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Bono

U2 close first day of Glastonbury

The Irish band thrilled a thoroughly soaked festival crowd with a set comprised of hits spanning their career from ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ to ‘Get on Your Boots’.

The biggest crowd of the day gathered by the Pyramid stage to see the group – Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton ‘ deliver ‘One’, ‘Where the Streets Have no Name’, ‘(Pride) In the Name of Love’, ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Elevation’, among other hits.

The Edge changed guitar between every song, while lead singer Bono wore his trademark sunglasses throughout.

The group were making their first ever Glastonbury appearance, after originally being booked to perform last year, but having to drop out due to Bono needing an urgent operation after sustaining a back injury.

At the end of their first encore track, ‘With or Without You’, Bono sang the words to ‘Love Will Tear us Apart’ by Joy Division, before leading an acapella version of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ along with the crowd, which led into ‘Moment of Surrender’.

Afterwards, Bono said: “One more, just because, one more? Because it’s been a while?” Before the band launched into final track ‘Out of Control’.

A BANG operative who witnessed the show said: “They lived up to it tonight ‘ the hype, the biggest band in the world, without a doubt. It was hit after hit after hit for so long.

“It was cold, man, it was wet out there, but they rocked everybody, everybody had a smile on their face. People say all sorts about Bono, but no matter what you think, you can’t argue with that show.”

Bono begged The Pixies to write some new songs

Bono

Bono

The band split in 1993 but reunited in 2004 for a series on concerts, and while they have been playing live ever since, their last album studio LP ‘Trompe le Monde’ was released 20 years ago and they have been bombarded by people wanting them to pen new tracks including the U2 frontman.

Guitarist Joey Santiago said: “Bono even asked. He’s like, ‘Please make a record!’

“Goddamn, we can’t leave that unturned. That would frustrate me. It would. I think we should do it. But it’s up to everybody.”

While Santiago has suggested writing new songs may cause “friction” between the band members, he believes the group – also made up of Black Francis, David Lovering and Kim Deal – are ready to work on new material and put all their problems behind them.

He added to website Spinner.com: “That talk about making a record will be in the forefront next because it’ll be time, you know. It’ll be time. We’ve definitely gelled as a unit and hopefully when we can all bury the hatchet – and we have – maybe we’ll go in there and hope for the best.”

U2 confirm they will headline this year’s Glastonbury festival

U2 confirm they will headline this year's Glastonbury festival

U2 confirm they will headline this year's Glastonbury festival

Guitarist The Edge revealed the Irish group will top the main stage on the Friday night of the iconic event in June, a year after they were forced to pull out due to a back injury to lead singer Bono.

In a video speech played at the Shockwaves NME Awards ceremony in London shortly after Glastonbury was named Best Festival last night (23.02.11) he said: “Congratulations to [organisers] Michael and Emily Eavis and the rest of the team for the continued success of Glastonbury. It’s more a way of life than a festival.

“U2 will be playing on June 24. And we’re so excited to get to play in front of the world’s greatest festival audience. We’ll see you there!”

The guitarist also talked about his special guest appearance with rockers Muse at the festival last year, where he joined the band on the main Pyramid stage, saying: “I have to say there is something really special and iconic about that stage. So, we’re all looking forward to coming back to pick up where I left off.”

2011 will be U2′s first ever time performing at the festival, and the group are expected to play the track ‘Glastonbury’, which they had written especially for their performance last year.

Coldplay and Beyonce have already been confirmed as the other headliners of the event.

Tickets for the festival, which runs from Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 June, have sold out.