Nile Rodgers reflected on being cancer-free during Chic‘s triumphant Glastonbury 2017 set.
The legendary guitarist took to the Pyramid Stage earlier this evening with his band to perform a feel-good set that complimented the sunshine that was shining down upon Worthy Farm. The set included a rendition of Rodgers’ collaboration with the late David Bowie, ‘Let’s Dance’.
Let's Dance! @nilerodgers plays @DavidBowieReal @bbcglasto https://t.co/FHyvsRt2ng pic.twitter.com/XKXKTiPY7Y
— BBC Radio 6 Music (@BBC6Music) June 25, 2017
Before playing a version of Daft Punk‘s ‘Get Lucky’ – which he co-wrote along with Pharrell Williams – Rodgers emotionally recalled how he’d been diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” form of cancer around six years ago.
“The last time we played here was about four years ago, and at that time, I didn’t share this with you, but a couple of years before that my doctors had told me that I was suffering from an extremely aggressive cancer, and that I needed to go home and get my affairs in order.
“So, I went home and I did a little thinking, and I thought to myself: well, I’m a musician – if I’m going to get my affairs in order, what exactly would that mean to me?
“I happened to get a phone call from two French guys called Daft Punk and a gentleman named Pharrell Williams. And we got together and we wrote this song called ‘Get Lucky’.
“And I feel like the luckiest man in the world tonight, because six years after that doctor told me to get my affairs in order, today, six years later, I am cancer-free!” he said, to wild cheers from the audience.
Watch Rodgers’ emotional speech below.
Nile Rodgers opens up about getting lucky… #Glastonbury2017
? https://t.co/zZns5MyEys pic.twitter.com/qj1uon3V3D
— BBC Two (@BBCTwo) June 25, 2017
Ed Sheeran will headline the Pyramid Stage tonight, taking to the stage on the final night of Glastonbury at 9:45pm.