Gorillaz replace U2 at Glastonbury

Gorillaz have been announced as the replacement for U2 at this year's Glastonbury.

The Irish band were forced to pull out of their headline slot at the Pyramid Stage on Friday, June 25 after frontman Bono underwent emergency back surgery.

Festival founder Michael Eavis said: "This is going to be Gorilllaz's only UK festival appearance, and it'll be a massive audio visual spectacle which will really ignite the Pyramid on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wonder to follow.

"I'm very excited about Gorillaz's show coming here because they're so open to guests and collaborations. The alchemy of Friday's show is going to be astonishing, a perfect, contemporary way to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations."

Animated bassist Murdoc added: "We're like some great big horrible warship pulling in to the bay of Glastonbury to save the day. It was us or The Beatles and they split up years ago.

"The previous soldiers got pulled from duty last minute so it's up to my Plastic Beach naval cavalry to sail in and sort the battlefield out. I can assure you though, I'm bringing extra troops. Loads of them. Glastonbury will be ours... cutlasses drawn, trumpets ready. We're coming in..."