Photo credit: www.billboard.com
Legendary Canadian musician Neil Young has announced his decision to withdraw from the 2025 Glastonbury Festival.
In a message shared with his fans on Neil Young Archives on December 31, the 79-year-old artist expressed his disappointment over not being able to perform at the iconic festival held annually at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England.
Young stated, “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favorite outdoor gigs.” He conveyed concerns regarding the festival’s recent partnership with the BBC, indicating a shift towards corporate influence that he finds unappealing: “We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being.”
Explore
Explore
He reiterated his discontent by remarking, “We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.”
Young has not disclosed the specific requests made by Glastonbury and the BBC that influenced his decision to pull out. The BBC has historically been involved in the festival, offering extensive coverage, including a global broadcast last year, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Billboard has reached out to representatives of Glastonbury for their response to Young’s announcement.
In November 2024, Glastonbury confirmed that Rod Stewart would be the first performer announced for the festival scheduled from June 27-29, 2025. Tickets for the event have reportedly sold out.
Speculation regarding headliners for the festival remains high, with artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga being rumored. Young’s name had also surfaced as a potential performer.
While a timeline for the official headliner announcements has not been established, festival organizers typically unveil the complete lineup in the spring.
In late November 2024, Young shared his plans for a European tour focusing on outdoor venues. He further communicated to fans that details on summer tour dates would be released soon.
Young’s last appearance at Glastonbury was in June 2009, with his performance broadcasted by the BBC, showcasing classics such as “The Needle and the Damage Done” and “Rockin’ in the Free World,” along with a rendition of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life,” according to Rolling Stone.
His band, the Chrome Hearts, includes notable musicians such as Micah Nelson, Spooner Oldham, Corey McCormick, and Anthony LoGergo. This ensemble made their debut at the Farm Aid event in September 2024 and is reportedly working on a new album, tentatively titled Talking to the Trees.
Source
www.billboard.com