The Verve - The Verve Hit Out At Glastonbury Organiser

THE VERVE have blasted the organiser of the U.K.'s Glastonbury festival this weekend (28-29Jun08) - despite having scored the coveted closing performance slot.

Frontman Richard Ashcroft revealed that the band almost weren't chosen to perform - because organiser Michael Eavis was "worried we weren't going to be as good as Keane or something".

And it was the music maestro's daughter Emily who went against her father and booked the band.

The British rockers closed their set on Sunday (29Jun08) with three of their biggest hits: The Drugs Don't Work, Lucky Man and Bittersweet Symphony.

They dedicated their performance to Emily Eavis, with Ashcroft declaring: "I want to thank Emily Eavis for inviting us to play Glastonbury. And I hope her dad realises why she booked us now."

And the band were also supportive of the controversial choice of Saturday's (28Jun08) headliner, rapper Jay-Z.

Ashcroft told the crowd, "A shout out to Jay-Z for putting in a big performance last night.

"But tonight it's rock 'n' roll."