June 29 (Bloomberg) -- Bruce Springsteen became the Boss of Glastonbury. At the same time, 125 miles to the east, Paul McCartney bowed in mock worship to Neil Young at London’s Hard Rock Calling as the two reworked “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles. It was far from an ordinary day for anyone involved.

Rock’s aristocracy played marathon sets to crown both U.K. three-day festivals which also featured reunions by Blur and the Specials.

The lucky fans who happened to be in the right place at the right time heard sets by acts such as Florence and the Machine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and White Lies. At Glastonbury, the 140,000 revelers got a chance to see Lily Allen, sporting a jumpsuit and single-white-glove tribute to the late Michael Jackson, while Lady Gaga managed to wear almost nothing at all.

The Hard Rock event in Hyde Park attracted some 45,000 fans who prefer to go home rather than sleep in a tent. It was to start noisily Friday with the Killers and Kooks. At the time, “Glasto” was already heaving with talent and rumors, such as that Jack White of the White Stripes was to play a secret show with his new band Dead Weather (which he did, on the Park Stage.)

Glasto’s first day went from the ridiculous -- Abba tribute act Bjorn Again -- to the sublime, with Young, stretching “Rocking In the Free World” with grungy guitar feedback.

On Saturday, Young, 63, repeated the show in London, adding an extra surprise when McCartney, 67, joined him onstage. The crowd was in ecstasy as “Macca” bowed, sang harmonies and ran around. Young thrashed his guitar into a righteous noise until every string was broken. A perfect festival moment.

Never Too Old

Meanwhile, Springsteen was showing that at 59, you’re never too old for your first Glastonbury. His energy levels were those of a man half his age: bathed in sweat, throwing himself into the crowd, “the Boss” did his best to tear his vocal cords out on audience-pleasing songs such as “Born to Run.” The two- hour-40-minute show by his E Street Band, with some 26 numbers, had unlikely highlights such as “Outlaw Pete” and concluded with a defiant “Dancing in the Dark” well after midnight.

Glasto’s other veteran highlight Saturday was Young’s friends Crosby, Stills and Nash. Close your eyes, and you could have been back in the 1960s, with the sweet harmonies still intact in “For What It’s Worth” and “Almost Cut My Hair.”

Dizzee Rascal led sing-alongs to his hit “Bonkers” and a cover of Jackson’s “Thriller.” The crowd was less amused by supposedly “funny” spoof band Spinal Tap. Nearby, Maximo Park tried some Who-style guitar smashing. Pendulum and Kasabian delivered heavy rock, with the audience responding enthusiastically by lighting flares and glo-sticks.

Seasick’s Bourbon

Saturday’s Hyde Park crowd was more sedate, with some old enough to have been following Young since the 1970s, if not earlier. They warmed to blues guitarist Seasick Steve, who was buoyed up by a drummer and an occasional shot of bourbon.

Seattle’s Fleet Foxes have been overwhelmed with critical plaudits and did well at Glastonbury Friday. At Hyde Park a day later, their golden vocal harmonies -- imagine the Beach Boys moving Mid-West -- were overwhelmed by the big stage and the great outdoors. Over on the Pepsi Max stage, Mumford and Sons were far more rousing.

Glastonbury’s main Pyramid stage had its most eccentric line-up ever on Sunday. The “so uncool we are cool” performers included Status Quo, Tony Christie, Tom Jones and Madness. Many fans looked elsewhere on the 12 main stages spread across the 8- mile site, such as to the blazing performance by the Prodigy. Redemption was at last reached at the main stage with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and then a rejuvenated Blur.

We are left with memories of hot sunburn; warm beer; cool shades; greasy food; broken flags and muddy boots -- while the weather was mainly sunny, it doesn’t take much to turn Glasto, the world’s biggest greenfield music festival, into a sea of sludge. And singing along with the “woo hoo” of Blur’s “Song 2.” And Damon Albarn bringing the curtain down on a weekend of music with Blur’s closing “The Universal.”

(Mark Beech is an editor at Bloomberg News and the author of “The Dictionary of Rock and Pop Names.” Robert Heller is a freelance music critic who also writes for Bloomberg. The opinions expressed are their own.)

To contact the writers on the story: Mark Beech at mbeech@bloomberg.net; Robert Heller in London on roberthelleruk@yahoo.co.uk

Last Updated: June 28, 2009 22:17 EDT