Who’s Been Saying “No Thanks” to Glastonbury?
Share On
From Neil Young’s Backpedal to Badger Battles: The Artists Saying ‘No’ to Glastonbury 2025
While most musicians would sell their soul (or at least their guitar) for a chance to play on Glastonbury’s hallowed stages, not everyone is queuing up for their Worthy Farm moment. As anticipation builds for the 2025 festival, with only Sir Rod Stewart confirmed so far for the Sunday Legends slot, whispers of who’s outshine the rumours of who’s in.
Before diving into the list of Glasto refuseniks, let’s not forget Neil Young’s rollercoaster of indecision. First, he was out. Then he was back in. The reason? A mysterious “error in information.” Was he really misinformed, or is this the music world’s most dramatic U-turn since Kanye dropped gospel? Either way, Neil’s now confirmed, and his saga has already set the tone for what’s shaping up to be a spicy year for Glastonbury drama.
So, who won’t be headlining the Pyramid Stage in 2025? Grab your glitter and wellies—here’s the definitive list of Glasto rebels and their wonderfully petty reasons for turning it down.
1. Duran Duran: Not Hungry Like the Wolf for Glasto
Simon Le Bon’s disdain for a mid-afternoon slot in the “Disco Tent” is legendary. “I vowed never to set foot in Glastonbury unless it was on the Pyramid Stage at a decent hour,” he declared in 2023. Simon, we get it. But surely a bit of mud, overpriced cider, and a roaring crowd could have tempted you? Apparently not—even helicopter rides weren’t enough to sway him.
2. Queen: It’s All About the Badgers
Forget “We Will Rock You”; Brian May is firmly in the “We Will Not Play for You” camp. His beef? Festival founder Michael Eavis’ support of badger culling. May has passionately rejected the idea of playing Glastonbury multiple times, calling Eavis’ stance “a tragedy and an unnecessary crime against wildlife.” It seems we’re more likely to see badgers headlining the Pyramid Stage than Queen at this point.
3. Nadine Shah: Show Me the Money (or the Airtime)
Nadine Shah turned down a 2024 slot because it didn’t come with a televised stage. Her reasoning? Playing Glastonbury is expensive, and if she wasn’t getting the exposure, it simply wasn’t worth it. “We’ve all got bills to pay,” she reminded us on social media. Fair play, Nadine. Glasto vibes don’t pay the rent.
4. The Black Keys: Insulted, Never Again
After playing Glastonbury once, The Black Keys vowed never to return, calling their subsequent offer “insulting.” Drummer Patrick Carney told NME in 2023, “We know it’s a big deal for people in the UK, but the weight of the festival doesn’t translate to most Americans.” Translation? Thanks, but no thanks.
5. Fleetwood Mac: Landslide of Reasons
Fleetwood Mac fans have been dreaming of a Glasto set for decades, but the band has consistently declined offers, citing “low fees.” Rumour has it that even Mick Fleetwood, ever the optimist, couldn’t convince the rest of the band to take the gig. And now, with Christine McVie’s passing, any hope of a Fleetwood Mac reunion on Worthy Farm feels even more like a dream gone by.
6. The Kinks: A “Mini-Festival”? No, Thanks
This one’s pure comedy gold. Back in the day, The Kinks were all set to play Glastonbury’s debut in 1970—tickets were £1, and skittles were the peak of local culture. But Ray Davies reportedly read a newspaper calling the event a “mini-festival” and decided it wasn’t worth their time. He even faked a doctor’s note to get out of it. Iconic.
Other Notable Holdouts:
- The Darkness: Low-key shocking, considering their love of a theatrical crowd.
- Led Zeppelin: Glasto keeps asking, and Jimmy Page keeps saying no.
- 10cc: Refused without explanation. Maybe they just didn’t like the vibe.
- Foals: Apparently not keen to rock out in Somerset.
- Richard Hawley: Turned down, but no juicy drama to report.
Why the Refusals?
The reasons for turning down Glasto range from money and badgers to stage politics and pure ego. But there’s no denying that Glastonbury remains one of the most iconic festivals on the planet, even for those who give it a hard pass.
So, while Sir Rod, Neil Young (finally), and a rumoured mix of Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, and The 1975 prepare to grace the fields in 2025, we’ll raise a glass to those who dared to say “no.” Because let’s face it—being a Glasto refuser is almost as cool as being a headliner. Almost.
