Glastonbury 2014: Michael Eavis sings Rolling Stones song live on stage

The festival's founder crooned The Last Time with the backing of a band

Michael Eavis pictured on the eve of the first day of the 2014 Glastonbury Festival (Matt Cardy/Getty)

As the founder of the world-famous music festival, it’s no wonder that he wants to get fully involved – and Michael Eavis took to the stage for a surprise rendition of a Rolling Stones tune last night.

The dairy farmer made an appearance at Glastonbury’s Avalon Café and performed “The Last Time” with the backing of a live band.

According to NME, he introduced himself to the audience as: “The good farmer himself, Michael Eavis.”

And if fans had a sense of déjà vu that's because Eavis performed Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds" in the same location at last year's musical extravaganza.

The gates for the five-day festival officially opened yesterday and thousands flooded into Worthy Farm Pilton, Somerset.

This year's event will see Metallica, Kasabian and Arcade Fire headlining, with other major acts on the bill including The Black Keys, Massive Attack and Pixies.

The choice of Metallica has been met with a backlash from fans and musicians who cannot see them "fitting in" with the hippy vibe of the famous event

But Eavis has defend the heavy metal quartet against criticism, claiming that no other band has been as “keen” to play the festival as the US group.

“They will do the best set of their lives here.”