Neil Young Pulls Out of Glastonbury Festival

Neil Young has announced that he will not be performing at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, citing issues with the BBC’s “corporate control” as the reason for his decision. The musician, along with his band, the Chrome Hearts, had been scheduled to play at the renowned U.K. music event in June.

Young’s Statement

In a statement on his website, Neil Young expressed his disappointment at not being able to perform at Glastonbury, which he described as one of his favorite outdoor gigs. He mentioned that the BBC, now a partner in the festival, had requested them to make certain changes that they were not comfortable with. This led to Young’s decision to withdraw from the event.

Corporate Control Concerns

Young went on to express his concerns about the festival being under corporate control, stating that it was not the same as he remembered it. He emphasized that the corporate nature of the event was a turn-off for him and the Chrome Hearts, leading them to opt out of performing at Glastonbury on this tour.

Previous Performances

While Neil Young had not been officially announced as part of the festival’s lineup, he had previously headlined the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 2009.

Confirmed Acts

As of now, the only officially confirmed act for this year’s Glastonbury Festival is Rod Stewart, who is set to play the “teatime legend” slot during the event, scheduled from June 25 to 29.

BBC Partnership

The BBC has been a partner of Glastonbury since 1997, taking over broadcasting from Channel 4. The coverage of the festival has since expanded across the BBC’s television networks, radio stations, website, and streaming platform iPlayer. However, the corporation has faced criticism for the extensive staff deployment to cover the five-day event.

Ticket Sales

Reports indicate that tickets for this year’s Glastonbury Festival sold out in just 32 minutes, highlighting the event’s popularity.

Comments from Variety

Variety has reached out to Glastonbury and the BBC for their comments on Neil Young’s withdrawal from the festival.

FAQs

Q: Will Neil Young be performing at any other venues on his tour?

A: Neil Young has stated that he will not be playing at Glastonbury on this tour due to corporate concerns, but he hopes to see fans at other venues on the tour.

Q: How long has the BBC been a partner of Glastonbury?

A: The BBC has been a partner of Glastonbury since 1997, taking over broadcasting from Channel 4.

Q: Who is the only confirmed act for this year’s Glastonbury Festival?

A: Rod Stewart is the only officially confirmed act for this year’s event, scheduled to play the “teatime legend” slot.

Q: How quickly did tickets sell out for this year’s Glastonbury Festival?

A: Reports indicate that tickets for this year’s festival sold out in just 32 minutes.

Credit: variety.com