Glastonbury Festival organizer Michael Eavis has urged non-paying spectators to stay away from this year’s event, as a repeat of previous ground-invasions will cause the long-running U.K. festival to draw to a close. “I’ve put 31 years into this [event] — we’ve always seen running the show as a real challenge and you don’t give it up so readily,” Eavis tells Billboard.com. Last year’s event was canceled amid security concerns at the grounds in Southwest England.
The 2002 edition of the event was given the green light yesterday (Jan. 24) when the regulatory board of Mendip District Council approved an application for a public entertainment license over the period June 28-30, at a cost of some £46,000. A spokesperson says more than £1,000,000 has been spent on upgrading security and safety measures for this year’s festival. A retaining fence over 3.5 meters high with anti-tunneling measures and an overhang to prevent climbing will be implemented.
Eavis says “hundreds or thousands” of calls had been received by this afternoon on behalf of artists wishing to perform at this year’s event. Rod Stewart and Roger Waters are among the early confirmations.
reprinted from www.billboard.com