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A MERSEYSIDE council worker will swop the office for the stage when he rocks Glastonbury.

Simon Cousins, 46, will step back into the limelight to play the festival after a 14-year gap in his music career.

The guitarist told the ECHO he felt “very lucky” to perform at this year’s event, which has attracted the likes of U2, Coldplay and Beyonce.

Simon, from Mossley Hill, said: “If you told me this time last year I would be playing at Glastonbury Festival in The Green Fields, I would never have believed you.

“I am overwhelmed I have managed to get four shows there.”

The one-time bass guitarist with Mike Badger and The Onset, who were signed to Liverpool record label Probe Plus in the 1990s, imagined his musical career was a thing of the past.

But Simon, who is an equality officer for St Helens council, decided to return to music after his twin brother Jon was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung two years ago.

The dad-of-two said: “He nearly died. I thought ‘what is the point of being able to play if I’m not?’ You only live once.

“I gave up music 14 years ago and, as my mum would say, I got a ‘proper job’. I’ve worked in St Helens for nine years and it is a fantastic place to work.

“My job is different to being on stage but if you are speaking in public then you have an audience and you have to keep them involved.”

Simon, who lives with his wife Deborah and daughter Olivia, 14, and has a stepson Matthew, 24, is looking forward to playing Glastonbury for a second time.

He played bass guitar with folk/rock band Ophiuchus, which he formed with his guitarist brother Jon in 1986.

After a break of nearly 21 years, the original line-up of the band reformed to perform a number of Ophiuchus Reunion concerts – including an appearance at the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury.

Simon said: “It was amazing. It was the first time I went. I wanted to see if I could go back and do it as a solo musician.”

Simon will play at the Tadpole Stage at 5pm on Wednesday June 22 and the Mandala Stage at 10pm on Thursday, 7pm on Saturday and 8pm on Sunday.

He will also play the Angel Field Festival at Liverpool Hope university’s creative campus this Sunday.