Glastonbury tribute for Jackson

Gabriella Cilmi
Cilmi was not born when Billie Jean was originally released

Teenage Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi has become the first artist to pay tribute to Michael Jackson on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

During her performance of her hit single Sweet About Me, the 17-year-old slipped in a few lines from his hit song Billie Jean to cheers from fans.

Other bands playing over the weekend are expected to honour singer Jackson, who has died at the age of 50.

Festival organiser Emily Eavis called him a "truly great artist".

She added: "There will be tributes all over the site, all weekend".

Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis added: "You realise what a fantastic legend we've lost, the like of which we can't really replace.

"As an exponent of song and dance, no-one came close."

Dave McCabe, singer with The Zutons, told the BBC more cover versions are inevitable: "Hopefully, because he's got good songs and it's always a winner."

Fans at Glastonbury react to news of Michael Jackson's death

A Glastonbury spokesman said there was nothing formal planned to mark Jackson's death, but said: "A lot of the performers will be talking about it during their sets".

Many festival-goers learned of the news late last night as DJs scattered around the festival site began playing Jackson tracks.

One fan said: "They started playing loads of his music and we thought, 'Oh, that's really strange' and then someone said, 'Michael Jackson's dead' and we were like, 'No way'."

Another reveller added: "Everyone thought it was a joke at first - then people started watching the news and saw it was true."

"Knocked sideways"

BBC Radio 1 presenter Jo Whiley is at the festival site and noted a muted mood at Worthy farm on Friday morning.

Michael Jackson

Refund issues over Jackson gigs

She said US artists performing later today, such as the Black Eyed Peas and NERD, would be "knocked sideways" by the news of Jackson's death.

She added: "Everybody will be celebrating the music of Michael Jackson. You can guarantee tonight there will be loads and loads of Jacko coming out of sound systems here."

Crossing boundaries

Tommy Bowen, keyboard player for the band White Lies, who play the Other Stage on Friday, said most of the bands playing the festival "can't help but be touched by what's happened".

Michael Eavis: "He will be so sadly missed"

He added: "He's such an influential artist, I think many of the people here have been brought up on Michael Jackson.

"His music crosses musical boundaries, it's a big shock."

Felix White, from The Maccabees, who are also playing Glastonbury's Other Stage, agreed but claimed Jackson's death leaves him with mixed feelings.

He told BBC 6 Music: "It's weird because you kind of feel that he seemed so unable to cope with the world that, you don't want to say that's it's a blessing in disguise, but it's hard to know how to feel about it."

Artists including Lily Allen, Lady GaGa and Neil Young will all play at the festival later on Friday.


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