The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb has cancelled his Glastonbury appearance with Coldplay.
The 69-year-old singer-songwriter – the only surviving member of the Seventies band – was due to take to the Pyramid stage with the ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ hitmakers later this month but a close family member is unwell and he needs to stay with them in Florida.
A source close to the star – who is married to Linda Gray – said: "Barry has had to stay put in Florida as a close family member is unwell and he needs to be with them. It’ll be a shock if he makes it. He is disappointed as he was really looking forward to playing at Glastonbury.
"He’s a good friend of Chris and the band and didn’t want to let them down, but there is just no time for him to get to England to rehearse."
Coldplay – which includes Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion – will join other confirmed headliners Adele and Muse for the world famous music extravaganza at Worthy Farm in Somerset, South West England, on June 26.
However, they were determined to make their set extra special and will now have to go back to the drawing board.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "Coldplay had planned a big, colourful set around Barry’s appearance. The medley was going to be in the middle of it all as a centrepiece. Now they are having to go back to the drawing board and think up a different surprise, which isn’t what they need when they’re doing a world tour
"But if there is anyone you can rely on to come up with something special, it’s Coldplay."
Coldplay will become the first act to headline the popular festival four times – having previously done it in 2002, 2005 and 2011 – once they’ve taken to the stage this year.