The eyes of over a billion people around the world were on Mike Oldfield as he performed an epic 20 minute live set in front of 80,000 spectators at the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 earlier this evening.
Oldfield reaffirmed his position as one of the most iconic and influential artists of all time after being called upon by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle to be part of one of the most culturally significant events in British history.
A true British icon, his appearance was one of the big surprises at the Opening Ceremony. During the NHS section of the show he performed under the Olympic Bell, wowing the global audience with a spectacular swing version of pioneering hit 'Tubular Bells' as well as the timeless original, before launching into a rousing take on 'In Dulci Jubilo'.
In front of him an amazing 100-foot Voldemort appeared from one of the hospital beds, as proceedings moved on to the British villains section also featuring Captain Hook and The Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
His Olympic appearance proves Oldfield is one of those rare breeds of composer whose music continues to be re-evaluated and re-appreciated to this very day. After delivering a performance which captivated an audience spanning many generations, 'Two Sides', a career-retrospective available to download now and in shops on Monday, will be warmly welcomed by fans old and new.
