U2 HAVE been confirmed as the headline act for the Glastonbury festival’s 40th anniversary next year. It will be their first appearance at the Somerset festival, which began in 1970.
The band confirmed that they will headline on the Pyramid stage at Worthy Farm in Pilton on Friday, June 25th, the opening night of the festival.
It will be the band’s only performance in Britain or Ireland next year. They will break off from a North American tour to play the festival.
The bad news for U2 fans is that all 177,000 tickets for next year’s festival sold out within hours of going on sale in October even though the line-up will not be announced until next year.
However, the event is likely to be broadcast by the BBC. A spokesman for the festival said it will be broadcast if the band give permission, and they are “unlikely” to refuse.
Festival organiser Michael Eavis said he was delighted U2 have agreed to play the festival.
“I promised the best possible line-up for the show next year and the confirmation that U2 will play their first ever Glastonbury, and their first major festival gig since the early 1980s, is fantastic news.
“We’ve been trying for years and now we’ve finally made it happen. I’m sure they will pull out all the stops to make next year’s Glastonbury the most memorable ever.”
U2 promoter John Giddings said on Twitter: “It is true, U2 headline the Fri night @ Glastonbury. They fly back for the weekend in the middle of their US tour.”
