Amy's Glasto tussle

And Jay-Z replies to Noel Gallagher at start of headline set

29 June 2008 - Amy Winehouse threw a punch at a fan during her Glastonbury set. 

The singer had jumped off the stage so she could be nearer the crowd for her finale of Rehab, but when a punter tried to grab her hair - she lashed out.

Michael Eavis defends Amy

Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis reckons it's fair enough, although his version of events is slightly different to what actually happened.

He said: "Somebody put their hand on her boob didnt they? I don't blame her, come on!"

Eavis then went on to applaud the singer's performance: "But the triumph of her show, there must have been 100,000 people in there watching Amy."

"I don't blame her, come on! " - Michael Eavis

Amy Winehouse also made some rude comments about Kanye West whilst onstage, but urged the crowd to support Jay-Z, who was headlining.

Jay-Z had been a controversial choice to some as a headline act, and Noel Gallagher famously made negative comments when the rapper was originally announced as Saturday night headliner:

He said: "If it ain't broke don't fix it. If you start to break it then people aren't going to go. I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? No chance.

"Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night you go 'Kylie Minogue?' I don't know about it. But I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong."

Jay-Z's surprise opener

Jay-Z's response was to come on stage to a recording of those comments by the Oasis singer and guitarist, before launching into a full version of their hit Wonderwall.

Fans were divided on the performance as a whole, one said: "It was fantastic, quite right that he should be here... absolutely brilliant." 

However, others seemed disappointed at the lack of special guests. "It was a bit of a wind up that he was billed as having special guests, when there weren't any," said one punter. "We were looking for Beyonce."


Ruth Barnes