Neil Young pulls out of Glastonbury over BBC involvement

Neil Young has pulled out of Glastonbury in protest at the BBC exerting “corporate control” over the festival.

The singer said he had been booked to play the festival this summer with his band, The Chrome Hearts, but suggested the BBC had imposed rules that were not to his liking.

Neil Young performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival in California, as seen in a file photo.Credit: AP

He wrote on his website: “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favourite outdoor gigs. We were told that the 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!

“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. Love Neil. Be well.”

The BBC and Glastonbury Festival have been approached for comment. The festival has not published its 2025 line-up or confirmed Young’s involvement.

Young, 79, headlined Glastonbury in 2009, with a two-hour set that featured hits including Heart of Gold and Rockin’ In The Free World.

He had been booked to perform in 1997 but had to pull out after cutting his finger while making a ham sandwich on the eve of his visit to Europe.

In 2009, many fans complained about the BBC’s coverage of Young’s set after only five songs were shown.

The BBC responded then: “The BBC has spent the last couple of months talking to Neil’s management about how much of his set we might be able to show on TV, radio and online over Glastonbury weekend.

“Neil Young’s career has been conducted on his own terms. Neil’s management agreed to let TV and radio broadcast five songs as they watched and listened to his performance. They believe in the live event and retaining its mystery and that of their artist.”

Last year during a gig at Carnegie Hall, The Canadian musician chastised the crowd for clapping out of time to Ohio, the Crosby, Stills and Nash classic.

“Wrong!” he snapped at the audience, cutting off the intro after a few bars and only continuing when they fell silent. He also reportedly rebuked fans who shouted out between songs, saying: “You guys finished? You paid real good money to get in here.”

The festival has partnered with the BBC since 1997. Emily Eavis, who runs the music event with her father, Michael, from Worthy Farm in Somerset, has praised the corporation’s live coverage as “an integral part of what we do at Glastonbury”.

The 2025 festival will take place from June 25-29. Rod Stewart is the only artist confirmed so far. He will perform in the “Legend” slot. Tickets, priced at £373.50 ($750), have sold out.

The Telegraph, London