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Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis to step aside for 'new generation'
22 Jun 2009Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis has told of his plans to stand down from his organising role in 2011 to make way for a "new generation."
Eavis said the handover to his daughter Emily, 29, was already under way and he expected "two more full years" at the helm.
The success of American rapper Jay-Z as the festival's headline act last year was a triumph for Eavis's daughter, despite being a controversial move away from the event's rock traditions.
The gathering started off in 1970, with milk thrown in with the £1 ticket price, and now draws tens of thousands of revellers each year.
The festival has had its share of difficulties over the years, including flash floods and gatecrashers swelling numbers.
But 73-year-old Eavis told the Guardian that last year's event, which almost failed to sell out, was his most difficult.
"We could have gone bankrupt," he said.
"I got a cold sweat in the night, which I've never had before. I thought 'I'm killing myself over this'."
Eavis said of his daughter's pleas to bring Jay-Z on to the farm: "I knew she had sensible ideas so I had to go with that.
"It was the last throw of the dice for me."
Eavis and his wife Liz have moved into a new house.
"I'm living on top of the hill now, away from the farm," Eavis told the newspaper.
"So (Emily's) taking over the house, which is nice. A new generation of Eavises can live here."
He added that, despite his last festival being likely to be in 2011: "I still feel I have an important role to play. Even if I go I'll worry about the drains, the rubbish, the recycling."
Reader views (2)
Andrew, do you find it difficult to type without an index finger? I hope you do.
29/7/2008 I remember it clearly, you are a liar.
- Badgers Field, Cotswolds, 23/01/2012 21:22
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What a year,What a festival,what a wonderful experience. Mr Eavis you and your daughter have done it again i don't know how you do it but you do,this was glasto number 12 for me and at 40yrs old its the one place that allows all to forget are worrys and return to the by gone years of are youth( although i always feel 90 when i get home)
BLUR were a master stroke, i have never i all my life seen a band take control of the stage as well as them,The Gallagher brother must have been spitting their Tennants EXTRA out at the tv screen, every song a hit,every song the crowd went nuts,and ever song as fresh as the day they released it and just as important then as it is now.
In a world that seems to be going mental and everyone is worryed about the future i will leave you this. Mr Eavis you had the vision some forty years ago and you stuck with it and have given the British Public a event that shows what we are all about, a good and kind people who come together as one to enjoy music, no trouble,no fighting and everyone enjoying being together( if only you could say that about a normal Saturday in are local towns and city's) the police were cool the bar staff were cool infact everyone is cool the moment they walk through the gates of your wonderfull farm. God Bless you and you daughter and you wonderfull late Wife(who is still their in every corner of the site) i have nothing else to say but THANKS,THANKS ALOT. Andrew Norton-Bendall
- Andrew Norton-Bendall, Cotswold, 30/06/2009 14:35
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