Glastonbury fans within earshot of the Pyramid Stage would have been forgiven for thinking Harry Styles was launching into a secret set. His song As it Was began ringing out at Worthy Farm just after midday, but it was in fact a cover from Rick Astley.
The 80s pop legend is the first act on the Pyramid this afternoon (Saturday, June 24) pulling in a packed crowd beneath the Somerset sunshine. One fan tweeted: "Watching @glastonbury on iPlayer. Seeing Rick Astley singing a Harry Styles tune and watching happy people dancing in the crowd wearing Guns ‘n’ Roses T-shirts is a great feel good moment."
Another added: "@rickastley covering #HarryStyles Legend!" A third wrote: "*Of course* #RickAstley does a cover of #HarryStyles with a cheeky #Aha interlude. Inspired. #Glastonbury 12/n."
Read more: Glastonbury performer asks BBC to remove footage after online abuse
Some fans at the festival have been convinced that Harry Styles himself might make an appearance this weekend, perhaps as one of the guests Sir Elton John is expected to bring out tomorrow. Sir Elton is a big fan of the former One Direction star and recently revealed he would "love" to work with him, adding that he is a "great guy".
Harry Styles is currently touring Europe, with no clash on the night of Elton's Glastonbury show. He is playing in Belgium tonight (Saturday) then his next show is not until Tuesday in Germany, potentially giving him time for a quick pitstop in Pilton in between.
Prior to the cover, Astley, 57, played Keep Singing and told the audience: “Thank you so much for coming Glastonbury, you look absolutely gorgeous”. He opened with his hit song Together Forever, marking the singer’s debut at the festival.
He asked the crowd gathered at Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage watching his debut at the festival if they wanted to “go back to the 80s”, as he launched into his song Whenever You Need Somebody from 1987. He also swapped his microphone for the drums on stage to join in on a surprise cover of Australian rock band AC/DC’s Highway To Hell.
