Michael Eavis, the founder and organiser of the Glastonbury festival slammed U2 as "blighters" in a frank and lively discussion of Glastonbury at Port Eliot this afternoon. In a packed tent of warmly appreciative punters of the festival he calls a 'seedling' of Glastonbury, Eavis criticised the super-band for having "really mucked me around" over their decision to pull-out of headlining at Glastonbury this year as it "wouldn't be convenient". He said that if the band wanted to play again then they should call him as he certainly won't be calling them.
Eavis also criticised the phone company Orange, who had 500 tickets to give away, for making money out of its customers (they had to call and text a premium rate line to be in with a chance of winning one of the much coveted passes). "I didn't know about that beforehand," he said. ""We won't be doing it again next year".
To cries of "we love you Michael", Eavis told tales of the early days of the festival, including having to pay Marc Bolan, his headliner for the first ever festival in 1970, in monthly instalments from the milk money. "The cows are always reliable," he commented.
Eavis also revealed his unusual technique for solving the problem of too many people trying to get into the festival over the fence. "I used to go round the festival in the middle of the night and remove panels to let people in," he said. "Better in than out, I thought we had loads of space. I did it at 2am". The problem was that the following year they all came back, asking "where's the farmer who let us in?". There were 20,000 extra people in 2000 as a result of his generosity but "I had great fun," Eavis laughed.
Bolan in 1970 and Radiohead in 1997 were Eavis's favourite acts but he was disappointed with Willie Nelson – "he was a bit touchy" – and revealed that John Peel – who had a stage named in his honour this year – didn't really enjoy the festival all that much. He was always a bit grudging about having to do it, said Eavis, and used to joke that he only did it to get free tickets for his family.
Questioned about the rumour that he was close to asking all the punters to leave the festival early this year because of the huge storm which caused floods, Eavis scoffed at the very notion but did reveal that the BBC were planning to leave completely before the storm, until he went on to Radio 1 to assure everyone that all would be fine. Lightweights. Culture Vulture readers will remember that the GU Arts team stoically donned their wellies and braved the floods to report on events without a thought – well, just much moaning, perhaps - for their own comfort and safety.
