Glastonbury 2024: Coldplay make history with Michael J. Fox on stage as Tom Cruise watches on

Coldplay took to the iconic Glastonbury stage on Saturday night and made history in the process.

The band became the first act to headline Glastonbury five times. It marked the British band’s first Pyramid Stage appearance since 2016, and it will see them overtake The Cure, who have headlined the slot four times. They were due to take to the stage at 9:45pm, yet they rocked up late.

Coldplay were certainly worth the wait, with the band bringing Little Simz and Burna Boy out of stage and performing a duet with Palestinian singer Elyanna. Not only that, towards the end of the set, Coldplay brought Back to the Future legend Michael J.Fox out on stage.

The actor was using a wheelchair has he arrived on stage to a delighted crowd and played guitar as Coldplay performed their final few songs of the night. Chris thanked Michael at one point, telling the crowd: "Thank you so much everybody and especially thank you to the main reason we are a band is watching Back to the Future. Thank you to our hero forever, Michael J.Fox."

'Thank you to our hero forever, Michael J.Fox'

The Mirror's team on Worthy Farm spotted crew huddled on stage as fans waited for the band to come out - with the crowd bursting into sing-song and belting out a rendition of Hey Jude. Technicians eventually headed off the stage and a four-minute countdown appeared on a screen. Coldplay kicked off their set at 10pm, making them 15 minutes late.

However, celebrities in the audience remained in high spirits before Coldplay took to the stage as Tom Cruise was snapped signing along with the crowd. He was joined by Simon Pegg and Gillian Anderson as they belted out Oasis' Don’t Look Back In Anger just before Coldplay turned up. They were seen by fans standing on a platform and teased the crowd by signing along.

The huge crowd didn't mind the wait for Coldplay at all as they headed straight into one of their biggest hits - Yellow. The vast audience donned wristbands, which lit up in unison alongside the stage lighting. Fireworks were also set off throughout their set alongside confetti canons into the crowd for Electric.

Speaking to the thousands of fans for the first time, frontman Chris Martin said: "I am so happy to see you. Thank you for coming." During hit Paradise, the band were joined by singer-songwriter Victoria Canal, who sang and played the piano.

After the song, Chris showered his praise on the crowd as he asked: "Can we see the whole audience with some lights. You look so beautiful." He then went into a rendition with the crowd as they sang the chorus of the hit track. Chris took to the piano for the first time as he kicked off Coldplay's performance of The Scientist.

Coldplay

The singer addressed the crowd once again as he said: "I look around and I see amazing wonderful people from all over the place and that makes Glastonbury the most amazing city on earth. Thank you for everyone at the front - It’s amazing that none of you had to pee." He added: "We welcome everyone at the back too in their Wellington boots."

They then headed into a performance of Clocks, which was accompanied by a yellow and green laser show. Fans were treated to an interactive performance as their wristbands lit up in sync with one another throughout the set. At one point, Coldplay made a political statement as they brought out Palestinian singer Elyanna, who performed a series of songs with the band. She sang We Pray with Coldplay and guest Little Simz, featuring a cameo from Burna Boy.

Coldplay

Chris Martin of the band ColdPlay

However, some viewers became distracted by Chris' accent. Taking to X, one said: "What’s goin on with Chris Martin’s accent." Another added: "Is it me or Chris Martin's accent is very American. Still love his voice though." Someone else commented: "Why is Chris Martin speaking in an American accent?" A fourth wrote: "Chris Martin’s accent is strange now when he talks. He does live in Malibu, California though which is probably the reason. #glastonbury." The first guest to turn up during the set was Little Simz.

As the set got underway, fans at home couldn't help but take to social media to share their thoughts. One wrote: "I like Coldplay don't get me wrong, but five times headlining #Glastonbury is just ridiculous. No band or artist should headline that many times. #Coldplay #ColdplayGlastonbury #Glastonbury24," whilst a second added: "If #Coldplay were playing in my garden I'd close the curtains #Glastonbury how can you headline 5 times!!" A third penned: "Feel so gutted for the 100’s of 1000’s that paid good money for a lame headline act #Glastonbury #Boring #Snoozefest."

Coldplay

However, some fans were thrilled to see them back at the Farm. One shared: "#Coldplay are and always be f***ing incredible. #Glastonbury," whilst another wrote: "Coldplay - headlining #Glastonbury 5 times." A third penned: "How amazing does it look at Glastonbury with all the light up wrist bands for Coldplay #Glastonbury #Coldplay," with a fourth sharing: "Coldplay might not be everyone’s idea of a Glastonbury headliner, but they’re undeniably one of the greatest live acts in the world #Glastonbury."

Halfway through the set, Chris paused his performance to urge fans to watch A Sky Full of Stars without any mobile phones. He then restarted the song after issuing his plea with the crowd. Chris told everyone to put their "cell phones" away for "one song where its a band with thousands of people in the same band - that's what we'd like to experiment with for one song. This is Sky Full of Stars take two - all you need is your phone in your pocket and hands in the sky... that's the way we're going to make the whole world fly."

Frontman Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, drummer Will Champion and bassist Guy Berryman followed a busy Saturday line-up on the Pyramid Stage which has seen performances from Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka, Keane, Cyndi Lauper and more. Pop star Dua Lipa was the headline act on the stage on Friday night, and on Sunday night American singer-songwriter SZA will headline.

Coldplay made their Glastonbury debut back in 1999 in the New Bands tent, before performing again in 2002, 2005, 2011, 2016 and of course headlining the iconic Pyramid Stage in its coveted Saturday night slot this year. Speaking in the BBC documentary Coldplay: Our Glastonbury, Chris said: "The hunger to go there was so huge.

Coldplay

"Our first introduction, I think, was probably carrying a not-very-good amplifier with a drunken tour manager who obviously didn’t know what he was doing either. So we sort of had a very quick intake of the whole place, and then started where you should start, which is in the New Bands Tent, first on. I don’t think I thought about the wider, how wild it was. It was just like we were here and we’re late and it’s huge."

Coldplay are set to earn a cool £200k for their stint at Glastonbury - though much like Dua Lipa, who headlined on Friday night, they won't pocket the full sum as it'll be invested back into the show's visual spectacle and their hefty production bills. The band will bank a little bit of cash compared to a standalone gig since they're grafting on tour at present meaning less coin spent on rehearsals and no need to hire an extra squad of techies.

Yet, even with such impressive earnings, they pale in comparison to those up for grabs at London's posh BST Hyde Park bash, where top acts bag nearly 4x what Glasto offers. An insider spilled the beans: "A lot of acts take the lower fee for the publicity not least as they are guaranteed an audience on the BBC."

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