Over the years, the Manic Street Preachers’ relationship with Glastonbury has been strained to say the least. In 1994, Nicky Wire drew gasps of horror from the Worthy Farm hordes when he announced onstage “They should build a couple of flyovers over this crap.”

Despite such sour comments, the band performed again in 1999, but it was up to one Billy Bragg to reveal to the world the Manics’ continued frustration with the mucking-in, community spirit of Glastonbury. Backstage there was a solitary portaloo that bore a handwritten note that claimed, “THESE FACILITIES ARE RESERVED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS. PLEASE RESPECT THIS. THANK YOU.”

Now, normally such divisive statements have no place at the festival, even in the slightly more salubrious surroundings of the backstage compound. “That’s’ a nice socialist gesture lads,” declared the Bard Of Barking, and everyone agreed. Let’s hope that this year’s appearance from the band passes off without any similar strop-throwing.