LEGENDARY Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young has pulled out of playing Glastonbury in 2025 citing the BBC as the main factor.
The Rockin' in the Free World singer, a pivotal figure in folk rock and grunge whose music often includes activist sentiment, issued a statement on his website saying that the festival had come under “corporate control”.
Young said he and his new band the Chrome Hearts were booked to perform at Glastonbury – though they had not officially been confirmed in the line-up by the festival itself.
“The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite outdoor gigs,” Young wrote.
“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.
“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 share a longstanding partnership, which began in 1997. The broadcaster provides extensive live coverage, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content across TV, radio, and online platforms.
