Movies

Neil Young performs his headline set at Glastonbury to a ‘sparse’ crowd after making major U-turn and allowing performance to be broadcast on BBC

BBG News

Neil Young performed at Glastonbury on Saturday evening, however, he encountered a smaller audience than some of the other acts.

The renowned musician, now aged 79, took to the stage at the Pyramid with his group, Chrome Hearts, starting their performance with “Sugar Mountain.

Even though the audience wasn’t large at first, Neil’s fan base expanded progressively during his performance as he played popular songs like “Harvest Moon.

People attending Glastonbury expressed their thoughts on social media about the crowd size at the Pyramid Stage. One person commented, “The Pyramid stage area seems hardly filled judging by appearances, which is unfortunate because Neil Young is playing quite well.

‘The person stated that they are very interested in knowing how many people Neil Young drew at #Glastonbury, but the overhead views are too dim to provide a clear sense of scale.’

Neil made a dramatic U-turn and allowed his Glastonbury set to be aired on the BBC.

This year, he’s among the main acts headlining the festival, sharing the stage with an illustrious group that encompasses Sir Rod Stewart and Nile Rodgers.

A few days ago, news broke out stating that Neil preferred his performance not to be aired live on television.

However, in a surprise move, the BBC confirmed yesterday that his set would be shown afterall.

It was announced by a representative from the BBC that viewers throughout the United Kingdom will get to watch Neil Young’s main performance at Glastonbury this coming Saturday, live on BBC.

It was aired live on iPlayer’s Pyramid Stage stream at 10pm, as well as BBC Two and Radio 2.

Neil had been left out of the live schedule due to ongoing negations with the BBC.

Earlier this month, the BBC unveiled its lineup for live performances, featuring upcoming Saturdays’ headliners like Charli XCX and Doechii.

A few days back, it was asserted that Neil was yet to reach an agreement with the broadcasting company, and sources indicate that he may permit only a limited number of his songs to be aired.

Initially, a representative from the BBC stated that their goal is to broadcast as many performances as feasible from the Pyramid Stage. They mentioned that their arrangements and timetable are being confirmed even until the very days of the festival itself.

TopMob contacted BBC and Neil’s representatives for comment.

In January, the rock star eventually consented to perform at the Glastonbury Festival. At first, he had declined the invitation due to concerns that the event was being managed by the BBC under a corporate arrangement.

The singer along with his fresh live group, The Chrome Hearts, were considered strong contenders for the massive music festival held at Worthy Farm.

However, Neil made an explosive declaration on New Year’s Day, alleging that the festival was under the control of the BBC, which seemed to shatter fans’ anticipations.

On Neil Young’s website, it was stated that a mistake in the details he received led him to decide against performing at the beloved Glastonbury Festival.

We’re thrilled that the festival has been added to our schedule again! We can’t wait to perform and we hope you’ll join us.

This week, Neil Young expressed in an open letter posted on the Neil Young Archives that he and Chrome Hearts had been eagerly anticipating performing at Glastonbury Festival, a concert venue he holds dear among his favorite outdoor performances.

It appears that the BBC has taken on a partnership role for Glastonbury, which means they’re asking for changes that don’t align with our preferences. This collaboration seems to have shifted Glastonbury towards a more corporate atmosphere, different from my past experiences with it.

On this current tour, we won’t be performing at Glastonbury as it no longer aligns with our values, and it doesn’t hold the same appeal as it once did. I look forward to connecting with you at another stop on our tour instead.

For quite some time, the BBC has been broadcasting performances from music festivals on their multiple TV and radio channels.

In 2009, a part of Neil’s show at Glastonbury was aired on BBC television; however, his entire performance wasn’t shown because his management raised objections.

In reaction to comments from his followers, the BBC stated that they had been engaged in discussions with his management team for approximately two months regarding the amount of his performance they could air on their station.

‘Neil Young’s career has been conducted on his own terms,’ the broadcaster said at the time.

In simpler terms, Neil’s superiors consented to air five of his songs on television and radio during his performance. They feel that maintaining the essence and enigma of the live event, as well as their artist, is important.

At the 1997 festival, the performer was scheduled to make an appearance, but unfortunately, he was forced to cancel due to an accident involving a cut finger sustained while preparing a sandwich with ham.

Neil’s current musical group includes Micah Nelson playing the guitar, Spooner Oldham handling the organ duties, Corey McCormick on the bass, and Anthony LoGerfo manning the drums.

Sharing exciting news for the year ahead, Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis subtly suggested busy discussions were underway when she posted: “Neil Young, an artist deeply cherished by us at Glastonbury, will be making a comeback to our Pyramid Stage!

He has a unique approach, which makes us adore him… We eagerly anticipate his return to lead at the Pyramid in June.”

In this version, I used “unique approach” instead of “does things his own way,” and “lead” instead of “headline.” The meaning remains the same, but the language is more natural and easy to read.

Read More

2025-06-29 02:49

Previous post Elliot Page unveils first public relationship since coming out as transgender man
Next post Silver Rate Forecast