Sir Elton John is now one of the most likely artists to headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury next summer, with bookmakers consistently ranking the singer in their top three favourites.
Sky Bet are now taking bets at just 4/6 with only Arctic Monkeys considered more likely, meaning if you placed a £6 bet, you get £10 back if Sir Elton goes on to headline the festival on Friday, Saturday or Sunday – a profit of just £4.
This year’s rumours kicked off when an Elton John show in Paris was moved from Saturday 24th June 2023 to the following week – leaving him free throughout the Glastonbury weekend from 23rd to 25th June.
Some think it’s because he’ll be appearing at BST Hyde Park, but following last month’s announcement Pink will headline both Saturday and Sunday, the only day free for Sir Elton is now Friday – which would line up nicely with a Glasto line-up slot later that weekend.
In a 2015 interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Elton was asked whether he’d play at Glastonbury and said: “I’ve never been asked… so I can’t answer that question until they ask me.”
He went on to add that the organisers may have asked at some point, but if so, nobody has ever passed the message on to him.
After embarking on his final tour in September 2015 (the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour), there has been a two-year break in shows due to the pandemic and Sir Elton having hip surgery.
Earlier this month, Former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora told media there’s a chance of a reunion gig at Glastonbury 2023.
In other news, Britpop legends Blur are now widely rumoured for a slot on the Glastonbury 2023 line-up after announcing a show at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8th July 2023, then announcing a French festival appearance two days before – both less than two weeks after the festival.
And in a similar scenario, The 1975 are now strongly rumoured to appear at Glastonbury next summer after the long-expected band confirmed tour dates which leave them free over the weekend of the festival.
Their currently announced dates contain nothing between Southside Festival the weekend before Glasto and TRSNSMT on July 9th. Glastonbury is set to take place from Wednesday 21st to Sunday 25 June.
It would be The 1975’s fourth time at Worthy Farm, having previously played sets in 2013, 2014 and 2016, and while they’ve been rumoured most years since they now haven’t been on the line-up for five years, despite countless comments from band members and crew that they want to return.
Pulp are also strongly rumoured to appear on the Glastonbury 2023 line-up after announcing details of a reunion tour next summer – which includes space for a potential Glasto slot. The band were already deemed a likely contender by bookmakers, who in September were offering odds of 9/1 on Pulp headlining the iconic Pyramid Stage.
Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham has ruled out a Worthy Farm appearance as part of a Spice Girls reunion in a US TV interview – following years of speculation fuelled by her former band mates.
She told Watch What Happens Live: “I had so much fun being in the Spice Girls – but now, with everything else that I have got going on with my fashion and my beauty line, four children, I couldn’t commit to that. love the girls. I really, really enjoy singing Spice Girls when I’m doing karaoke, but I think I’d better leave it there.”
Guns N Roses are also rumoured, with bookmakers ranking the band as one of the favourites to headline the iconic Pyramid Stage next summer.
In an interview with Metal Hammer last year, Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis was asked : “Who’s the heaviest band you would book for the Festival?”
She replied: “We had Napalm Death in 2017, and it doesn’t get much heavier than that! But I think Guns N’ Roses need to play here at some point don’t they?”
The American rapper has never played at the festival before, but a ‘festival insider’ claimed the organisers think the deal for June 2023 will be successful.
They told The Sun: “Eminem is wanted for a huge slot at Glastonbury and has been in talks for yonks. His dates all line-up and if they can get him on board, it will be the first time he has ever played at the festival. Eminem is one of the greatest rappers on the planet and to have him down on the farm would be incredible.”
While reports suggest he would be headlining the Pyramid Stage, and this would certainly be the most fitting slot if Eminem did appear at Glastonbury, organiser Emily Eavis said previously that all headliners for 2023 had already been booked. For The Sun’s sources to be correct, he would have to be played a “huge slot” elsewhere at the festival – unless of course, a previously booked headliner has dropped out.
Despite the Sun’s insider claiming Eminem’s tour dates line up with a potential Glastonbury appearance, the rapper has not currently announced any upcoming gigs, suggesting the source either has access to unreleased information or is mistaken.
Arctic Monkeys were also rumoured to have signed a deal to headline Glastonbury 2023 when their UK tour sold out in minutes earlier this month. A source told The Sun: “‘Alex Turner and the band are coming back to Glastonbury, and this time their set is going to be even bigger and better.
“The lads have signed on the dotted line and will return to the Pyramid Stage next June. It is really special for them to be doing a hat trick on that stage and it is something they have wanted to do for a while.”
Glastonbury 2023 takes place from Wednesday 21st to Sunday 25th June 2023. Tickets sold out earlier this month, but resales of cancelled tickets will take place in the spring.
Image credits:
Richard Mushnet / CC BY-SA 2.0
Dena Flows / CC BY-SA 2.0
Anna Barclay
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