, most high-energy retirement party the world has ever seen
Watch: Elton John brings out Brandon Flowers as third special guest
Home time
Most Glastonbury-goers have made their way homebound now – here are some of those who travelled via train, arriving at London Paddington today.
‘You will be in my heart and soul forever’: Elton John’s thank-you after farewell performance
Elton John has shared a heartfelt message following last night’s headline set at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the 76-year-old star thanked the festival and the audience for taking part in his acclaimed performance, billed as his final-ever show in the UK.
“The energy last night was like nothing else, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the crowd and the people watching at home for all your love and support,” John wrote. “You will be in my heart and soul forever.
“UK, what a farewell. I love you,” he concluded, adding emoji of a hand waving and the Union Jack.
‘Read the room’: Elton John fans infuriated by Piers Morgan’s Glastonbury commentary
Never one to sit out a cultural moment, Piers Morgan has shared his thoughts on Elton John’s Pyramid Stage set.
“Is Elton having to read the words to all his own songs?” he asked online, much to the ire of John’s fans.
Here’s Megan Graye with the full report:
Elton John fans infuriated by Piers Morgan’s Glastonbury commentary
The former ‘Good Morning Britain’ presenter tweeted suggesting John was ‘having to read the words to all his own songs’
Elton John’s farewell at Glastonbury breaks festival record for viewing figures
And if the conversation around Elton John’s set couldn’t get better, it has now been announced as the most-watched broadcast in Glastonbury history, raking in more than 7 million viewers across the BBC.
The viewership for his performance far beats that of Guns N’ Roses on Saturday (just above 1 million) and Arctic Monkeys on Friday (1.5 million).
Full report here:
Elton John’s farewell at Glastonbury breaks festival record for viewing figures
Billed as his final UK performance, Elton John’s three-hour set was watched by more than 7 million people on Sunday (25 June)
Yusuf / Cat Stevens and The Chicks review, Glastonbury 2023
Though everyone loved Elton, he wasn’t the only act to dazzle on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday.
Yusuf, otherwise known as Cat Stevens, and The Chicks also performed to a large crowd – here’s the official review on both:
Cat Stevens comes across as a folk Nile Rodgers in legendary Glastonbury set– review
Cat Stevens more than earns his place in the Legends slot, while country rebels The Chicks pick their covers wisely
Watch: Blondie performs ‘One Way or Another’ at Glastonbury 2023
Too cool to love these acts 10 years ago? This year’s Glastonbury is for you
Adam White, a person whose Glastonbury experience goes back to his single-digit ages, returned to the festival this year for the first time since he was seven.
For him, it was a weekend (and some change) full of nostalgia – and perfect for guests old enough to have shrugged at the headliners 10 years ago.
Too cool to love these acts 10 years ago? This year’s Glastonbury is for you
Adam White braves the festival crowds, toilets and ‘special guest’ rumours – Cate, Britney, Dua Lipa – for the first time since he was seven and finds Worthy Farm steeped in nostalgia
Glastonbury viewers stunned at ‘insane’ crowd size for Elton John’s Pyramid Stage concert
If you caught Elton John’s Pyramid Stage performance on TV last night and were taken aback by the sheer size of the crowd, you were not alone.
People on social media were wowed not only by the fabulous showcase from the Rocket Man himself, but by just how many people were present to watch John give his farewell UK performance.
Annabel Nugent reports:
Glastonbury viewers stunned at ‘insane’ crowd size for Elton John concert
Paul McCartney attracted over 100,000 for his headline set last year, while the Rolling Stones drew a similar-sized crowd
Billy Nomates asks BBC to take down Glastonbury footage after wave of ‘personal abuse’
ICYMI: Singer-songwriter Billy Nomates asked the BBC to remove footage of her Glastonbury 2023 set after being hit with a wave of online abuse.
The 33-year-old performer, real name Tor Maries, played on Park Stage on Friday afternoon (23 June). Yet, when footage of the set was posted online, it wasn’t long before she requested it to be taken down after she was trolled by social media users.
Louis Chilton has the story in full:
Billy Nomates asks BBC to take down Glastonbury footage after ‘personal abuse’
Revelation prompted an outpouring of support on social media
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