‘I wouldn’t do Glastonbury unless things changed radically’
Queen superstar Brian May has said the group will not be appearing at Glastonbury because of badgers.
May, an animal rights activist, slammed festival founder Michael Eavis for backing a controversial badger cull.
He said Eavis, a dairy farmer, was “a danger to farming” who had regularly insulted him.
May then rubbished rumours that Queen have been booked to headline Glastonbury’s 50th anniversary. The badger cull was aimed at preventing the spread of bovine TB.
‘Bit of a schism’
May said: “No, we won’t (perform), and there are lots of reasons for that. One is that Michael Eavis has frequently insulted me and I don’t really particularly enjoy that.
“What bothers me more is that he is in favour of the badger cull, which I regard as a tragedy and unnecessary crime against wildlife.
“So, no – there is a little bit of a schism there. I wouldn’t do Glastonbury unless things changed radically.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, he described the ongoing cull as a “tragedy and unnecessary crime” against the UK’s wildlife.
Queen, who are touring with American Idol’s Adam Lambert, would not perform at Glastonbury in 2020 unless “things changed radically”, May added.
Save me
May is the co-founder of the Save Me animal welfare organisation, which campaigns against fox hunting and badger culling.
He started the organisation in 2010 alongside environmental campaigner Anne Brummer, and named it after Queen’s 1980 hit.
May appeared on Ball’s show alongside singer-songwriter James Blunt and Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas.
He also stayed tight-lipped about whether he might perform at Glastonbury’s 50th anniversary.
He said: “I’m off on my tour from February around the UK. I will be doing some summer festivals.
“Glastonbury has always been my favourite gig to play. I’ve played on the Pyramid Stage a couple of times and it’s an amazing place, absolutely.”
Last year, Eavis’s support for the cull prompted Downton Abbey actor Peter Egan to call on music fans to boycott Glastonbury.
