"It's all been a long story of excitement": Michael Eavis turns 90

17th October 2025

To mark the 90th birthday of Sir Michael Eavis, we caught up with the Festival’s creator at home in Pilton. (Photo Rik Mav)

So here we are Michael, your 90th birthday interview!

That’s right!

How are you feeling?

I feel very well actually. It all feels like the culmination of more than 50 years of work.

You could never have imagined you’d be turning 90 having created the greatest festival in the world.

No, it’s pretty incredible. It’s been really good, though. It’s all been a long story of excitement. That’s probably what’s keeping me going!

This year’s Festival was a good one.

It was, wasn’t it? My top act was Neil Young on the Saturday night. He was so good. He really loves performing here and he played such a great set.

And now the Festival has a fallow year?

It does – but we’re keeping busy. I’ve seen both Joe Rush and Arcadia in the last week, which gave me great pleasure as I still really enjoy working with such creative people.

And how’s the farm going?

It’s doing bloody well actually. The milk is all going to Wyke Farms to make our cheddar which they sell in the Co-op.

You could never have imagined that either – Worthy Farm cheddar being available in hundreds of shops across Britain.

I know, it’s amazing. Actually, a couple of years ago, we went to Scotland on the train. When we got off in Glasgow, there was a Co-op shop just over the road. So I decided to pop across just to see if they had the cheese.

And did they?

They did! It was all over the shelves! Isn’t that wonderful?

If you had to give some advice to your 35-year-old self, just as he was starting the Festival, what would you say?

I think the main thing is that, in those days, I was always at war with the council and the village and the local magistrates and the police. And it came good. Which is extraordinary, really. But the fight was really what made it work, there’s no doubt about that. It was certainly worth it!

Do you have a favourite of all the Festivals since 1970?

Do you know, I always think that the most recent one is the best one. I really do. But there really were all kinds of threats to its existence over the years. The chairman of the magistrates once said to me, “If you do this again, you’ve had it”. And now look at it!

At this point, it feels like you could put a million tickets on sale and they’d still sell out.

They probably would!

And yet the Festival still very much stands for something.

Oh absolutely. There will always be a political angle there. And I think people expect that.

Do you think your Methodism is key to that?

I’m sure it is.

It’s an incredible legacy for a Somerset dairy farmer. Not only have you created Glastonbury Festival, but you’ve given countless millions to charity and even built 52 social houses in Pilton to make sure local people can afford to live in the village.

Gary Lineker came to open the houses, and he really saw the value of them. He did a lovely interview about them and it went everywhere. I think my mother would be proud of me for the houses too. They look lovely on a sunny day. I drive that way out of the village, you know, and I see the sun shining out on them and think, “How did all this happen?”.

So what are your plans for your actual birthday?

I’m having a party in the village, with family and local people. The plan is to sing three songs with my band.

Oh, do you know which three?

Yes, but it’s a secret, really.

One of them has to be My Way.

That’s a good guess!

You definitely have done it your way!

Ha! Yeah, I think it would be fair to say that.