Neil Young's Glastonbury slot ‘dogged by sound issues' as fans moan about ‘terrible' performance
GLASTONBURY viewers were left underwhelmed by Neil Young's headline performance this evening.
The Canadian rock veteran, 79, is said to have struggled to draw in a crowd for his 10pm slot and then had difficulties with his microphone throughout.
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He opened his set with the song Sugar Mountain, saying "thank you folks" to the crowd as the song ended.
But those watching it were not impressed, with one person commenting: 'Someone tell Neil Young to sing into a microphone.'
A second moaned: 'Sound needs turning up like ffs, he's shredding that axe and you can hardly hear it.'
While a third said: 'Neil young with 48 microphones and none of them able to make his voice sound much beyond a grumble. Glastonbury has had a real hard time with the headliners the last couple of years…'
And a fourth added: 'Watched a few minutes of this Neil Young man, this is like the worst thing I've ever seen and heard, there's only a few hundred people there ffs for a Headliner, why does he sound like that.'
'It's a no from me! Neil Young should not be headlining!Terrible!' raged another.
The star's set was shown live on the BBC after the broadcaster had previously said it would not be transmitted live"at the artist's request".
Earlier on Saturday, a BBC statement said: "We are delighted to confirm that Neil Young's headline set from Glastonbury on Saturday will be broadcast live to audiences across the UK on the BBC."
Neil's performance was not guaranteed as earlier in the year he temporarily pulled out of, claiming it is a "corporate turn-off" due to its broadcast deal with the BBC.
He said on his website: "We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in.
"It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being."
But just days later he did a surprise U-turn, the singer confirmed his slot blaming "an error in the information I received" for him initially turning down the offer.
A statement on his website read: "Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury Festival, which I always have loved.
"Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing. Hope to see you there."
The Sun first reported that the singer was booked to headline Glastonbury, 16 years after he last played on the Pyramid Stage.
Glastonbury 2025 - confirmed acts so far
TICKETS to the 2025 festival sold out in just minutes before some of the acts were even confirmed. Here is who has been confirmed so far.
Confirmed headliners:
The 1975 will take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday.
Neil Young will headline the festival for the second time after his last set in 2009 on Saturday after RAYE makes her return.
Charli xcx will headline the Other Stage on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Olivia Rodrigo is due to belt out her hits for her first appearance while Rod Stewart will perform in the legends slot.
More acts to appear on the Other Stage include Loyle Carner and The Prodigy.
Doechii will make her Glastonbury debut on the West Holts Stage on Saturday night.
Other names confirmed include Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Gracie Abrams, Busta Rhymes, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile, Myles Smith, En Vogue, Amaarae, Cymande, Shaboozey, Osees and Gary Numan.
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