After initially pulling out of Glastonbury 2025 over concerns about “corporate control,” Neil Young has confirmed that he will, in fact, headline the iconic festival. In a blog post shared earlier this week, Young wrote:
“Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary, and we look forward to playing!”
He attributed his previous withdrawal to “an error in the information received” but did not provide further details.
A Warm Welcome Back
Glastonbury co-organizer Emily Eavis celebrated Young’s return with an Instagram post on January 3:
“What a start to the year! Neil Young is an artist who’s very close to our hearts at Glastonbury. He does things his own way, and that’s why we love him.”
Young’s last headline appearance at Glastonbury was in 2009, where his fiery Rockin’ in the Free World finale left fans in awe.
Past Tensions with the BBC
Despite the long-standing broadcasting partnership between Glastonbury and the BBC (dating back to 1997), Young previously expressed frustration with how the government-owned network handled the broadcast of his performances. In 2009, the BBC reportedly secured the rights to air just five songs from Young’s set after months of negotiation.
Mark Cooper, former executive producer of the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage, noted at the time:
“Neil’s team believes in the mystery of the live event. You probably won’t find too many Neil Young performances available freely on TV or online.”
What’s Next?
It remains unclear how much of Young’s 2025 set will be televised or uploaded online. However, fans attending the festival can anticipate a powerful and personal performance from the legendary artist, true to his ethos of prioritizing the live experience.
Source: Pitchfork
