U2 to headline Glastonbury

The group will top the 40th anniversary of the festival...

10:55 23 November 2009

Rock veterans U2 are to headline next year's Glastonbury Festival.

It will be the band's first ever appearance at the Somerset music gathering in their 30-year-plus history.

The band will help Glastonbury celebrate its 40th anniversary by topping the bill on Friday June 26 performing on the main Pyramid stage.

It will be their first festival gig for more than 25 years and has to be squeezed in via a small break in the middle of their upcoming North American tour.

Over 175,000 music lovers will be at the iconic festival after tickets sold out in 24 hours after going on sale last month.

A statement from festival organiser Michael Eavis said: "The 26-year-old rumour has finally come true. At last, the biggest band in the world is going to play the best festival in the world.

"Nothing could be better for our 40th anniversary party. And there are even more surprises in the pipeline..."

U2 promoter John Giddings confirmed on Twitter: "It is true, U2 headline the Fri night @ Glastonbury. They fly back for the weekend in the middle of their US tour."

Bassist Adam Clayton is the only band member to have played at Glastonbury, having joined the Hothouse Flowers on stage for one song in 1989.

Earlier this year, U2 frontman Bono said of Glastonbury: "I know lots of people want us to play.

"It's something we're working up our whole life to do. We really, really want to do this."

Other top acts rumoured to be playing the festival are David Bowie, Coldplay and The Rolling Stones, although none are confirmed as yet.