Michael Stipe on Glastonbury

14 May 2003

R.E.M. took Glastonbury by storm with a brilliant Saturday night set in 1999.

But what the delirious Pyramid Stage crowd didn't know at the time was that only a few hours before, lead singer and all-round genius Michael Stipe was threatening to pull the plug on the gig and fly straight back to the U.S.
And it was all thanks to an over-zealous (and, we have to assume musically ignorant) security guard.

It went like this . . .

Stipe's helicopter landed in a neighbouring farmer's field and festival worker Robert Kearle was despatched to pick him up in a LandRover and deliver him safely onto the site.

"They asked me to do it because of my local knowledge," said Robert. "He was the biggest star of the festival so I didn't want to mess up."

The 'copter duly arrived, much to the excitement of the farmer's daughters, and Stipe emerged, with Courtney Love. The superstar signed autographs for the girls and Robert loaded up his precious cargo and headed for Worthy Farm.
"We had a really good chat on the way," recalls Robert. "He was great to talk to, very friendly and interested in what was happening at the festival.
Fine so far.

"When we arrived at the festival entrance gate the security guard asked to see our tickets. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I said "I've got Michael Stipe here. Mr Eavis sent me specially to fetch him," said Robert, remembering the growing sense of panic as he considered the consequences of not being able to get Stipe into the festival.

The guard was adamant: "No ticket, no entry. Michael Stipe? Never 'eard of 'im."

Finally, an exasperated Stipe got out of the LandRover, walked up to the guard and said: "I'm playing on the Main Stage in a few hours. If you don't let me in now I'm off. You'll have a lot of disappointed people on your hands."
A few frantic phone calls later and the drama was over - much to Robert's relief.

For a few moments I really thought Michael Stipe was going to leave. Just imagine it . . ."

Let's all hope this year's guards know a musical legend when they see one.

Words: Chris Binding
Picture: Glastonbury Television

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