Glastonbury Festival is legendary, pulling in some of the biggest names in music throughout its 52-year legacy from David Bowie to Sir Elton John.
Last year’s epic, two-hour set from the Rocket Man pulled in a massive audience at Worthy Farm – and in TV viewers at home.
Looking back at the incredible headliners the festival has seen, it’s no surprise even icons have to wait their turn – unless you’re Coldplay who has played five times and now holds the record for most times as headliner.
Come rain or shine, Glasto is usually held annually in June except for the occasional fallow year to let the ground recover (or during a global pandemic).
Ever since the Somerset music festival opened its doors in 1970, it’s pulled in some massive names, especially for a gig that only cost £1 to get into originally.
While fans at Worthy Farm are set to hear Sza, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, those of us missing out are looking fondly back at the headliners who’ve come before…
The full list of Glastonbury headliners from 1970 to 2023
Tyrannosaurus Rex (soon to be T.Rex) took the first-ever top spot for the launch of Glastonbury Festival after The Kinks pulled out.
Ziggy Stardust became a headliner after Pink Floyd cancelled and, despite his icon status, he would only headline one more time.
This one is known as the ‘impromptu’ festival with no headliners as such.
The Style Council and The Pogues also performed but didn’t get the top spot.
Festival goers could also see Madness and Simply Red, with tickets costing less than £20.
This year saw some firsts with the first consecutive headliners, as the festival skipped 1988, plus Suzanne Vega as the first-ever female headliner 12 Glastos in!
Red Hot Chilli Peppers were set in the headline slot but decided to drop out of the then £58 festival.
Lower on the listing were some truly incredible talents and future headliners with Johnny Cash, Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, Blur, Oasis, and Bjork all performing at the festival.
This year saw two Glastonbury debuts from future Pyramid Stage headliners Muse and Coldplay.
Bellamy, Muse’s guitarist, gave the band’s headlining performance some extra spark when he smashed his guitar on stage.
Way before we were all singing Padam Padam, Kylie Minogue was set to headline but cancelled last minute. This year also saw The Killers perform and the return of Elvis Costello.
All first-time headliners this year but elsewhere icon Adele was chasing pavements, 10 years before taking the headline spot.
While Coldplay returned to the festival for the umpteenth time, U2 managed to nab a headline after dropping out the year before (replaced by Gorillaz). Beyonce was the first solo female headliner since Sinead O’Connor and only the third solo female ever.
Dolly Parton was also here this year and pulled in a massive crowd despite not headlining.
Florence only took the top spot after the Foo Fighters dropped out and Ye proved another controversial choice.
Only it never happened because as we all remember, the world was put on pause in the global pandemic.
Sir Paul and Taylor have reunited though, at her Eras Tour in London while Kendrick featured on her track Bad Blood. This lineup would have been legendary though.
In a slight switch-up of the promised 2020 headliners, Billie became the youngest-ever Glasto headliner while Sir Paul took the title of oldest-ever headliner.
A double debut from two icons here – both Guns N’ Roses and Sir Elton had never headlined before.
Yes, Coldplay again. It’s no secret that this year’s line-up caused a little controversy with fans complaining.
However, it is also one for the history books as it marks the first time two headline slots have been taken up by female performers – it only took 54 years!
And that’s everything right up to this year, fingers crossed the weekend goes well and both Dua Lipa and Sza can make their iconic Pyramid Stage debuts.