Dave Grohl joins Guns N' Roses and The Pretenders on stage at Glastonbury Festival 2023

The Pretenders took to The Park stage at Glastonbury Festival for a surprise set, last night (24 June). The band previously performed at Worthy Farm in 1994 and 2017. Yesterday marked one of their first performances since they announced their forthcoming album Relentless.

“My favourite thing about Glastonbury over the years is seeing my guitar heroes,” said Chrissie Hynde before introducing The Smiths legend Johnny Marr to perform "Back On The Chain Gang" and "Don’t Get Me Wrong". Marr briefly joined the band in August 1987, just after The Smiths broke up. In late 1987, he toured with the band and appeared on the single "Windows of the World" before leaving a year later, in 1988.

Following the 'surprise' Foo Fighters set on Friday, as The Churnups, Dave Grohl then arrived to play the drums. “Apparently there’s a drummer backstage. He’s a big guy and he insists on playing. I don’t want any trouble,” Hynde joked with the crowd before Grohl appeared.

Towards the end of the set, Hynde walked off into the side of the side, drawing attention to the fact that Paul McCartney was there. Moments later, he came on stage, gave a quick thumbs up, and then went off again.

One of the great things about Glastonbury is seeing musicians who are old friends getting together to do some jamming!

Here’s Christie Hynde and The Pretenders with Johnny Marr and Dave Grohl (drums)

Really special few minutes! #glastonbury2023 #davegrohl#johnnymarr pic.twitter.com/XM2SrnwBDe

— Jonathan Boyers (@jmboyers) June 24, 2023

Chrissie Hynde brings Paul McCartney on stage at the end of The Pretenders set! ❤️

“My favourite thing about Glastonbury over the years is seeing my guitar heroes”#ChrissieHynde #PaulMcCartney #Glastonbury23 #Glastonbury pic.twitter.com/FQdzr9fS8p

— Far Out #Glastonbury23 updates (@FarOutMag) June 24, 2023

Later in the evening, Guns N' Roses took to the pyramid stage for a set that spanned over two hours, and included hits such as, "Welcome to the Jungle", "Absurd", and "Sweet Child O' Mine", as well as covers of "Live and Let Die" – to which Axl Rose announce that it was the 50th anniversary of the song, so they were helping Wings celebrate it – "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", and a snippet of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child".

Rose invited Grohl onstage to help them close out the show with a performance of "Paradise City", which featured the Foo Fighters frontman on guitar and backing vocals.

Dave Grohl + Guns N' Roses on the Pyramid Stage for 'Paradise City'. #Glastonbury #GunsNRoses #davegrohl
pic.twitter.com/ZENQePDujd

— Alejandro Beviglia (@beviglia) June 25, 2023

Dave Grohl surprise Glastonbury performance No.3 - he joined Guns N’ Roses to play ‘Paradise City’ as they closed their headline set on the Pyramid Stage pic.twitter.com/nf97YZfmTJ

— Rock Sound (@rocksound) June 24, 2023

Setlist:

1. It's So Easy
2. Bad Obsession
3. Chinese Democracy
4. Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
5. Welcome to the Jungle
6. Mr. Brownstone
7. Pretty Tied Up
8. Double Talkin' Jive
9. Estranged
10. Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
11. Reckless Life
12. T.V. Eye (The Stooges cover with Duff McKagan on vocals)
13. Down on the Farm (UK Subs cover)
14. Rocket Queen
15. Absurd
16. Civil War (Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" cover
17. You Could Be Mine
18. Slash Guitar Solo
19. Sweet Child o' Mine
20. November Rain
21. Patience
22. Hard Skool
23. Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover with Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed" intro)
24. Nightrain
25. Paradise City (with Dave Grohl)