The Rolling Stones. ©REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
The Rolling Stones will play Britain's Glastonbury Festival, the world's largest greenfield music and performing arts spectacle, AFP reports citing organisers. The legendary group has not played the festival before, but speculation mounted that they could make an appearance after they revealed last year they were reuniting to play 50th anniversary shows. Frontman Mick Jagger later tweeted: "Can't wait to play Glastonbury. I have my wellies and my yurt!" Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis called it "as big a coup as we ever thought would be possible. "It is something we never thought we'd be able to pull off -- a dream booking," she added. "We've tried or talked about getting the Rolling Stones to play Glastonbury throughout my entire life -- I can't remember a year it hasn't been wished upon. "It is such an honour to have them. I get the sense they are excited too, there's been a real buzz about it from both camps," she said. Guitarist Ronnie Wood claimed credit for the band's decision. "I've been using all my persuasive charm on the boys for a few weeks now, really pleased to be doing it, can't wait to be getting out on that stage," he said. Fellow guitarist Keith Richards added: "We all had such a ball last year, and the energy between the band is so good, we can't wait to play Glastonbury, see you on a summer's day in England." The festival, which had a year off last year for the Olympics, will take place during the last weekend of June with the Stones headlining on Saturday. Glastonbury attracts 170,000 party-goers to a dairy farm in Somerset, southwest England, and this year's tickets sold out within less than two hours. Other acts among the 200 confirmed on Thursday include folk group Mumford & Sons, rockers Arctic Monkeys and singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. US country star Kenny Rogers will also make an appearance on the main Pyramid Stage.
The Rolling Stones will play Britain's Glastonbury Festival, the world's largest greenfield music and performing arts spectacle, AFP reports citing organisers.
The legendary group has not played the festival before, but speculation mounted that they could make an appearance after they revealed last year they were reuniting to play 50th anniversary shows.
Frontman Mick Jagger later tweeted: "Can't wait to play Glastonbury. I have my wellies and my yurt!"
Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis called it "as big a coup as we ever thought would be possible.
"It is something we never thought we'd be able to pull off -- a dream booking," she added.
"We've tried or talked about getting the Rolling Stones to play Glastonbury throughout my entire life -- I can't remember a year it hasn't been wished upon.
"It is such an honour to have them. I get the sense they are excited too, there's been a real buzz about it from both camps," she said.
Guitarist Ronnie Wood claimed credit for the band's decision.
"I've been using all my persuasive charm on the boys for a few weeks now, really pleased to be doing it, can't wait to be getting out on that stage," he said.
Fellow guitarist Keith Richards added: "We all had such a ball last year, and the energy between the band is so good, we can't wait to play Glastonbury, see you on a summer's day in England."
The festival, which had a year off last year for the Olympics, will take place during the last weekend of June with the Stones headlining on Saturday.
Glastonbury attracts 170,000 party-goers to a dairy farm in Somerset, southwest England, and this year's tickets sold out within less than two hours.
Other acts among the 200 confirmed on Thursday include folk group Mumford & Sons, rockers Arctic Monkeys and singer-songwriter Elvis Costello.
US country star Kenny Rogers will also make an appearance on the main Pyramid Stage.