Coldplay’s Chris Martin asked to headline Glastonbury for ‘fifth time’ – but he felt ’embarrassed’ and told organisers to ‘find another band’
It’s perhaps the best accolade any musician can hope for: headlining Saturday night’s Glastonbury Pyramid Stage.
But Coldplay is always self-effacing Chris Martin asked the festival bosses if they really wanted him – for the fifth time, a record.
Glastonbury sources say the Devon-born singer even offered them the chance to find another option as he felt a bit ’embarrassed’ to be asked again.
Insiders say he initially thought the invitation to headline this year was a joke – and asked the organizers of the Worthy Farm extravaganza if they were serious.
The 47-year-old Martin then allegedly suggested that they drop by to look for another band.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin performs on the main Pyramid Stage of the 2016 Glastonbury Festival, the last time the band headlined
Coldplay’s ever-self-effacing Chris Martin (pictured performing at the festival in 2016) asked festival bosses if they really wanted him – for a record FIFTH time
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Chris was surprised when he was asked again. That will now be five times.
‘His response when asked if Coldplay would play Glastonbury again was simply classic. He didn’t see it coming.
“He said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ ‘The whole band is excited to be performing at the farm, but Chris’s first thought was that there must be other big names who deserved a chance to headline.
‘When Glastonbury came back and said they still wanted Coldplay, of course he said yes.
“It will always be an honor for him, but wasn’t it someone else’s turn?”
Coldplay, whose hits include Yellow and Viva La Vida, previously headlined the Somerset festival in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016, while Martin made solo appearances on stage in support of fellow headliners Kylie Minogue and Stormzy.
Martin’s band will enter the record books with Coldplay’s performance on Saturday, June 29, as no other act has headlined Glastonbury five times.
Pictured: Coldplay performing in front of the main Pyramid Stage as part of the Glastonbury Festival Global Livestream ‘Live at Worthy Farm’ at Worthy Farm, Pilton on May 21, 2021
Glastonbury Festival 2024 starts on Wednesday 26 June and runs until Sunday 30 June
In 2019, Martin revealed he was put off returning there after the band last headlined in 2016.
The frontman said hurtful online comments had made him think twice about his performance.
When asked by Colin Paterson of BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live whether he or Coldplay would perform at the festival the following year, Martin simply said: ‘No.’
When asked for an explanation, he continued, “I appeared on stage last year and I loved it.
‘Then I saw a tweet afterwards that said, ‘You can always count on him coming along in a tracksuit and ruining everything.’
“So I thought, you know what, a) I should work on my pants, b) I shouldn’t be online, and c) maybe just watch Glastonbury for a year or so.”
The band will play for two hours, with Dua Lipa headlining the Pyramid Stage on Friday and SZA on Sunday.
