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GLASTONBURY, England : Britain's Glastonbury music festival was fined 3,000 pounds Sunday after Bruce Springsteen played nine minutes past curfew, but organisers said they were happy to foot the bill.
Michael Eavis, whose farm in southwest England has hosted Glastonbury most years since 1970, said this year's festival was the "best ever" thanks to storming shows by Neil Young and Springsteen, despite Michael Jackson's death.
Springsteen's two hour 40 minute set went nine minutes past the giant music festival's midnight-thirty curfew time.
But Eavis pledged to pay the 3,000 pound (3,500 euro, 5,000 dollar) fine himself because he enjoyed the veteran US rocker's "spectacular" set so much.
"I know I always say this but it really must be the best one ever. I've been waiting for Neil Young for 39 years and Bruce Springsteen did a hell of a show -- what energy he's got," Eavis told a press conference.
"I'm already on the phone to try and get next year's headliners and these are people who haven't played here before".
Next year is Glastonbury's 40th anniversary. U2 and the Rolling Stones are among the acts never to have played who have been rumoured to be on Eavis's wish-list in recent years.
Up to 180,000 people are attending this year's festival, one of the biggest of its kind in the world, which has its final day Sunday.
Many have been sporting T-shirts remembering Jackson, who died Thursday, with slogans like "Michael Jackson RIP", while acts including Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal paid tribute to him during their performances.
After headline sets by Young Friday and Springsteen Saturday, Britpop heroes Blur will be the main attraction Sunday after reforming last year.
Other acts on the bill Sunday include The Prodigy, Status Quo, Tom Jones, Nick Cave and Amadou and Mariam.
Three people at the festival were diagnosed with H1N1 flu and taken to an isolation unit before returning home, organisers said Saturday.
- AFP/il
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