NEIL Young reportedly had to use a cheat sheet during his Glastonbury headline set to remember the lyrics to some of his most famous songs.
Rock legend Neil, 79, is believed to have been seen glancing at a printed song sheet during the final 25 minutes of his 110-minute Pyramid Stage performance on Saturday night.
Neil Young reportedly had to use a cheat sheet during his Glastonbury headline set[/caption]
Audience members say they saw the musician checking the lyrics during renditions of Old Man and Name of Love as the show drew to a close.
One festivalgoer told MailOnline: “You’d think he would know the words by now, he has been singing these songs for years.
“But maybe it’s difficult to play the piano and remember the lyrics.”
Neil – one of the oldest artists ever to headline Glastonbury – performed a set packed with hits including Rockin’ in the Free World and Throw Your Hatred Down.
However, the performance appeared to attract a smaller crowd than previous Saturday night headliners, with some attendees noting that the field in front of the Pyramid Stage was unusually sparse.
One wrote on social media: “So empty at Neil Young,” while another added: Pyramid stage field isn’t even a quarter full by the looks of it.”
The appearance marked his first Glastonbury performance since 2009.
Neil had initially turned down this year’s offer, criticising the BBC’s involvement with the festival and claiming it was “under corporate control”.
Representatives for Neil and Glastonbury have been contacted for comment.
But that wasn’t Neil’s only trouble during the gig.
The Canadian rock veteran also had difficulties with his microphone throughout the set.
He opened his show with 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.
“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.
The rock legend is believed to have been seen glancing at a printed song sheet[/caption]
At 89, Neil is one of the oldest artists ever to headline Glastonbury[/caption]
