Brian May has said Sir Paul McCartney called him about “the mass killing of badgers” ahead of announcing his Glastonbury performance.
The Beatles star is set to play at Worthy Farm in June 2020, and apparently checked in with the Queen guitarist regarding animal welfare before confirming the gig.
May previously said he would not play Glastonbury after clashing with organiser Michael Eavis over the badger cull.
The rock star said Sir Paul phoned him up to discuss the matter as he was worried “he might be thought to be endorsing the current mass killing of badgers.”
He wrote on Instagram: “Paul was kind enough to phone me about this before he accepted the invitation.
“He was concerned that he might be thought to be endorsing the current mass killing of badgers.
“Paul, a great campaigner on behalf of animals, is firmly against the Badger Cull.
“I told him he should not feel any obligations – that my reluctance to play was based on the personal comments Michael Eavis has made about me.”
May was termed a “danger to farming” by the festival founder due to his opposition to culling badgers.
Eavis’s support for the cull has prompted calls from some to boycott the festival at Worthy Farm.
May claims that the farmer and rock concert organiser “frequently insulted” him so he would not take part in the show, although he wished Sir Paul luck with the performance.
He wrote: “I work daily with people who disagree with me in matters like this – it’s necessary in order to move forward.
“But I don’t have to work with people who insult me who are ignorant of the work I do.
“People can change, and I’m always open to that. In the meantime I wish Paul and his band a great gig.”
May previously said badger culling is a “tragedy and unnecessary crime against wildlife”.
The animals are culled in an attempt to reduce the spread of bovine tuberculosis.
Standard Online has reached out to the organisers of Glastonbury for comment.
McCartney will be returning to Glastonbury 16 years after he first played Worthy Farm in what was, incredibly, his first ever UK festival appearance. He will perform on the Pyramid Stage as the Saturday night headliner for the special 50th anniversary festival .
In 2020, he will become the oldest artist to ever headline Glastonbury.
Paul McCartney – In pictures
1/70 circa 1960
Paul McCartney on stage at the Cavern nightclub in Liverpool during the early days of British beat group The Beatles
Getty Images
2/70 1967
The Beatles celebrate the completion of their new album, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, at a press conference held at the west London home of their manager Brian Epstein
Getty Images
3/70 1983
Paul McCartney with Michael Jackson
AFP/Getty Images
4/70 1962
The Beatles perform
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5/70
Beatle-to-be Paul McCartney at the age of six in 1948 with his eight-year-old brother Mike
Getty Images
6/70
The Beatles standing outside Paul’s Liverpool home (circa 1960)
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7/70
Paul McCartney with his father and brother Mike (circa 1960)
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8/70
The Beatles photographed, possibly by John Lennon, at the Arnhem War Memorial in the eastern Netherlands, during a journey to Hamburg in 1960
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9/70
Singer-songwriter Paul McCartney of The Beatles in 1962
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10/70
Ringo Star, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon as The Beatles in 1963
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11/70
Sir Joseph Lockwood, chairman of EMI, presents the Beatles with two silver discs, to mark the 1/4 million plus sales of their two long playing records, ‘Please, Please Me’ and ‘With The Beatles in 1963
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12/70
The Beatles meet for the first time after their holiday in 1963
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13/70
The Beatles at a recording session for the Parlophone label with their producer George Martin (circa 1963)
Getty Images
14/70
Pop group The Beatles take a bow on stage after performing in the Royal Command Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1963
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15/70
Paul McCartney with The Beatles in 1963
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16/70
The Beatles receiving awards from the Variety Club of Great Britain in 1963
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17/70
The Beatles in 1963
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18/70
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of The Beatles performing during an early television performance on ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ in 1963
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19/70
John Lennon with Paul McCartney in 1963
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20/70
Paul McCartney at Madame Tussaud’s with his waxwork in 1964
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21/70
Paul McCartney with Wilfrid Brambell at Marylebone during filming of the Beatles’ film ‘A Hard Day’s Night in 1964
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22/70
Ed Sullivan with The Beatles in 1964
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23/70
Cassius Clay poses in the ring in mock victory over British pop group The Beatles in 1964
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24/70
Paul McCartney and George Harrison (1943 – 2001), of The Beatles performing at a rehearsal for the ‘Round The Beatles’ TV show in 1964
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25/70
Ringo Starr uses a fishing rod to fish from their Seattle hotel window as Paul McCartney and John Lennon watch in 1964
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26/70
The Beatles rehearsing an excerpt from Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 1964
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27/70
Paul McCartney arrives back in London with girlfriend, actress Jane Asher, after a holiday in Portugal in 1965
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28/70
British pop group The Beatles, from left to right; Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), Paul McCartney and George Harrison (1943 – 2001), outside Buckingham Palace after receiving their MBE’s in 1965
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29/70
Paul McCartney of The Beatles in 1965
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30/70
Paul McCartney signs an autograph for a fan whilst taking refreshment in a London Transport workers’ canteen in Allsop Place, London in 1967
Getty Images
31/70
Paul McCartney of the Beatles and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones sit opposite each other on a train at Euston Station in 1967
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32/70
Paul McCartney with his dog, Martha and two kittens at his house in St John’s Wood in 1967
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33/70
Paul McCartney and The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1967
Associated News
34/70
Paul McCartney record voices for their new cartoon film ‘Yellow Submarine’ in 1968
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35/70
Paul McCartney on his wedding day with wife Linda in 1969
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36/70
Paul McCartney covered with confetti outside a London registry office with his wife Linda in 1969
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37/70
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda in 1971
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38/70
Paul McCartney, singer, songwriter and bass player for the recently disbanded Beatles with his wife Linda and their two children in 1971
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39/70
Paul McCartney rehearsing with his band Wings in 1973
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40/70
Paul McCartney and wife, photographer Linda McCartney as they arrive for the premiere of ‘Live and Let Die’ in 1973
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41/70
Singer Paul McCartney performing on tour with Wings in 1973
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42/70
Paul McCartney on stage with Pete Townsend in 1979
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43/70
Musician Paul McCartney gives a thumbs up to the media in 1980
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44/70
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda arrive at the 33th Cannes Film Festival in 1980
AFP/Getty Images
45/70
British rock singer Paul McCartney talks about his Lifetime Achievement Award he has received at the 32nd Annual Grammy Award presentations at the Shrine Auditorium in 1990
AFP/Getty Images
46/70
Paul McCartney with his wife Linda (3rdR) and his band “Wings” at a Tokyo press conference in 1990
AFP/Getty Images
47/70
Diana, Princess of Wales with Paul McCartneyand his wife Linda at the Lille Congress Hall in 1992
AFP/Getty Images
48/70
Paul McCartney in 1993
AFP/Getty Images
49/70
Former Beatle Paul McCartney holds up the hands of the late John Lennon’s son Sean Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono after John Lennon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994
AFP/Getty Images
50/70
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees for 1999 Paul McCartney and Billy Joel point to the crowd at the conclusion of the jam session during the 15th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 1999
AFP/Getty Images
51/70
Paul And Linda McCartney In “Give My Regards To Broadway in 1998
Getty Images
52/70
Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda smile at each other 15 October during the presentation of the French fashion house Chloe’s Spring/Summer ’98 ready-to-wear collection designed by their daughter, Stella
AFP/Getty Images
53/70
Former Beatle Paul McCartney signal the peace sign as he arrives at the Riverside Church in New York City on 22nd June to attend a memorial service for his wife Linda McCartney
AFP/Getty Images
54/70
Paul McCartney with his daughter, Stella at the opening party of her new boutique, Chloe in 1999
Getty Images
55/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his girlfriend Heather Mills attend a tribute cocktail party in 2001
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56/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his fiance model Heather Mills announce they are expecting a baby to the media at Castle Leslie, Irleland in 2002
Getty Images
57/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills McCartney ventured onto the ice floes of the Gulf of St-Lawrence by helicopter to observe seal pups before the start of the seal hunting season in 2006
AFP/Getty Images
58/70
George Michael and Sir Paul McCartney perform on stage at “Live 8 London” in Hyde Park in 2005
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59/70
Paul McCartney performs during the 2005 Super Bowl XXXIX halftime show
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60/70
Paul McCartney and daughter Stella McCartney attend the Stella McCartney Paris store opening in 2009
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61/70
Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney attend the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2012
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62/70
Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl perform onstage at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2012
Getty Images
63/70
Music legend Paul McCartney gestures to the media following the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012
AFP/Getty Images
64/70
Sir Paul McCartney with Sir Elton Jon and Stevie Wonder backstage at the Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012
PA
65/70
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of The Beatles perform onstage during the 56th GRAMMY Awards in 2014
Getty Images
66/70
Sir Paul McCartney and Neil Young perform onstage during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field in 2016
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67/70
Paul McCartney performs in 2017
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68/70
Sir Paul McCartney joins thousands of people, many of them students, march against gun violence in Manhattan during the March for Our Lives rally in 2018
Getty Images
69/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell following an Investiture ceremony, where he was made a Companion of Honour at Buckingham Palace in 2018
Getty Images
70/70
Sir Paul McCartney performing a free gig at the Cavern Club, Liverpool in 2018
PA
1/70 circa 1960
Paul McCartney on stage at the Cavern nightclub in Liverpool during the early days of British beat group The Beatles
Getty Images
2/70 1967
The Beatles celebrate the completion of their new album, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, at a press conference held at the west London home of their manager Brian Epstein
Getty Images
3/70 1983
Paul McCartney with Michael Jackson
AFP/Getty Images
4/70 1962
The Beatles perform
Getty Images
5/70
Beatle-to-be Paul McCartney at the age of six in 1948 with his eight-year-old brother Mike
Getty Images
6/70
The Beatles standing outside Paul’s Liverpool home (circa 1960)
Getty Images
7/70
Paul McCartney with his father and brother Mike (circa 1960)
Getty Images
8/70
The Beatles photographed, possibly by John Lennon, at the Arnhem War Memorial in the eastern Netherlands, during a journey to Hamburg in 1960
Getty Images
9/70
Singer-songwriter Paul McCartney of The Beatles in 1962
Getty Images
10/70
Ringo Star, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon as The Beatles in 1963
Getty Images
11/70
Sir Joseph Lockwood, chairman of EMI, presents the Beatles with two silver discs, to mark the 1/4 million plus sales of their two long playing records, ‘Please, Please Me’ and ‘With The Beatles in 1963
Getty Images
12/70
The Beatles meet for the first time after their holiday in 1963
Getty Images
13/70
The Beatles at a recording session for the Parlophone label with their producer George Martin (circa 1963)
Getty Images
14/70
Pop group The Beatles take a bow on stage after performing in the Royal Command Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1963
Getty Images
15/70
Paul McCartney with The Beatles in 1963
Getty Images
16/70
The Beatles receiving awards from the Variety Club of Great Britain in 1963
Getty Images
17/70
The Beatles in 1963
Getty Images
18/70
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of The Beatles performing during an early television performance on ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ in 1963
Getty Images
19/70
John Lennon with Paul McCartney in 1963
Getty Images
20/70
Paul McCartney at Madame Tussaud’s with his waxwork in 1964
Getty Images
21/70
Paul McCartney with Wilfrid Brambell at Marylebone during filming of the Beatles’ film ‘A Hard Day’s Night in 1964
Getty Images
22/70
Ed Sullivan with The Beatles in 1964
Getty Images
23/70
Cassius Clay poses in the ring in mock victory over British pop group The Beatles in 1964
Getty Images
24/70
Paul McCartney and George Harrison (1943 – 2001), of The Beatles performing at a rehearsal for the ‘Round The Beatles’ TV show in 1964
Getty Images
25/70
Ringo Starr uses a fishing rod to fish from their Seattle hotel window as Paul McCartney and John Lennon watch in 1964
Getty Images
26/70
The Beatles rehearsing an excerpt from Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 1964
Getty Images
27/70
Paul McCartney arrives back in London with girlfriend, actress Jane Asher, after a holiday in Portugal in 1965
Getty Images
28/70
British pop group The Beatles, from left to right; Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), Paul McCartney and George Harrison (1943 – 2001), outside Buckingham Palace after receiving their MBE’s in 1965
Getty Images
29/70
Paul McCartney of The Beatles in 1965
Getty Images
30/70
Paul McCartney signs an autograph for a fan whilst taking refreshment in a London Transport workers’ canteen in Allsop Place, London in 1967
Getty Images
31/70
Paul McCartney of the Beatles and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones sit opposite each other on a train at Euston Station in 1967
Getty Images
32/70
Paul McCartney with his dog, Martha and two kittens at his house in St John’s Wood in 1967
Getty Images
33/70
Paul McCartney and The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1967
Associated News
34/70
Paul McCartney record voices for their new cartoon film ‘Yellow Submarine’ in 1968
Getty Images
35/70
Paul McCartney on his wedding day with wife Linda in 1969
Getty Images
36/70
Paul McCartney covered with confetti outside a London registry office with his wife Linda in 1969
Getty Images
37/70
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda in 1971
Getty Images
38/70
Paul McCartney, singer, songwriter and bass player for the recently disbanded Beatles with his wife Linda and their two children in 1971
Getty Images
39/70
Paul McCartney rehearsing with his band Wings in 1973
Getty Images
40/70
Paul McCartney and wife, photographer Linda McCartney as they arrive for the premiere of ‘Live and Let Die’ in 1973
Getty Images
41/70
Singer Paul McCartney performing on tour with Wings in 1973
Getty Images
42/70
Paul McCartney on stage with Pete Townsend in 1979
Getty Images
43/70
Musician Paul McCartney gives a thumbs up to the media in 1980
Getty Images
44/70
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda arrive at the 33th Cannes Film Festival in 1980
AFP/Getty Images
45/70
British rock singer Paul McCartney talks about his Lifetime Achievement Award he has received at the 32nd Annual Grammy Award presentations at the Shrine Auditorium in 1990
AFP/Getty Images
46/70
Paul McCartney with his wife Linda (3rdR) and his band “Wings” at a Tokyo press conference in 1990
AFP/Getty Images
47/70
Diana, Princess of Wales with Paul McCartneyand his wife Linda at the Lille Congress Hall in 1992
AFP/Getty Images
48/70
Paul McCartney in 1993
AFP/Getty Images
49/70
Former Beatle Paul McCartney holds up the hands of the late John Lennon’s son Sean Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono after John Lennon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994
AFP/Getty Images
50/70
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees for 1999 Paul McCartney and Billy Joel point to the crowd at the conclusion of the jam session during the 15th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 1999
AFP/Getty Images
51/70
Paul And Linda McCartney In “Give My Regards To Broadway in 1998
Getty Images
52/70
Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda smile at each other 15 October during the presentation of the French fashion house Chloe’s Spring/Summer ’98 ready-to-wear collection designed by their daughter, Stella
AFP/Getty Images
53/70
Former Beatle Paul McCartney signal the peace sign as he arrives at the Riverside Church in New York City on 22nd June to attend a memorial service for his wife Linda McCartney
AFP/Getty Images
54/70
Paul McCartney with his daughter, Stella at the opening party of her new boutique, Chloe in 1999
Getty Images
55/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his girlfriend Heather Mills attend a tribute cocktail party in 2001
Getty Images
56/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his fiance model Heather Mills announce they are expecting a baby to the media at Castle Leslie, Irleland in 2002
Getty Images
57/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills McCartney ventured onto the ice floes of the Gulf of St-Lawrence by helicopter to observe seal pups before the start of the seal hunting season in 2006
AFP/Getty Images
58/70
George Michael and Sir Paul McCartney perform on stage at “Live 8 London” in Hyde Park in 2005
Getty Images
59/70
Paul McCartney performs during the 2005 Super Bowl XXXIX halftime show
Getty Images
60/70
Paul McCartney and daughter Stella McCartney attend the Stella McCartney Paris store opening in 2009
Getty Images
61/70
Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney attend the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2012
Getty Images
62/70
Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl perform onstage at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2012
Getty Images
63/70
Music legend Paul McCartney gestures to the media following the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012
AFP/Getty Images
64/70
Sir Paul McCartney with Sir Elton Jon and Stevie Wonder backstage at the Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012
PA
65/70
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of The Beatles perform onstage during the 56th GRAMMY Awards in 2014
Getty Images
66/70
Sir Paul McCartney and Neil Young perform onstage during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field in 2016
Getty Images
67/70
Paul McCartney performs in 2017
Getty Images
68/70
Sir Paul McCartney joins thousands of people, many of them students, march against gun violence in Manhattan during the March for Our Lives rally in 2018
Getty Images
69/70
Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell following an Investiture ceremony, where he was made a Companion of Honour at Buckingham Palace in 2018
Getty Images
70/70
Sir Paul McCartney performing a free gig at the Cavern Club, Liverpool in 2018
PA
