Entertainment
Kravitz rocks Wembley with pre-game show at Champions League final
Legendary rock musician Lenny Kravitz headlined the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi on June 1 at Wembley Stadium in London. This is the eighth year that Pepsi and UEFA marked the final with its eagerly anticipated curtain-raiser.
Prior to Real Madrid playing against Borussia Dortmund, Kravitz, who celebrated his landmark 60th birthday on May 26, ran through three of his popular songs in a six-minute set in the centre of the field.
Kravitz, who told the Guardian newspaper recently that he’s still loving life as much as ever and could barely believe that he had reached 60, started his set with Fly Away and closed with Are you Gonna Go My Way.
The Grammy-award-winning artiste, known for his dynamic stage presence and iconic hits, recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been hard at work crafting his highly anticipated upcoming album, Blue Electric Light.
To build hype for the performance, Pepsi had released a short film titled Wembley Is Blue | Lenny Kravitz x UCL Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi. In the film, the UEFA Champions League anthem is being whistled as Lenny Kravitz slowly walks down a tunnel, paintbrush in hand, covering the walls in Pepsi Blue … before walking out on to the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium.
Kravitz commented, “I’m really looking forward to my performance for the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi in London, a city which holds a special place in my heart. It’s going to be such an exciting event ahead of a final that means so much to so many.”
Eric Melis, VP of Global Brand Marketing – Pepsi at PepsiCo added, “As a brand with a rich heritage in both music and football, we are proud to bring together once again, in the host city, millions of viewers from around the world and one of the most iconic names in music for an electrifying performance live from iconic Wembley Stadium in London, the home of music, sports and entertainment. Lenny Kravitz is someone who is constantly giving the best that he has to offer and spreading love and humanity in all his work, he lives by our ‘Thirsty For More’ philosophy.”
Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA marketing director, said the league’s “longstanding and fruitful partnership with Pepsi fills us with enormous pride as we collaborate to make this flagship match on the football calendar more memorable and entertaining for fans inside Wembley and those watching around the globe”.
The UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi aired in more than 200 countries and territories globally.