Guns N’ Roses have always been a law in their own right and their headline appearance at Glastonbury was no exception.
For over three hours, the hard rock legends played a meandering, sporadically brilliant set that mixed stadium-level classics with less-familiar deep cuts.
Highlights included the raucous “Welcome To The Jungle” and the ever-welcome “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
But they attracted fewer people than US pop star Lizzo earlier in the day.
The US band took the stage at 9:30pm and opened with the Appetite For Destruction classic “It’s So Easy” while Axl Rose sauntered across the stage and Slash pulled out riffs from under his trademark top hat.
At 61, Rose’s vocals aren’t quite what they once were, but he can still let out a wolverine howl when he’s warming up – and his snarling performance remains convincingly menacing. (Some TV viewers complained his mic was too quiet, but on location he cut through the guitar tracks like a knife through butter.)
The set took a while to get going – jam-packed with songs like the title track from the band’s failed 2008 album, Chinese Democracy; and Slither, a single from Slash’s post-GNR side project Velvet Revolver.
Only when the riff to “Welcome To The Jungle” sounds a good 20 minutes into the set in the Pyramid Arena does they achieve their breakthrough, followed by a heavy performance of “Mr. Brownstone”.
The US Hetzer played for almost three hours without letting up
They show their support for Ukraine while playing Civil War, with Rose sporting the country’s flag on his t-shirt and shots of bombed-out houses lighting up the screens.
Towards the end of her set, Nightrain has a pent-up punk energy; and a cover of UK Subs’ Down On The Farm is a nice hat for Michael and Emily Eavis, who run the festival.
Occasionally they get caught in choppy waters. Even hardcore fans are divided on the merits of Use Your Illusion’s bondage song Pretty Tied Up; and 2021’s single Absurd feels redundant.
The story goes on
But they bring it back with Nighttrain’s pent-up punk energy before bringing out Dave Grohl (“because you can never have too much guitars”) for a frenzied, euphoric encore of Paradise City.
In its chaotic pomp, buying a Guns N’ Roses ticket was a gamble. You never knew if they would show up, and if they did, Rose would storm the stage if the audience even gave him funny looks.
But there was nothing to be seen from this spirited artist on Saturday evening.
“What a lovely evening,” the former Hell Raider commented, a model of politeness. “We want to thank you for the invitation.”
Lana Del Rey couldn’t finish her performance much to the chagrin of her fans
The crowd on the Pyramid Stage wasn’t as big as it was for the Arctic Monkeys on Friday night, and thousands of fans instead opted to see Lana Del Rey headline the Other Stage.
The US singer arrived half an hour later for her performance and began after 11pm with an apology: “My hair is taking so long to finish… I’m so sorry I’m so late. “
When she finally got started, her performance was a lyrical, conceptual performance featuring ballet dancers and contortionists as Del Rey draped lazily across the stage.
Unfortunately, their late arrival conflicted with Glastonbury’s strict curfew. She cut several songs and told the crowd, “I’m about to kill this set.”
But it wasn’t enough. At midnight her microphone was cut off and at least six songs remained to be played. A printed set list suggested these were some of their biggest songs, including “Summertime Sadness” and “Video Games”.
Clearly devastated, the singer attempted to speak to her fans, who rewarded her by singing “Video Games” a cappella while chanting “One more song.”
Del Rey sang along and then went to the ditch in front of the stage so they could comfort each other directly. After that, she obviously had to leave, devastated.
Loyle Carner’s highly conceptual show was dark and dramatic
Over at West Holts, British rapper Loyle Carner delivered a more punctual but equally emotional performance.
The set was built around his third album Hugo, which explores his strained relationship with his birth father and how the pain can be passed down the bloodline for generations.
It was a powerful show, with Carner also criticizing the government for its handling of knife crime and urging fans to “forget that toxic masculinity.” [rubbish] That ruined my childhood.
Other headliners at the site on Saturday included French pop maverick Christine And The Queens and dance legend Fatboy Slim.
It was an embarrassment of wealth that saw Glastonbury’s 200,000 festival-goers scattered to every corner of the 1,000-acre site.
It also meant Lizzo was able to win over the biggest audience of the day.
Lizzo’s set was a big, warm hug full of feel-good energy
The US star stormed the Pyramid Stage like a human glitter cannon at around 7:30pm BST and performed a euphoric array of glitzy soul hits including Cuz I Love You, Juice and 2B Loved.
With jade hair and a steampunk ball gown, her infectious energy reached to the hills, where fans in colorful wigs and fairy wings danced as if their lives depended on it.
As she quizzed the audience, the singer recalled how quickly her star had risen since she first performed at Glastonbury in 2018.
“We were in a tent which was really big, nobody was there and me and my DJ Sophia played to our hearts content.
“And we kept playing, so far I stand before you all. I am so proud. Thank you for supporting me.”
Her set ended with an exuberant rendition of the hit “About Damn Time,” complete with aerobic choreography and a flawless flute solo by the woman herself.
The people who fell asleep in front of Guns N’ Roses did so on cloud nine.
Earlier in the day, ’80s pop legend Rick Astley opened the stage for an equally warm welcome.
Knowing most people had come to hear “Never Gonna Give You Up,” he sprinkled his set with crowd-pleasing covers of Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell” while he was preparing for the inevitable, cheese-tasting climax.
“It was absolutely great. It’s very difficult to put into words, but it was the most beautiful crowd I’ve ever played in front of,” he said after exiting the stage.
“You were so generous, so loving, so awesome. Just a great experience.”
Raye was a highlight in the early afternoon
Next up was Croydon-born soul singer Raye with a white-tuxedo big band, lending her lunchtime set a distinctly retro Amy Winehouse vibe.
She took off her shoes to dance to “Black Mascara” and choked back tears as she sang the harrowing song “Ice Cream Man” – a song describing her experiences of sexual abuse.
Like Lizzo, she couldn’t quite believe she’d been booked for Glastonbury’s main stage after a very public split from her record label, which she accused of hindering her career.
“It feels like yesterday we played at festivals where we had more people on stage than in the audience,” she said, alluding to the hit single “Escapsim.”
“I don’t take your presence here for granted.”
Aitch was among the youngest spectators of the day
Grammy-nominated duo Amadou and Mariam brought the warm and earthy atmosphere of Mali to the Pyramid Stage over lunchtime, before Mancunian star Aitch raised the temperature with a sizzling array of British rap anthems (and a perfectly timed cover of Oasis’ Wonderwall) fueled.
And that was just the acts in the main arena…
Johnny Marr joined the Pretenders for their “surprise set” on the park stage
Rick Astley reappeared on the Woodises stage to perform a series of Smiths covers with Stockport indie band Blossoms; while former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr played a set with The Pretenders on Park Stage with Chrissie Hynde.
Turns out he wasn’t her only guest.
“Apparently there’s a drunk guy behind the stage [and] He insists on playing,” Hynde joked before Dave Grohl showed up (again) to play drums at Mystery Achievement, while Paul McCartney, who had been watching from the sidelines, popped up briefly to give a thumbs-up before he disappeared again.
Oscar winner Tilda Swinton, together with composer Max Richter, gave the audience an unexpected spoken word performance; and rap star Dave showed up on the Other Stage during Central Cee’s set to perform their summer anthem “Sprinter.”
Dave and Central Cee made the public debut of their number one sprinter
The festival concludes on Sunday with the most anticipated set of the weekend – while Elton John wraps up his UK touring career with a headlining set on the Pyramid Stage.
The singer has promised a bespoke show with several special guests and speculation about the show is already rife.
Names rumored to be joining him (so far) include Britney Spears, Dua Lipa, Sam Fender, Harry Styles, Eminem and actor Taron Egerton – who played Elton in the blockbuster film Rocketman.