5 iconic moments in Glastonbury Festival history

In 54 years of history, the Glastonbury Festival has seen it all. The event has been a trendsetter not only in music but also in fashion and the organization of large-scale events, serving as a teacher and an example to follow for all those who, like Coachella, want to try to be cool. The stages of the Festival have been graced by some of the most important names in music history, from David Bowie at the beginning of his career to Paul McCartney in his solo resurgence. Glastonbury has witnessed the rise of bands like Coldplay, Radiohead, Killers, and Arctic Monkeys, but it has also opened its doors to pop and hip hop, inviting well-established overseas rappers like Snoop Dogg, Kanye, and Jay Z. It is impossible to summarize in a single article all the iconic moments that have marked over fifty editions of the event, so we have compiled a short list of the most memorable episodes. Here are 5 unforgettable moments in the history of the Glastonbury Festival.

The Year of Mud and Radiohead (1997)

Among the countless life lessons that Glastonbury's long history can impart to anyone wanting to create a festival, preparation for adverse weather is certainly one. In 1997, the year Radiohead was to debut at the Festival shortly after the release of the album OK Computer, torrential rains that flooded England that summer literally destroyed the Festival area, from the campsites, which newspapers described as a "mud soup," to the stages. Known forever as the "Year of the Mud," the 1997 edition will forever remain in history as one of the worst, but also one of the most unforgettable, thanks to a Radiohead set that, despite many difficulties, delivered an emotional show.

That Photo of Kate Moss (2005)

It was 2005, eight years after the year of mud, and Kate Moss was already an established top model. It was a pair of Wellington rain boots that made the paparazzi-shot images of the model iconic, paired with hot pants, a black vest, and a glittering gold mini dress. Immersed in the mud (that year too, English rains had taken Glastonbury by storm), Kate Moss looked like a rock siren, arm in arm with then-partner Pete Doherty.

Jay Z and the dig at Oasis  (2008)

Even though Glastonbury has always had a tendency to invite artists at the peak of their popularity, not everyone has always agreed. In 2008, when Oasis lead singer Noel Gallagher was asked what he thought of Jay Z's first appearance at the festival, he replied that hip hop was "wrong" for the event. In response, when he took the stage and before launching into 99 Problems, Jay Z sang Wonderwall with a big smile on his face. Even a festival like Glastonbury enjoys a bit of drama.

The Blur Reunion (2009)

At Glastonbury, all emotions are amplified to the nth degree, due to fatigue but also due to the unique experiences. It doesn't only happen to the audience: in 2009, Blur reunited on the Pyramid Stage of the festival after a nine-year hiatus, with a setlist that included all their most exemplary hits, from Girls & Boys to Parklife. A wave of nostalgia and happiness overwhelmed lead singer Damon Albarn, who burst into tears during To The End.

The Audience Sings Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama

Seeing Patti Smith at Glastonbury can already be a colossal moment for any music lover, but imagine the crowd when the artist invited the Dalai Lama on stage in 2015. On the occasion of the religious leader's eightieth birthday, which he would celebrate on July 6, Smith dedicated an emotional poem to him, while the audience sang "Happy Birthday to You": an exceptional scene that concluded with a brief speech by the Dalai Lama on the importance of happiness and friendship.