RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - READING FESTIVAL OPENS WITH IMPASSIONED SPEECH

READING FESTIVAL OPENS WITH IMPASSIONED SPEECH

US band Anti-Flag have opened Reading Festival's main stage today with a passionate speech against discrimination around the world.

Starting with a guitar rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, the band's lead singer Justin Sane was soon addressing the huge crowd with his political message.

"We are honoured to open this festival. With this festival, we can show the world that there is a world without racism, without sexism, without homophobia. Brothers and sisters, we can show the world this weekend," he said.

British act Get Cape Wear Cape Fly later issued a plea of his own, calling on the 80,000 music lovers to attend headliners, Rage Against the Machine's, set.

"Listen to their message that there's a system we can fight," he said.

The young, trendy and neon-clad audience will be hoping the weather will stay as it is, dry and inclement, over the bank holiday.

Revellers at Reading's sister festival, Leeds, appear not to be so lucky with scenes of thousands of people camping in serious amounts of mud.