JAY-Z Returns to the Stage, Honors Chester Bennington at V Festival
Hovi’s home.
Nearly three years since the “On the Run Tour,” JAY-Z made a triumphant return to the stage during one of two headlining sets at this year’s V Festival in England on Saturday (Aug. 19), his only European show of 2017.
Performing at Staffordshire’s Weston Park, the Roc Nation mogul performed tracks off his critically-acclaimed 13th studio album 4:44 for the first time, including “Kill Jay Z” and “The Story of O.J.”
Backed by a 40-foot-tall, metallic Jeff Koons inflatable dog, Shawn Carter also delivered time-tested classics like “99 Problems,” “Empire State of Mind,” and “Lucifer.”
Just one month after Chester Bennington’s tragic death, JAY offered a tribute to his late collaborator before performing their Collision Course mash-up “Numb/Encore” as his finale.
“Can you guys light it up for Chester from Linkin Park one time tonight?” he asked. “Please make some noise so he can hear you all the way in heaven tonight.”
This evening, JAY is scheduled to perform at V Festival once again, only this time at Chelmsford’s Hylands Park. Next month, he will headline Philadelphia’s Made in America and New York’s The Meadows before heading to Austin City Limits in October.
On Oct. 27, Hov is set to launch his “4:44 Tour” in Anaheim, Calif. From there, he will continue across North America before ending the trek on Dec. 21 in Los Angeles.