‘Emotional’ Elton John closes out Britain’s Glastonbury Festival

Pilton, United Kingdom – Elton John gave the final concert at Britain’s legendary Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on the annual spectacular with what could be his final British performance.

“I never thought I’d ever play Glastonbury,” he told the crowd. “It’s a very special and emotional night for me – it might be my very last show in England, in Great Britain, so I’d better play well and entertain you.”

The 76-year-old pop superstar is winding down a glittering live career with a farewell tour, having played his last concerts in the United States in May ahead of a final gig in Stockholm on July 8.

Glastonbury, Britain’s best-known music festival, has been hosted on a farm in south-west England for five decades.

Before John took the main Pyramid Stage on Sunday night, anticipation was high among fans.

“Elton’s a legend,” PhD student Giles Briscoe, 26, told AFP ahead of the set, wearing a replica of the iconic baseball outfit John wore at his famous 1975 concerts at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.

“The fact that he’s going to perform on such a big stage, at such a historic moment of his career, is such a big event.”

John did not disappoint, kicking the show off with Pinball Wizard – a role he memorably played in the 1975 film adaptation of The Who’s rock opera, Tommy – before reeling through some of his biggest hits, including Candle In The Wind, Crocodile Rock and an intense I’m Still Standing.

John dedicated Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to his friend and “inspiration” George Michael, who died on Christmas Day in 2016, and who would have turned 60 on Sunday.

‘Incredible journey’

John’s husband David Furnish had told Sky News ahead of the concert that John would not stop making music after the farewell tour ends in July, and would start work on a new studio album later in 2023.

He also teased Sunday’s performance, saying it would be “very special” and “not just another day in the office”.

John was joined on stage by several surprise guests: first, the London Community Gospel Choir and Jacob Lusk of the soul-pop group Gabriels.

Next was Stephen Sanchez, with John singing one of the 20-year-old American’s songs.

He later shared the stage with Brandon Flowers of The Killers for Tiny Dancer, and with Rina Sawayama for Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

He closed the set with a soaring rendition of Rocket Man, complete with fireworks.

During the concert, John thanked his fans “for 52 years of amazing love and loyalty”.

“It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve had the best, best time. I will never forget you. You are in my head, my heart and my soul.”

John’s British swansong caps days of big-name performances in front of more than 200,000 fans at Glastonbury, including veteran American rockers Guns N’Roses, who were making their debut at the long-running festival in the coveted Saturday night headline slot.

They rocked through their extensive catalogue during a set of more than two hours, playing hits including Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, Sweet Child O’ Mine and November Rain.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, whose band played a so-called secret slot on Friday, joined them onstage for a special rendition of Paradise City.

Other acts performing at the 2023 festival included British indie giants Arctic Monkeys, singer Lizzo, rapper Lil Nas X, post-punk icon Blondie and “Rickroller” Rick Astley, highlighting Glastonbury’s eclectic ethos.

On Saturday, a supportive crowd sang along as Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, struggled to finish his set.

He announced he would take a break, having previously cancelled gigs to recuperate over health concerns.

 No mud

Dairy farmer Michael Eavis first organised the festival in 1970, the day after American guitarist Jimi Hendrix died.

Fans who came to see acts including Marc Bolan and Al Stewart paid £1 each for entry and received free milk from the farm.

It was held intermittently in the 1970s, but it was not until the 1990s that it began to acquire its cult status.

While able to draw the biggest performers from every genre and generation, it is equally known for hosting thousands of small acts and left-field events across the huge Worthy Farm site, as well as for rainy and muddy conditions.

That did not prove a problem in 2023, with Britain in the midst of a prolonged dry period leaving much of the country scorched.

More than 100,000 standard tickets for this year’s festival sold out in just over an hour, despite the price rising to £335 (S$576) for the 2023 edition. AFP