Synopsis
David Bowie takes the stage at Glastonbury for a powerful, full-band performance of "Heroes." Framed by sweeping festival footage and close views of Bowie, the performance builds from a controlled opening into a passionate vocal climax. The crowd responds with a large sing-along as the song's message of temporary courage and defiance expands into a communal celebration. The clip captures Bowie late in his career, commanding the stage with veteran confidence while preserving the song's emotional urgency.
Factoids & Trivia
- Despite the 2006 label commonly attached to the clip, the performance itself was recorded on June 25, 2000, during Bowie's Sunday headline set at Glastonbury.
- The footage was included in the 2006 documentary film *Glastonbury*, where "Heroes" appears prominently toward the end of the film.
- Glastonbury was a particularly meaningful setting for Bowie: the 2000 appearance was his first return to the festival since his debut there in 1971.
- The complete 21-song Glastonbury performance was not released until November 30, 2018, as *Glastonbury 2000*. The "Heroes" performance had already been issued as the best-known excerpt from the show.
- The 2018 release included the entire concert on DVD, as well as audio editions, placing "Heroes" in the context of a set that also featured "Life on Mars?," "Under Pressure," "Ziggy Stardust," "Let's Dance," and "I'm Afraid of Americans."