Glastonbury Festival – classic photos

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2010 was Florence And The Machine’s fourth Glastonbury in a row. This time she did a storming cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. Later on, she teamed up with The xx for their remix of ‘You Got The Love’.

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Muse headlined the Pyramid Stage and as a gesture to U2 (who had to pull out due to Bono’s back injury) they brought The Edge on stage with them for a storm through ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’.

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Glastonbury 2005 saw Coldplay, Basement Jaxx and The White Stripes headline. Andy Willsher was on the Pyramid Stage as Meg and Jack wowed 80,000. “I think people thought it was quite brave to have them headline but they were amazing as ever” he remembers.

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Jay-Z caused quite the controversy in 2008 when he became the first major hip-hop artist to headline the festival. He was partially blamed by some (including Noel Gallagher) for slow ticket sales, so he fought back by performing a cover of ‘Wonderwall’, along with a few strong words for the Oasis member.

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Kaiser Chiefs on the Pyramid Stage in 2007. Danny North remembers: “This was one of the first times I’d ever shot on stage at a festival. There was some EPIC rain falling and the scene looked like something from the battle of Agincourt.”

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“I had to run 100 yards with pins and needles in me leg to get this photo” says Leeds-based snapper Danny North of this pic of a druid in 2007. “I shot three frames before the flares extinguished. It was well worth the pain.”

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“My favourite live image from Glasto 2009” Danny North says of this Glasvegas shot. “I love them as a band and as people. The gig felt like a triumph, a full stop to two years of relentless touring. I was genuinely moved by the performance.”

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“One of the best bits of my job is simply wandering around the festivals”, recalls Andrew Whitton, who took this picture of The Horrors. “I took this after a big trek up the hill to the Park stage. We found a spot with a buzzing crowd in the background and even the sun came out to play! There’s nowt like a good Glasto evening!”

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Trash City brings interactive art, late night music, burlesque, theatre and disco to the festival.

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La Roux

La Roux onstage in 2009. “I’d been working with her a lot over the previous six months” remembers Andrew Whitton, “and this was the first gig of hers I’d shot. When you’re in the bubble you don’t realize how many people are paying attention. It hits home when you start seeing people walking around Glasto with La Roux hair!”

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NME photographer Tom woke up one morning during Glasto 2005 to find that his tent had been washed away and that the site was flooded. At least some punters were prepared with a canoe.

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The iconic Pyramid stage resplendent in white light and surrounded by flags. Kings Of Leon are up on the stage, doing their headline thing.

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After two decades of hosting late-night parties, the festival’s Lost Vagueness area was replaced in 2008. Here’s a shot of The Killers enjoying tea and cake with NME back in 2004.

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The Enemy’s Tom Clarke stands in the spotlight and enjoys the view from the stage in 2008. For all the latest news, reviews, photos, comment and video from Glastonbury this year, head to and bookmark NME.COM/glastonbury.

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Bjork never disappoints when it comes to out-there outfits. Here’s what she wore to the festival in 2007.

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Festival co-organisers Michael and Emily Eavis pose in a field of tents at Glasto 2004.

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CSS at Glastonbury, 28th June 2008.

This is apparently what life is like for CSS on their tour bus. Looks like they enjoyed Glasto 2008.

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In 2004, English rockers The Others (remember them?) played at the New Tent (which was renamed the John Peel Tent in 2004 following the DJ’s death).

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Here’s a beautiful shot of the sunset from behind the Dance Stage at Glasto 2007.

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Headline act The Arctic Monkeys at Glasto 2007.

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Kings of Leon headlined the festival in 2008. Caleb Followill told NME: “We’re pretty excited and equally nervous, actually we’re probably more nervous than excited but it’s a big opportunity, so let’s see how we handle it.”

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