Glastonbury U-turn Prompted By Threat to Hedonism

A Times editorial suggesting Glastonbury Festival's linkup with Mean Fiddler would threaten the event's reputation for "hedonism, eccentricity and spiritual enlightenment" would be compromised, threatened chaos for the festival earlier this week.

Michael Eavis told the paper on Tuesday (February 19) that after reading the article he'd changed his mind about the deal, which Mean Fiddler had already announced on the stock market.

"I would like to work with Melvin (Melvin Benn, Mean Fiddler's MD) but I can't work with the Mean Fiddler," Eavis told the Times.

"I would have lost everything. They would have decided the bands. I would rather not do it at all than sell out."

However, the Times said that Mean Fiddler intended to enforce the deal, which will see them take control of 40% of the festival over 3 years.

By Thursday (February 21) the situation had changed with the Guardian reporting both parties had "reached a fundamental understanding as to what is needed to safeguard the spirit of the Glastonbury festival, while taking the steps necessary to secure its future. The farmer and Mean Fiddler are reported to have completed a five year deal.

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk (Official Site)
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