Glastonbury 2016: David Bowie Tribute Details Revealed By Emily Eavis

The 'Heroes' icon first played at Worthy Farm in 1971.

Glastonbury festival is just a few short months away, and following this week’s line-up announcement, Emily Eavis has revealed what else ticket-holders can expect to enjoy.

This year, the festival will pay tribute to David Bowie, following his death in January, but the event’s organisers won’t be recruiting a star-studded tribe of celebs to help.

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Bowie at Glastonbury in 2000
Jon Super via Getty Images

Instead, speaking on BBC 6 Music, Emily explained: “We’re doing several tributes to David Bowie.

“We’re in the middle of [planning] it at the moment. We’re speaking to several members of his band who played here with him in 200 and everybody’s got lots of ideas.

“We’re trying to do something that is in keeping with him and us and his history here.

“So it’s not going to be a massive all-star tribute, but it’s going to be something really personal and that will mean a lot to people here.”

Emily added that something special is in the pipeline for the opening days of the festival.

“It will be something lovely,” she said. “We’re also hoping to show some of his set across some of the screens on site, before the festival begins. So on Wednesday or Thursday, before the music starts.”

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Emily at the 2015 NME Awards, with Glastonbury's Best Festival accolade
Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Archive

Bowie first played at Glastonbury in 1971, and made his final appearance there in 2000.

Speaking shortly after iconic star’s death, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis reminisced about David’s first Worthy Farm gig, stating: “I remember in 1971 when this lovely looking hippy boy with long flowing hair walked into the farm with an acoustic guitar on his back.

"He just spoke to the stage manager and said: 'Can I play a few songs?'

"None of us had a clue who Bowie was but he played for about an hour on the pyramid stage at 4am just as the sun was coming up.

"It was magical. There were hippies everywhere and he looked the part. He just played some songs and got on with it.”

She said: “I’ve not heard anything about that, so i’m not sure if it is just hot air, and a tabloid rumour, or if it’s going to be real. I don’t think any of the headliners are bringing guests, so I’m not sure about that one to be honest.”

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