The Libertines’ Pete Doherty and Carl Barat kick off Glastonbury day one with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in electrifying performance-Dominique Hines-Entertainment – Metro

Pete Doherty (L) and Carl Barat brought the energy on day one (Picture: Redferns)

Pete Doherty  and Carl Barat kicked off the first main day of music at Glastonbury 2022.

The pair, who form indie band The Libertines, got revellers ready for the weekend with a lively early morning performance on The Other Stage.

The band paid tribute to Ukraine by introducing their set with a video message from the war-torn country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.

In the clip, Zelensky called on the crowd to ‘spread truth’ about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to share Glastonbury’s inclusive and loving feeling ‘with everyone whose freedom is under attack’.

During the performance, Pete, 43, led the crowd in chanting ‘Volodymyr Zelensky’ to the tune of The White Stripes’ iconic hit, Seven Nation Army.

Later on, drummer Gary Powell invited the audience to sing ‘We love you Ukraine, we do – oh Ukraine we love you’.

Pete put on a roaring early morning performance, which included a pre-taped introduction by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Worthy Farm festival (Picture: WireImage)

The pair rocked out as fans crowd surfed in the thousands-strong audience (Picture: Getty Images)

The band also made sure to wish Glastonbury a happy 50th birthday upon its highly-anticipated return.

The band made their comeback at the Worthy Farm event seven years after their last performance.

Back in 2015, they made a surprise appearance on the Pyramid Stage, where they also woke up festival-goers by hitting the stage in the early hours of the morning with a raucous set.

Pete, who famously dated Kate Moss and opened up about their tumultuous relationship in his new memoir A Likely Lad, wore a long-hooded coat and wellies to combat the then cold and wet weather.

Pete and Kate’s relationship was widely publicised (Picture: FilmMagic)

Meanwhile, Carl kept things rock ‘n’ roll despite the unfavourable conditions by hitting the stage in a pair of snakeskin boots, pinstripe trousers and a vest.

Mid-way through the gig, fans were crowdsurfing and letting off fireworks.

‘That was pretty mind-blowing,’ said Carl after the performance. ‘I feel a little bit stage-struck. It was great just to see all those people, and to be the first on as well.

‘I first came here when I was one year old and I’ve been here ever since, through various rights of passage – jumping over the fence with a fiver in your boots, to coming with a band and playing the Pyramid Stage…

The crowd at this year’s Glasto is out in full force as the main performances begin (Picture: PA)

‘Glastonbury’s always had a special place in my heart.’

Glasto has opened its gates for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic.

However, the virus is still having an effect this year with The Chemical Brothers pulling out because band-member Tom Rowlands is ill with Covid.

Earlier this week, The Damned also pulled out of their headline slot because of the disease.

Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar will headline Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.

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