NEWS
Lewis Capaldi made a triumphant return to Glastonbury on Friday (June 27) in an unannounced Pyramid Stage performance – watch footage below.
Rumours had been swirling all week that the Scottish singer would fill the ‘TBA’ slot at 16:55 on the festival’s main stage, and whispers were further heightened when he released the powerful new single ‘Survive’ earlier today (June 27), his first new material since 2023.
The hopes were realised when he walked out in front of a giant sundrenched crowd and he soaked in their adulation, with the Pyramid audience immediately chanting his name back at him.
Capaldi last played at Worthy Farm in 2023, but throughout the set he struggled with tics brought on by Tourette’s and he ended the show prematurely. Fans had helped him that day, with his set being met with an outpouring of support from both those in attendance and those watching at home. One mother of a teenager with Tourette’s hailed the performance as “amazingly powerful” and said that she was “in tears” over it.
His return to the Pyramid served as a form of redemption, with Capaldi delivering a rousing and emotional 35-minute set of his best-loved tracks.
He opened with spirited renditions of ‘Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent’ singles ‘Before You Go’ and ‘Grace’, with the crowd singing along enthusiastically.
Addressing the crowd, he went on to say: “Glastonbury, it’s so good to be back. I’m not going to say much up here today, because if I do I think I’ll probably start crying. It’s just amazing to be here with you all and I can’t thank you all enough for coming out and seeing me.”
“Second time’s a charm on this one, everybody. We’re just going to do a short set today, I just wanted to come and finish what I couldn’t finish the first time round on this stage. I want to thank everyone at Glastonbury for letting me do so.”
He then quipped: “Also, this was like the worst kept fucking secret. So who’s been fucking telling people?!”
After ‘Hold Me While You Wait’, he said playfully chided the audience for singing his name, saying, “We’re on tight schedule here”. He added that he “hasn’t been on stage in two years”, and choked up as he thanked the crowd for showing up once again.
Introducing the new single ‘Survive’, Capaldi said: “The last two years haven’t been the best for me, it’s been difficult at times. I wanted to make a song that was about overcoming that stuff and getting through it. This has been my fucking goal, to get back here doing this. So this song is about that.”
“I’ve really missed doing this in the last two years. As I say, it’s been difficult at times, thinking maybe this wouldn’t ever happen again. I couldn’t sing this song two years ago for a different reason, I think I might struggle for another reason this time.”
“I’m Lewis Capaldi and I’m fucking back, baby!” he concluded, before launching into a massive singalong version of ‘Someone You Loved’, with the crowd taking on the final chorus a cappella as Capaldi fought back tears on stage.
‘Before You Go’
‘Grace’
‘Hold Me While You Wait’
‘Bruises’
‘Survive’
‘Forget Me’
‘Someone You Loved’
Capaldi’s set followed on from sets from Lorde, Supergrass, CMAT and Wet Leg, with The 1975, Biffy Clyro and Loyle Carner among those set to round out the Friday line-up.
Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more from Glastonbury 2025.
Morrissey has written an emotional tribute to his former manager Peter Katsis, remembering him as “a very unusual star” and declaring that “a world has ended”.
Peter Katsis passed away last Thursday, August 6, aged 69. His death was reportedly caused by complications linked to congestive heart failure.
Born in Chicago, Katsis became a respected name within the music world, working as a manager for artists such as the Smashing Pumpkins, Backstreet Boys, Snoop Dogg and Jane’s Addiction. After news of his death emerged, the former Smiths singer initially responded by posting a picture of Katsis.
Morrissey has now published a more detailed remembrance, accompanied by an image showing Katsis dressed in drag while attending a New York Dolls concert in Chicago in 1973.
Looking back at the picture, Morrissey said: “He certainly got into the spirit of things. Given his bustling masculinity, he would roar with laughter to know that I have used this shot in summation of his life.”
“I am justifiably glum this week, and it has taken me several days to even face writing this because PK was a very unusual star: an adventurer who enjoyed biting off more than most people could collectively chew,” he continued. “He was very much liked – which was unusual in a music manager. In a way, a dreamy-eyed romantic, but when necessary, a trick octopus.”
Sharing more memories of Katsis and his larger than life personality, Morrissey added: “All liberties were taken; all fun encouraged and consumed. He knew how and when to give momentum another good shove. Sometimes his Chicagoan knuckle-district dialogue was slightly comic strip, but it was all part of his self-destructive charm… taunting an overdose of Dom Perignon because… well, why not?”
The singer also recalled how the pair viewed the music industry in much the same way. “We were similar in that we were both correct too early – on all predictions. He knew that most modern bands contained neither danger nor mystery, but he gritted his teeth and dealt with the platitudinous industry gabble of Los Angeles.”
Turning to a deeply personal moment in their friendship, Morrissey continued: “When my mother died in 2020, he raced to my side. He knew I couldn’t deal with it. He immediately introduced me to Andrew Watt and we recorded “Bonfire Of Teenagers” faster than the speed of sound – an undreamed-of rescue at a time when another day, for me, might not have come.”
Morrissey ended his message by writing: “The future is now merely the remainder of life. Dead brother buried. A world has ended.”
“Bonfire Of Teenagers” was created across 2020 and 2021 with Watt handling production. The record features appearances from Miley Cyrus, Iggy Pop and musicians from Red Hot Chili Peppers, although the album has still not received an official release.
Several other music figures have remembered Katsis since his passing, including Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan. Corgan described him as “a dear friend and extended member of our family” and praised his role in helping to “usher in the alternative revolution of the ’80s and ’90s and beyond”.
More messages honouring Katsis can be viewed here.
