Backstage and down the front with Kasabian at their secret Glastonbury 2024 set

29 June, 2024

Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno backstage at Glastonbury 2024. Credit: Andy Ford for NME

NME caught up with Kasabian‘s Serge Pizzorno just before their secret set at Glastonbury 2024, and then headed into the pit. Watch our video interview with the frontman above and check out what went down below.

Having long been bookies’ favourites to take the secret ‘TBA’ early evening slot on the Woodsies stage today (Saturday, June 29), the band confirmed their appearance a few hours before their performance – leading to huge crowds and the area being shut down and fans turned away.

“It was killing me, that,” Pizzorno told NME of keeping the secret. “Everyone was asking me, but we’ve been doing the dance. I can’t wait.”

It marked their fifth time at Worthy Farm – arriving a decade after they headlined the Pyramid Stage in 2014 and marking their first performance at the site since the departure of frontman Tom Meighan in 2020.

“You know what? I like this place a lot,” he said. “It is the greatest festival. Already, we’ve been here five minutes and you just get on that thing. You just get on that river and it’s like, ‘Yep, for the next few days this is my home’. Everyone’s on the same vibe.”

Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno backstage at Glastonbury 2024. Credit: Andy Ford for NME — Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno backstage at Glastonbury 2024. Credit: Andy Ford for NME

The last time they played and topped the bill, they were joined onstage by The Mighty Boosh‘s Noel Fielding – who also found an adorable way to soothe his friend Pizzorno in the bunkbed of their tour bus before the show.

“I text him this morning, actually,” said Pizzorno today of the comedian. “For this gig, the adrenaline just goes – you just wake up with it. So, rather than hitting the suitcase full of whatever, you go, ‘I need something to calm everything down’. So we go upstairs to the top of the bus in the front lounge, and Noel puts on Three Men In A Boat – it’s you know that story? It’s this mad story about The Thames.

“We put it on, and we’re just cracking up. It was such a weird move. We just sit there and I’m like, ‘You know what? This is the ideal headspace to be before I get to it. I text him this morning and I said, ‘We need that Three Men In A Boat audio book, mate.”

Another friend and Noel, Mr Gallagher has also been spotted on-site at Glastonbury this weekend. Does he plan to hook up with him?

“Ah nice, I’ve not seen him for a while,” replied Pizzorno. “I’m sure we’ll bump into each other. He’s the kind of guy you’ll meet at four in the morning down The Rabbit Hole in the dance thing. Maybe I’ll see him there.”

And what to expect from the secret set? Surely a previous headliner in a surprise slot and intimate setting like that can only be explosive?

“It’s going to be a powerful hour, man,” he promised. “We’re trying to cram in as much as can. We’ve got a couple of new tracks that are working so well live, it’s ridiculous. We’re getting in and getting out.”

After the shrill tones of Cilla Black’s ‘Surprise Surprise’ faded out, the band burst on stage to ‘Club Foot’. “Open the moshpit,” screamed Pizzorno. “I need your energy, crew – I need those fucking voices.” Woodsies obliged.

Kasabian live at Glastonbury 2024. Credit: Andy Ford for NME

The feral reaction to ‘Underdog’ was enough to show how serious these fans are, and things only got more wild from there. Audience participation is a must. “Let’s try get as many people on shoulders as possible,” he demands before ‘You’re In Love With A Psycho’ – with the packed-out crowd getting very, very high before they later got very, very low; crouching and leaping for ‘Empire’.

It was nuts. Throwing in some covers and samples of Deee-Lite, Beastie Boys, The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, and that’s bang for your buck for an hour. Was it explosive? The flares that light up for the horizon and the hollering masses said it all. Good job too, as an emotional Pizzorno was left dumbstruck as he looked out to the crowd and reflected on the band’s 20 year career. “I love each and every one of you,” he ended. “I’m lost for words.”