Neil Young and his band The Chrome Hearts have withdrawn from performing at this year's Glastonbury festival, citing concerns over corporate influence, particularly regarding the BBC's partnership with the event.

In a statement on his official website, Young expressed his disappointment, explaining that the BBC's requests for specific performance requirements conflicted with the band's preferences. "We were told the BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in," Young stated.

Photo Credit: Neil Young by Andy Roo (6tee-zeven) / CC by 2.0

The legendary musician, who previously performed at Glastonbury in 2009, expressed concern that the festival "is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being." While specific details about the BBC's requests were not disclosed, Young thanked his supporters and indicated he would continue with other tour venues.

Glastonbury 2025 is scheduled for June 25-29, with Rod Stewart confirmed as one of the headline performers, marking his first appearance at the festival since 2002. Neither Glastonbury organizers nor the BBC have commented on Young's withdrawal.

This decision follows Young's previous stance against corporate influence in music, notably when he temporarily removed his music from Spotify in 2022 in protest of Joe Rogan's podcast, though his music returned to the platform in March of the following year.

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