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Behind the scenes and front-of-front with Kasabian during their secret Glastonbury 2024 performance

Posted on by Dsen .N

NME we caught up with Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno just before their secret Glastonbury 2024 performance and then headed down to the pit. Watch our video interview with the frontman above and check out what happened below.

The band, who have long been bookmakers’ favorites for the secret “TBA” evening spot on the Woodsies stage, today (Saturday, June 29) confirmed their participation just hours before the show, leading to huge crowds, the area being closed and fans being turned away .

“It was killing me,” Pizzorno said NME about keeping it a secret. “Everyone asked me, but we danced. I can’t wait.”

It was their fifth appearance at Worthy Farm – a decade after they headlined the Pyramid Stage in 2014, and their first appearance there since the departure of frontman Tom Meighan in 2020.

“You know what? I really like this place,” he said. “It’s the biggest celebration. We’ve been here for five minutes and you just get on with it. You just get on that river and you think, ‘Yeah, this is going to be my home for the next few days.’ Everyone’s in the same mood.”

Serge Pizzorno of Kasabian backstage at Glastonbury 2024. Source: Andy Ford for NME

The last time they played and were the star of the night, they joined them on stage Mighty BooshThe band’s Noel Fielding – who also found a cute way to calm down his friend Pizzorno in a bunk bed on a tour bus before the show.

“I actually texted him this morning,” Pizzorno said of the comedian today. “The adrenaline just goes away during that show—you just wake up with it. So instead of throwing a suitcase full of anything, you’re like, ‘I need something to calm everything down.’ So we go upstairs, to the top of the bus, to the front lounge, and Noel puts on his clothes.” Three men in a boat – do you know this story? This is a crazy story about the Thames.

“We put it on and just go for it. It was such a weird move. We’re just sitting there and I’m like, ‘You know what? This is the perfect headspace until I get there.’ I texted him this morning and said, ‘We need this.’ Three men in a boat “Audiobook, buddy.”

Another friend and Noel, Mr Gallagher, was also spotted at the Glastonbury venue this weekend. Are you planning on meeting him?

“Oh, nice, I haven’t seen him in a while,” Pizzorno replied. “I’m sure we’ll run into each other. He’s the type of guy you’d meet at 4 a.m. in The Rabbit Hole dancing. Maybe I’ll meet him there.”

And what can you expect from a secret set? Surely a previous headliner in an unexpected slot and such an intimate atmosphere could only cause an explosion?

“It’s going to be a massive hour, man,” he promised. “We’re trying to squeeze in as much as we can. We’ve got a couple of new songs that work so well live it’s ridiculous. We’re in and out.”

After the piercing strains of Cillia Black’s “Surprise Surprise” had died down, the band took the stage to play “Club Foot.” “Open the moshpit,” Pizzorno shouted. “I need your energy, crew—I need those fucking voices.” The Woodsies obliged.

Kasabian live at Glastonbury 2024. Source: Andy Ford for NME

Kasabian live at Glastonbury 2024. Source: Andy Ford for NME

Kasabian live at Glastonbury 2024. Source: Andy Ford for NME

The wild reaction to “Underdog” was enough to show how serious these fans are, and then it got even wilder. Audience participation is a must. “Let’s try to get as many people on our shoulders as possible,” he demands before “You’re In Love With A Psycho” – as the packed crowd rose very, very high before later sinking very, very low; crouching and jumping in the name of “Empire”.

It was crazy. I threw in a few covers and samples of Deee-Lite, Beastie Boys, The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, and that’s something for the money per hour. Was it explosive? The flares that lit up the horizon and the screaming masses said it all. Well done, as an emotional Pizzorno was stunned as he looked out at the crowd and reflected on the band’s 20-year career. “I love each and every one of you,” he concluded. “I lack words”.

The opening evening of the Glastonbury festival featured outstanding artists, including: LCD Soundsystem, Dua Lipa, Fontaines DC and IDLES.

Check back at NME for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos, gossip and more on Glastonbury 2024. Check out NME keep up to date with all the latest events at Glastonbury Festival.