Neil Young has announced that he will no longer be performing at the Glastonbury Festival 2025 after a disagreement with the BBC.
The singer and his new live band, The Chrome Hearts, were set to appear at Worthy Farm, Somerset, this summer, 16 years after the 79-year-old headlined the Pyramid Stage.
However, a shock U-turn has caused the Canadian star to pull out of the festival, saying it was under the “corporate control” of the BBC.
In an open letter on the Neil Young Archives website, Neil wrote: “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favorite outdoor gigs.
“We were told 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.
“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.”
It is unclear what exactly prompted Young to pull out of the festival. The Express has contacted the BBC and Glastonbury for comment.
The BBC has broadcast the festival since 1997 and it was available globally for the first time last year. Neil Young’s most recent performance at Glastonbury, in 2009, was broadcast across the BBC‘s television and radio stations.
It was first reported last month that Neil was firming up plans to headline Glastonbury 2025. A source told The Sun: “Neil and his band The Chrome Hearts are firming up plans for European dates next year and Glastonbury is on the cards.
“Neil last performed there in 2009 and his headline set on the Pyramid Stage was incredible. He is keen to play a handful of big shows in Europe and his team are keen to get him on the line-up.
“Glastonbury appears to be leaning back into its roots of rock, and if they can secure Neil, it would be an amazing addition to what is already shaping up to be an incredible line-up.”
Sir Rod Stewart was the first act confirmed for Glastonbury 2025, with the festival announcing that the rock star will play the Legends slot on the Pyramid Stage.