Neil Young, 79, branded ‘worst headliner ever’ by furious BBC Glastonbury viewers as music fans slam ‘dire’ performance
Legendary rocker Neil Young has come under fire for what many critics called a lacklustre headline performance at Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage on Saturday.
At 79, Young took to the stage with his band, the Chrome Hearts, opening with Sugar Mountain, but left many fans disappointed.
Earlier this year, Young had initially declined the offer to headline, citing objections to Glastonbury’s new partnership with the BBC. In an open letter, he wrote: “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all‑time favourite outdoor gigs.
“We were told the BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way that we were not interested in.
“It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. … We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn‑off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.”
Young eventually agreed to perform, and it emerged he had requested that his set not be broadcast.
However, in a surprise move, the BBC announced it would air his set live on iPlayer’s Pyramid Stage stream, BBC Two, and Radio 2 at 10pm.
A BBC spokesman 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.”
Despite the buzz, social media reactions painted a starkly negative picture.
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One viewer wrote on X: “They will do well to beat this as one of the worst Saturday night Pyramid slots in history. F***ing dire. #Glastonbury.”
Another echoed: “Watched a few minutes of this Neil Young man, this is like the worst thing I’ve ever seen and heard.”
A third wrote: “It’s a no from me! Neil Young should not be headlining! Terrible!”
Others questioned the decision to have Young in the top slot after strong performances earlier in the night, with one person writing: “He’s a legend, obviously, but not sure Neil Young is the right energy for a Saturday night headline slot.”
Another added: “Why is Neil Young even there? Let alone headlining – after Raye and Pulp.”
Even devoted fans expressed reservations, with one writing: “I’m a Neil Young fan but not sure about this…….. #Glastonbury”
Despite the backlash, some fans defended the legend, with one fan saying: “Neil Young is nearly 80. Clearly not in his absolute prime (that was Harvest in 1972) but in fairness a lot better than most acts of his age both vocally and instrumentally. #Glastonbury.”
The BBC has long broadcast performances from Glastonbury Festival across its television and radio platforms.
Young’s last appearance at the event, in 2009, was included in the coverage, though only select portions were aired due to objections from his team.
In response to fans’ frustration at the limited coverage, the BBC explained that it had been in ongoing discussions with Young’s representatives.
They added: “Neil Young’s career has been conducted on his own terms. Neil’s management agreed to let TV and radio broadcast five songs as they watched and listened to his performance.
“They believe in the live event and retaining its mystery and that of their artist.”