Sir Elton John gave an emotional yet explosive performance at Glastonbury in what he told festival goers could possibly be his 'last ever show in England.' The star said he never thought he would play Glastonbury as he took to the Pyramid Stage.
He arrived on stage in a gold suit and took a seat at the piano as fireworks went off, before he launched into a rendition of Pinball Wizard. The star was also joined on stage by some surprise special guests, including the Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, reports PA.
The show is billed as the 76-year-old’s final UK gig, before he retires from touring at the end of his Farwell Yellow Brick Road tour. After performing The Bitch Is Back, Sir Elton told the crowd: “I never thought I would ever play Glastonbury and here I am."
Tribute on George Michael's birthday
Launching into Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Sir Elton John said: “This is a very special day today, I wondered how I was going to approach it. One of Britain’s most fantastic singers and songwriters was George Michael.
“He was my friend, he was an inspiration, and today would have been his 60th birthday, so I want to dedicate this song to his memory. All the music he left us with is so gorgeous. This is for you George.”
'Special and emotional night'
And determined not to disappoint Glastonbury crowds, he told the festivalgoers: "It’s a very special and emotional night for me because it might be my last show ever in England, so I had better play well and I had better entertain you, you’ve been standing there so long and I really appreciate all the outfits and everything.”
"It’s a very special and emotional night for me because it might be my last show ever in England, so I had better play well and I had better entertain you, you’ve been standing there so long and I really appreciate all the outfits and everything.”
He then launched into renditions of Benny And The Jets, Daniel, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.
Sir Elton’s husband David Furnish previously revealed the singer was to be joined by four special guests during his headline set.
Who joined Elton John on the Pyramid Stage?
Sir Elton John was joined by Jacob Lusk of Gabriels and The London Community Gospel Choir for Are You Ready For Love?
After a rendition of Someone Saved My Life Tonight, he told the crowd: “When I chose my guests for this show I wanted to have newer artists, save for one person, and this boy I heard last year on the radio… I’ve asked him to come to Glastonbury to do his song and he’s an amazing young talent.”
He was then joined by Stephen Sanchez for a performance of Sanchez’s song Until I Found You.
After performances of Your Song and Candle In The Wind, Sir Elton told the crowd: “My next guest I first met in 2005 when I first started playing Las Vegas, and he came to my hotel suite to play me his band’s first album Hot Fuss – we’ve been friends ever since.”
Welcoming Brandon Flowers to the stage, he said The Killers frontman was “the first person I thought of” to be a guest during his set.
The pair performed Tiny Dancer together.
He then welcomed Rina Sawayama to the stage as “an extraordinary talent and amazing recording artist” before performing Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
After crowd pleasers Crocodile Rock, Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting and I’m Still Standing, Sir Elton put paid to rumours that Dua Lipa would make a surprise appearance.
He played their song Cold Heart alone, telling the crowd: “The person I did the song with isn’t here so I’m going to ask you to sing her part and sing it loudly.”
