Eavis: 'Glastonbury was a triumph'

Updated 20.12 Sun Jun 29 2008
Keywords: headline act, festival organiser, line up, Jay-Z, Amy Winehouse, Michael Eavis, Glastonbury

He decides the line-up and takes the criticism with the praise. So what does Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis make of this year's festival so far?

This year's event only just sold out and will be remembered for Eavis' controversial decision to give the main Saturday night headline slot to Jay-Z.

"Such a winner, wasn't it? After all the doom and gloom...for six months, doom and gloom stories. But we finally made it, didn't we? What a triumph, eh?" - Michael Eavis

But, in a blistering performance full of swagger and bombast, the New York rapper hit back at criticism from Oasis' Noel Gallagher by performing his own version of the Oasis hit Wonderwall.

It appeared something of a triumph for Eavis and his daughter, Emily, who said it was about time Glastonbury moved away from predominantly white, guitar-based bands.

Eavis said: "Such a winner, wasn't it? After all the doom and gloom...for six months, doom and gloom stories. But we finally made it, didn't we? What a triumph, eh?"

Brit-pop veterans The Verve will close the festival on the Pyramid Stage, with appearances from pop legends Neil Diamond and Leonard Cohen earlier in the day.

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