Queen and Glastonbury: A Clash of Values

Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, has stated that the band will not be performing at Glastonbury in the near future. His reason? A political disagreement with Michael Eavis, the festival's founder, over the contentious issue of badger culling.

The Issue at Hand

Badger culling is a highly debated topic in the UK. It's a government policy aimed at preventing the spread of bovine tuberculosis from badgers to cattle. May, a vocal advocate for animal welfare, strongly opposes this practice. Eavis, however, supports it and has even labeled May a "danger to farming" for his stance.

May's Stance

May has been clear that Queen will not perform at Glastonbury unless there are significant changes. His discontent isn't solely about the badger culling; he's also taken offense to Eavis's remarks. In a 2019 interview, May mentioned that Queen would only consider playing at Glastonbury if "things changed radically."

Glastonbury's Significance

Glastonbury is one of the UK's largest and most prestigious music festivals, attracting over 200,000 attendees annually. Past headliners include The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo. However, the festival is taking a break in 2026 to allow the land to recover and will return in 2027.

The Future of Queen at Glastonbury

Will Queen ever grace the Glastonbury stage? It's uncertain. May has hinted that it's unlikely unless his political differences with Eavis are resolved. For now, fans can only wait and see.