Neil Young turns down Glastonbury Festival due to BBC's 'corporate control'

"Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour."

Neil Young has said he will not be playing at Glastonbury Festival this year as he believes the music event is "now under corporate control" of the BBC.

The Canadian-born singer-songwriter, 79, who headlined the festival in 2009, said he and his band were told to "do a lot of things" they were not interested in, in a post to his website.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: "The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite outdoor gigs.

"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.

"Thanks for coming to see us the last time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"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."

The BBC is the exclusive broadcast partner of Glastonbury and has worked closely with the festival since 1997.

This year, Sir Rod Stewart will fill the coveted teatime legends slot on the Sunday night.

The rest of the music acts and headliners for the festival, taking place this June, are yet to be announced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In 2022, Young reportedly requested his content be removed from Spotify due to its hosting of the Joe Rogan podcast, which has been known to air vaccine-sceptical views.

Young, who is married to US actress Daryl Hannah , enjoyed success with the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and was also in the rock band Buffalo Springfield.

The BBC and Glastonbury Festival have been approached for comment.

Related topics:

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice