John Fogerty

Okay, so I’m a huge Creedence fan, and were my dad alive I’m sure we’d have been in this field in Somerset together overflowing with joy to witness John Fogerty bring us every song we’d ever sung together.

Well instead, it was just me and some friends gathered to listen to some of the finest songs ever crafted in the history of rock and roll ever! And yes, there was a lump in my throat as I bellowed along to every word, the last time he played the UK I was three!

We’d watched while drinking Brother’s Cider the huge production truck struggle to enter backstage in the mud all morning, presumably varying every one of Fogerty’s amazing array of guitars, he appeared to have a new one for every song.

As he opened with 'Green River' Michael Eavis himself walks into the photo pit to sit at the front with a perfect view of John and his backing band. Fogerty name drops Woodstock adding, “That place looked a lot like this place, except you're better looking and smarter too.” And he’s won us over.

Then we heard the singers playin’ and how we cheered for more. The crowd had rushed together, trying to keep warm. Still the rain kept pourin, fallin’ on my ears. And I wondered, still I wondered who'll stop the rain. 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?' was a totally perfect festival moment. Unforgettable to be there hollerin’ it to the heavens!

After that the tunes just kept on coming, 'Lookin' Out My Back Door', 'Down On The Corner' and 'Keep On Chooglin'’ and of course the classic, Clearwater’s own huge swaggering re-working of Heard It Through The Grapevine' played just as it appeared on vinyl. Even down to the air guitar along outro. Magic!

Now John was over running, he’d come on a bit late see and we all expected 'Bad Moon Rising' would be the final song. And it would be better if it had been, but instead, John’s crew rushed the Stage Manager pinning him in the wings as the band rushed past on stage for a self decided encore.

Not the done thing at festivals, and a huge tarnish to the whole thing for me, my hero behaved monstrously! Fogerty and company ended with his self penned hit 'Rockin' All Over The World.' Had I not known the circumstances under which it happened and how late it forced Rodrigo y Gabriella on, I would have been delighted, but their actions forcing themselves back on stage left a sour after taste.

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