An Evening With Michael Eavis

[tort]

I had a very enjoyable evening last night at the Southbank Centre where Michael Eavis gave a talk as part of the Meltdown Festival curated by Ray Davies of The Kinks. Ray gave a very eloquent introduction and Michael appeared from behind the curtain to loud applause. He was his usual badly dressed, unassuming self. He was obviously very nervous and stammered quite badly throughout and it always amazes me that this lovely humble old guy is responsible for one of the greatest phenomena to appear in this country during the last 50 years and has had the drive & vision to have carried on when so much has been stacked against him so often.

Michael spent the first 20 minutes giving us a brief history of his life on the farm and some key stages in the development of the festival. Nothing new here for the majority of the audience who seemed to mainly be long term attendees interspersed with just a few novices. He then invited questions from the audience and covered a whole range of subjects over the course of a further hour and a half.

There was another round of applause when Michael announced the arrival of Emily’s baby at the weekend although this didn’t stop her from ringing him while he was on the train to remind him not to drop any of his famous bloopers or they’d be all over the internet this morning. The only major hint he really dropped was that Jay Z would probably be appearing with Beyonce but I guess that won’t really be a massive surprise to anybody. He was asked about several acts who have never made it to Pilton yet despite repeated rumours. He swears he will get the Rolling Stones to play one day. With Stevie Nicks and Prince his response was that they just haven’t been able to make it happen. Interestingly, however, when asked about Pulp he just said “I can’t say anything”, which would suggest that the rumour that they are one of the special guests at The Park isn’t too wide of the mark. He was also asked about The Cure and said he would love to have them back but they would only play if they headlined again and he didn’t think they were that big anymore.

Talking of Jay Z, Michael spoke at length about how he was booked in 2008, including how he had to practice saying “Jay Zee” and not “Jay Zed” before he rang the agent. He also told us how the festival was almost cancelled due to the slowness of ticket sales that year, which is something I don’t think I had previously appreciated. Initially only 80,000 tickets were sold and he reckons it was only the good weather that saved a massive deficit with the last tickets only being sold on the Thursday evening of the festival itself.

When asked about acts who he regrets not having onstage before they passed away he told us how the Grateful Dead had actually been to look around the farm and were booked to play before Jerry Garcia died. He also had George Harrison lined up to play but the grim reaper put paid to those plans as well.

Michael told us how proud he is of the late night area in the South East corner of the site. Even 9 days before the gates open there were 10,000 people onsite yesterday and many of these are unpaid volunteers. He made particular mention of the new bullring, made of old lock gates which were originally offered to him as firewood but have been used to create yet another new venue. When asked what his favourite venue was he told us it was the Underground Piano Bar, which, to my shame, I have never yet set foot in. Apparently Feargal Sharkey is due to make an appearance there this year.

Naturally the question of the Wombles came up and I was quite surprised that his displeasure over their appearance really is quite genuine. I just assumed it was a comment that had been blown out of context by the press but he said that with so many excellent musicians having to be turned down they shouldn’t really be booking acts like that. He also said the same applies to the Wurzles appearance last year. I get the impression that the guy who books the bands for the Avalon Stage may be looking for alternative employment in 2013.

Michael told a great story about how Stevie Wonder invited him onstage last year to sing Happy Birthday in celebration of the festival’s 40th anniversary. Michael reckons he has a half decent voice but he couldn’t hear the monitors so he was actually singing flat. Stevie immediately signalled to the whole band to change to a different key so that they would be in tune with him and saved his embarrassment.

As far as the future is concerned well, as always, this year will be the best ever of course. The headliners are apparently already lined up for 2013. Radiohead were mentioned several times so, much as I dislike their dreary durge, they’d be my hot tip to head the bill again. Asked if the festival would continue to grow Michael said no, it was big enough. He just wants to carry on making it better. He knows £200 is a lot of money and he wants to give the best value he possibly can for it. He asked lots of people how many times they had been to the festival and was genuinely thankful to them for their support. I believe that he still finds it quite incredible that so many people want to come and play on his farm every June.

Bless him!

[Liz2021]

The man, the legend!!

[Holesey]

Thanks for the report back, a great read! 8 days.. this is my third year and still so many places to find, especially that 'Underground Piano Bar' anyone any idea where this is?

Once again, a great read!

[tort]

Thanks for the report back, a great read! 8 days.. this is my third year and still so many places to find, especially that 'Underground Piano Bar' anyone any idea where this is?

I do & I'm not saying until I've been in case it gets too popular!

[m1keanderson]

Thanks for the report, tort. Will try to make it to The Park for those guest slots!

[Holesey]

I do & I'm not saying until I've been in case it gets too popular!

I think I may have found it.. I'll continue to pursue, I will be in that bar this year!

[char40too]

He knows £200 is a lot of money and he wants to give the best value he possibly can for it.
Bless him!

I think the price is more than "good value"! I know it's hard times but considering I got friends that are paying £70 each to see Bon Jovi a few days after Glasto, I think it's a bargain!

And you'll struggle to find an atmosphere like it anywhere else Nearly there now

[stardustjunkie]

Thanks for telling us

I will admit that the Pulp comment made me very excited.

[YCFC]

Thanks Tort, what a great read! I wish I was there - it sounds like every Glastogeek's dream night out! (and I say that fondly as someone who is unashamedly so)

Now to the Underground Piano Bar...

[glastomad]

What a guy, love the bit bout stevie changing the key, two legends of music helping each other out

[Nelly]

Love it, thank you!

[Cans O' Cannrahan]

Where is the Underground Piano bar?

[tort]

Where is the Underground Piano bar?

[Holesey]

Where is the Underground Piano bar?

I'm trying to hunt it down too - can't find anything on it at all.. I'll do some digging when I get there next Wednesday!!

[theandyevans]

hey tort dont suppose he mentioned anything about the thousands of tickets still to be delivered to the north west did he? AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH

[wozle]

aw i just want to give him a big cuddle.

[robbieflash]

The bar is barely open and it's deliberately hidden. That's all i'm saying.

Anyway, great work Tort, was planning to go down myself but didn't end up that way!

[Mart44]

I gave him a big cuddle last year !! Unfortunately it was the only night I forgot my camera.