Paul McCartney makes triumphant return to Glastonbury as belts out Beatles hits in front of 100,000 crowd
Macca #Macca
PAUL McCARTNEY made a triumphant return to Glastonbury last night with an electric set watched live by more than 100,000 fans.
The Beatles legend, Glasto’s oldest performer at 80, kicked off his set with 1964 Beatles hit Can’t Buy Me Love.
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Paul McCartney’s Glastonbury set began with Can’t Buy Me Love
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More than 100,000 watched the 80-year-old rock Glastonbury’s main stage
His storming set delivered other Fab Four classics including Hey Jude, Lady Madonna and Something, plus solo favourites Live And Let Die and Maybe I’m Amazed.
And he appeared touched when the crowd responded by singing Happy Birthday to him for his 80th last weekend.
The crowd was packed with stars including models Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, singer Harry Styles, actors Lily James and Dominic Cooper and Spice Girl Geri Horner.
A highlight was Macca’s emotional duet with late Beatles bandmate John Lennon, who was beamed on to the Pyramid Stage as a hologram, which had fans welling up.
The landmark gig was a glorious end to Saturday’s star-studded line-up.
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Glastonbury was packed as crowds stretched as far as the eye could seeCredit: PA Controversial decision
And we hear the fun didn’t end when the lights went down, as Macca tasked organisers with planning a belated 80th do for him backstage to celebrate his birthday last weekend.
His fashion designer daughter Stella was there with her husband Alasdhair Willis and their kids, plus one of his other three daughters, Mary.
A source revealed: “Organisers wanted to put on a special night for Paul and went all out with cakes and bubbles for all his family and friends. It’s a significant milestone and Paul is still rocking at 80.
“He’s fit as a fiddle and still on the top of his game so there is plenty to celebrate.
“He’s been on tour lately so it was a great time to get everyone together.”
They also told how Paul has been very hands on with quality control around vegan food at the festival — with him insisting on Linda McCartney burgers backstage.
Our source added: “It’s something Paul is passionate about.” Earlier in the day, festival highlights included storming sets by Haim and Celeste.
Taking to the stage before Haim, climate change activist Greta Thunberg delivered a powerful speech, telling the crowd: “We are capable of the most incredible things.
“Once we are given the full story, we will know what to do. There is still time to choose a new path, to step back from the cliff.”
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Olivia Rodrigo gave an energetic performance on her first Glastonbury gigCredit: Getty
Rising star Olivia Rodrigo, who had watched Macca’s warm-up gig in Frome, Somerset hours earlier, made an impressive and memorable debut at Worthy Farm.
The Drivers License welcomed special guest Lily Allen on stage to sing Lily’s 2009 hit F**k You in protest at the US Supreme Court’s controversial decision this week to repeal the 1973 ruling on abortion rights in America.
Introducing her song with Lily, Olivia said: “I’m so excited about this next one. Someone I adore is here today.”
Afterwards, she said: “I’m going to remember that moment for the rest of my life.”
She then added: “The Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe V Wade. This is a basic human right.”
She continued to name all the judges involved.
‘Only festival in the world’
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Noel Gallagher mixed up his set with classic Oasis songsCredit: PA
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds won over the crowd with a set that was split between his own material and crowd-pleasing Oasis classics.
And when he broke into Wonderwall, introduced with the words: “If I’ve said this once, I’ve said it a million fking times” — the crowd came into their own, belting the lyrics along with him.
Stop Crying Your Heart out was dedicated to all England football supporters: “In advance of you winning f**k all in November.”
And thanking “everyone who has supported us for the last 11 years”.
Noel finished the set with Don’t Look Back In Anger, before telling the crowd: “See you next time.”
Ahead of the gig, his fourth at Worthy Farm, Noel told Dermot O’Leary on Radio 2: “This is the only festival in the world, in the truest sense of the word.
“The only one that’s a festival of the arts. It’s an amazing thing, and one of the great things about this country.”
We couldn’t agree more. Welcome back Glasto, we’ve missed you.
Macca’s set
Harry and Taylor are nest mates
FORMER flames Harry Styles and Taylor Swift may be rubbing shoulders this week after booking into the same luxury hotel for Glastonbury.
The pair, who had a whirlwind three-month romance in 2012, went their separate ways after an “almighty row” during a New Year’s holiday.
They both went on to air their dirty laundry in songs such as Taylor’s Out Of The Woods and 1D single Perfect. But since then, they appear to have made their peace.
Taylor, who is rumoured to be engaged to Conversations With Friends actor Joe Alwyn, was one of the first to applaud when Harry won Best Pop Solo Performance for Watermelon Sugar at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
So hopefully there won’t be any tense scenes over the buffet at lavish country estate The Newt In Somerset, where sources say they are both staying this weekend.
The hotel is also said to be hosting Paul McCartney.
We can think of worse places to head for a Worthy Farm after-party.
Sam is in great form
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Sam Fender played his bggest hits to an eager Glastonbury crowdCredit: Getty
SAM FENDER possesses an everyman charm that belies his growing musical stature.
Drawing a crowd the Pyramid Stage might struggle to contain, the North Shields’ rocker showed why folk are flocking to see him.
With two albums of lyrically astute indie behind him, Fender chose the big occasion to unpack his biggest songs.
Before a rapturously received Seventeen Going Under, the singer said: “This is about growing up, which I don’t think I’ve done”.
A closing Hypersonic Missiles sparked flares in the crowd and, as he headed offstage, an irrepressible grin appeared on his face.
He knew he’d knocked it out of the park.
At Glastonbury, Sam Fender had finally come of age.
Endless lav, no thanks says Diana
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Diana Ross had to be talked into performing at GlastonburyCredit: Getty
DIANA ROSS and Lionel Richie will reunite on stage to perform their song Endless Love during her legends slot today.
The pair originally had a Top Ten hit with the ballad in 1981 and the songstress wanted the former Commodores legend to feature in her special set list for Glastonbury.
We can also reveal that it took festival organisers three years to persuade Diana, to agree to do the gig because she was concerned about the festival’s whiffy toilets.
The former Supremes superstar feared that the infamous loo situation at Worthy Farm might hinder her ability to perform.
And she, erm, kicked up a bit of a stink . . .
A source said: “Diana has been in conversation with her team about Glastonbury since before the pandemic and they were desperate to secure her for the big comeback.
“It was crucial to her to get reassurance that, if she was to play Glastonbury this year, there would be no toilets in the vicinity of her dressing room.
“Of course, Michael Eavis and co were more than happy to comply.”
We think she’s got the right idea . . .
Family affair
IT is not just Paul McCartney’s family who descended on Worthy Farm – Noel Gallager’s offspring were there, too.
His model daughter Anais told us ahead of her father’s Pyramid Stage performance: “I’m so excited to see my dad play at Glastonbury. It’s amazing to be back here.”
The blonde watched the gig at the side of the stage with Noel’s wife Sara MacDonald and their two sons.
Appy days for Megan
MEGAN McKENNA has revealed she plans to lay into her ex-boyfriends when she takes to the stage at Worthy Farm today.
And The Celebrity X Factor winner is wasting no time hunting for a new man, having set up a profile on celebrity dating app Raya.
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Glastonbury performer Megan McKenna is looking for loveCredit: Getty
But she’s not the only one at Worthy Farm looking for love.
After his recent split from actress Liv Tyler, Dave Gardner has also signed up to the app.
The tycoon and best pal of David Beckham has posted a series of snaps of himself on holiday and standing next to an art exhibition to the soundtrack of California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas.
Meanwhile, model Tigerlily Taylor, daughter of Queen rocker Roger, is also on the site after she and skateboarder Darius Trabalza went their separate ways. Happy dating, folks.