Glastonbury's Michael Eavis 'has courted U2 since 1979'

Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis has claimed that he has been trying to book U2 since 1979.

The Irish rockers, who are playing on the Pyramid stage tonight, missed last year's festival after frontman Bono was forced to pull out with a back injury.

Eavis told the Evening Echo: "I've been chasing that lot since 1979. I thought I was going to get them to play all those years ago - until I realised the man I'd been talking to wasn't their tour manager as he claimed to be!

"So when Bono phoned to say they were in for last year, we were all over the moon. But then with his operation, he phoned me from his hospital bed and said there was no way he could perform. He sounded genuinely sorry.

"I asked if he would be up for it this year but he wasn't sure what U2 would be doing, so when he got on the phone to say he'd love to do it, we were thrilled.

"All the world are interested in what U2 are doing. It's going to be a brilliant night."

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Watch U2 rehearsing for Glastonbury below: