Michael Eavis

Eavis was born in Pilton, Somerset{{cite web |url=http://www.bandcstaffregister.co.uk/page3334.html |title=Michael Eavis |access-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210181714/http://www.bandcstaffregister.co.uk/page3334.html |archive-date=10 December 2015}} on 17 October 1935,{{Cite web |title=Michael Eavis News {{!}} Photos {{!}} Quotes {{!}} Video {{!}} Wiki - UPI.com |url=https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael_Eavis/ |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}} and grew up at Worthy Farm in the village. His father was a dairy farmer and also a Methodist local preacher, and his mother a school teacher. Eavis was educated at Wells Cathedral School, followed by the Thames Nautical Training College in Greenhithe, Kent, after which he joined the Union-Castle Line, part of the British Merchant Navy, as a trainee midshipman. His plan was to spend twenty years at sea, and return with a pension to help subsidise the income from the family farm.

After his father died when Eavis was 19, he inherited the family farm of {{convert|150|acre|ha}} and 60 cows.{{cite news|url= http://arts.guardian.co.uk/glastonbury2005/story/0,,1509864,00.html|title=Far-out man|last=Smith |first=David|work=The Guardian|date=19 June 2005|access-date=28 June 2008 | location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305225705/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jun/19/popandrock.glastonbury2005|archive-date=5 March 2014}} He worked at Mendip Colliery at Nettlebridge or New Rock colliery at Stratton-on-the-Fosse on the Somerset Coalfield for a couple of years to help supplement the income from the farm.{{cite news|last1=Benson|first1=Richard|title='Why haven't you booked me for the Pyramid stage?': Michael Eavis answers famous festivalgoers' questions|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/22/michael-eavis-glastonbury-questions-jarvis-cocker-john-humphrys-kelis|access-date=23 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=22 June 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Norbury|first1=Suzanne|title=Glastonbury Festival's Michael Eavis joins former coal miners in Radstock|url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/glastonbury-festival-s-michael-eavis-joins-former-coal-miners-in-radstock-pictures/story-29689606-detail/story.html|access-date=6 September 2016|work=Somerset Live|date=6 September 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907154644/http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/glastonbury-festival-s-michael-eavis-joins-former-coal-miners-in-radstock-pictures/story-29689606-detail/story.html|archive-date=7 September 2016}}

Eavis and his first wife Ruth had three children, Juliet, Rebecca and Jane, but divorced in 1964. He next married Jean Hayball, with whom he had a son, Patrick, and a daughter, Emily. Jean died of cancer in 1999, and Eavis has since married his third wife, Liz. In common with his parents and second wife, Eavis remains a practising Methodist,{{cite news |last1=McGrath |first1=Nick |title=Michael Eavis: My family values |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/07/michael-eavis-glastonbury-festival-family-values |access-date=16 July 2018 |work=The Guardian|date=7 June 2013}} although he has also stated that he is "not really bothered" about the existence of God.{{cite web |url=https://thirdway.hymnsam.co.uk/editions/septemberoctober-2015/high-profile/down-on-jollity-farm.aspx |title=Down on Jollity Farm |last=Turner |first=Steve |date=22 July 2015 |website=Third Way|access-date=11 July 2020}} He is a teetotaler and does not smoke.

{{Main|Glastonbury Festival}}

File:Michael-Eavis-Glastonbury-2005-2.jpg

In 1969, Eavis and his second wife Jean visited the Bath Festival of Blues. Inspired by seeing the performance of Led Zeppelin, Eavis hosted the Pilton Pop Folk & Blues Festival in 1970. The following year a free festival, Glastonbury Fayre, was organised by Andrew Kerr and associates. It later developed into Glastonbury Festival.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/andrew-kerr-writer-and-festival-organiser-the-man-who-helped-make-glastonbury-festival-a-stunning-9783179.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311131614/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/andrew-kerr-writer-and-festival-organiser-the-man-who-helped-make-glastonbury-festival-a-stunning-9783179.html |archive-date=11 March 2016|url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Andrew Kerr, writer and festival organiser: The man who helped make Glastonbury Festival a stunning success|last=Williamson|first=Marcus|date=8 October 2014|newspaper=The Independent|accessdate=29 August 2020}}

In 2010, the festival's 40th year, he appeared on the main stage at the festival with headline artist Stevie Wonder, to sing the chorus of the latter's "Happy Birthday".

File:Jeremy-Corbyn-Michael-Eavis-Glastonbury-Cropped.jpg and Michael Eavis together on the Pyramid Stage at the 2017 Glastonbury Festival]]

Eavis has credited a number of influences for his political views, including traditions of nonconformity in his family, as well as his time as a miner, during which he was a member of the National Union of Mineworkers. During the early 1980s he was involved in establishing a local branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and subsequently agreed to make the Glastonbury Festival a fundraiser for CND, as it was from 1981 to 1987.{{cite journal |last1=Ihde |first1=Erin|year=2015 |title=Do not panic: Hawkwind, the Cold War and "the imagination of disaster" |journal=Cogent Arts & Humanities |volume=2 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/23311983.2015.1024564 |doi-access=free}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cnd-want-to-hear-your-memories-of-glastonbury-2613869 |title=The CND wants to hear your memories of Glastonbury |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=24 February 2020 |website=NME |access-date=11 July 2020}}

After recovering from stomach cancer, Eavis stood as a candidate for the Labour Party in the 1997 general election in Wells, polling 10,204 votes.{{cite news|title=Wells Constituency|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/1414/wells |work=The Guardian|access-date=28 September 2010|location=London}} In 2004, however, he suggested that disillusioned Labour voters should switch their vote to the Green Party in protest at the Iraq War,{{cite web |last1=Yates |first1=Victoria |title=Michael Eavis |url=https://www.leader-values.com/leader.php?lid=77 |publisher=Leader Values |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717012855/https://www.leader-values.com/leader.php?lid=77 |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=dead}} though he returned to supporting the Labour Party in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Topping |first1=Alexandra |title=Glastonbury 2010: Q&A with Michael Eavis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/30/glastonbury-michael-eavis-twitter-questions |access-date=16 July 2018 |work=The Guardian|date=30 April 2010}}

In 2005, Eavis was quoted in The Guardian as being a supporter of hunting. "I don't hunt myself, but I support the people who want to hunt. With all that's going on in the world, it was outrageous to ban it."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/30/hunting.election2005 |title=Hunt is on for poll scalps but rural vote has other concerns |work=The Guardian |first=Duncan |last=Campbell |date=30 April 2005}} In 2006, he was appointed as President of the Somerset Chamber of commerce and Industry.{{cite journal |date=December 2006 |title= Business News – Eavis for President |journal=Mendip Times |volume=2 |issue=7 |page=8}}

In 2011, Eavis was quoted as lamenting the decline in political activity associated with the Glastonbury Festival.{{cite news|title=Glastonbury's radical roots will return, says Michael Eavis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/18/glastonbury-radical-roots-michael-eavis |work=The Guardian|access-date=25 June 2011|location=London|first=Rowenna|last=Davis|date=18 June 2011}} He was guest editor of the Western Daily Press newspaper on Glastonbury's 'fallow' weekend, 23 June 2012.{{cite web|title=Michael Eavis: Glastonbury Festival's year off is about rest, regeneration and action|url=http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Michael-Eavis-Glastonbury-Festival-s-year-rest/story-16439406-detail/story.html|work=This is Somerset|access-date=5 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626144153/http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Michael-Eavis-Glastonbury-Festival-s-year-rest/story-16439406-detail/story.html|archive-date=26 June 2012}}

Eavis invited Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to appear at the 2017 festival, introducing the Run the Jewels' set. Eavis supported Corbyn's anti-nuclear and anti-austerity policies, saying "he's got something new and precious, and people are excited about it. He really is the hero of the hour."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/16/jeremy-corbyn-pyramid-stage-glastonbury-festival-2017|title=Jeremy Corbyn to appear on Pyramid stage at Glastonbury festival 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=16 June 2017|access-date=18 June 2017}}

Eavis has apportioned profits from his Glastonbury Festival to support charitable causes, including local projects such as the restoration of the Tithe Barn, Pilton.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/glastonbury2003/04/tithe_barn.shtml|title=Michael Eavis talks|work=BBC Somerset|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 November 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://archive.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/+12thcenturytithe/index.html|title=12th Century Tithe Barn Restored with the Help of the Festival|date=29 April 2009|publisher=Glastonbury Festival|access-date=2 November 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204151544/http://archive.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/+12thcenturytithe/index.html|archive-date=4 December 2008}} In November 2008, during an appearance on the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs, Eavis stated that the Festival could never lose its licence due to the contribution it makes to the local economy.{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7757380.stm | title=Glastonbury licence 'is assured' | date= 30 November 2008 |work= BBC News | access-date= 30 November 2008}}

In 2009, Eavis starred in a short film to promote Somerset, commissioned by Inward Investment Agency Into Somerset.{{cite web|title=Into Somerset Launches New Online Celebrity Film|url=http://www.intosomerset.co.uk/news/into-somerset-launches-new-online-celebrity-film-145.htm|publisher=Into Somerset|access-date=2 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115525/http://www.intosomerset.co.uk/news/into-somerset-launches-new-online-celebrity-film-145.htm|archive-date=14 July 2014}}

Eavis served as vice-president (alongside Rebecca Pow MP) of Somerset Wildlife Trust until June 2018: he stepped down following an online petition criticising his support for badger culling. In response to the petition, Eavis claimed that signatories "probably live in Kensington" and had "never seen a badger".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-44574137|work=BBC News|title=Glastonbury boss Eavis quits Somerset Wildlife Trust|date=22 June 2018}}

File:Michael Eavis' Wellington Boots.jpg on display at the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading]]

Eavis holds honorary degrees from the University of Bath (Doctor of Arts honoris causa, 2004){{cite web|title=Michael Eavis – Honorary Graduates – December 2004|url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/archive/2004/12/10/hon04-eavis.html|publisher=University of Bath|access-date=2 July 2014}} and the University of Bristol (Master of Arts honoris causa, 2006).{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cms/go/hon-degree/Feb/feb-eavis.html |title=Bristol University | Public and Ceremonial Events Office | Honorary degrees |publisher=University of Bristol |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=29 June 2014}} In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6758183.stm |title=Rushdie and Eavis lead honours |work=BBC News |date=15 June 2007}} He was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to music and charity.{{London Gazette |issue=64269 |date=30 December 2023 |page=N2 |supp=y}}

In 2009 Eavis was nominated by Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1894289_1894264,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503144919/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1894289_1894264,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 May 2009|title=Time magazine Eavis Listing|magazine=Time|access-date=11 June 2009 | date=30 April 2009}} In 2012, he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University for the Creative Arts.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucreative.ac.uk/news/2012/july/honorary-degrees-2012|title=UCA – News|access-date=1 August 2014|archive-date=19 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519114152/http://www.ucreative.ac.uk/news/2012/july/honorary-degrees-2012|url-status=dead}}

In 2015 train operator First Great Western named High Speed Train powercar 43026 Michael Eavis.[https://www.nme.com/news/music/glastonbury-41-1224415 Train to Glastonbury named after festival founder Michael Eavis]. NME, 23 April 2015 After this was withdrawn, 802013 was named after him in April 2019.Wrong IET set at Castle Cary for Glastonbury event founder naming The Railway Magazine issue 1418, May 2019. Page 106

Eavis was awarded the Freedom of the Town of Glastonbury on 3 May 2022.{{cite web |title=Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis on getting the Freedom of the town |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-05-04/can-i-park-for-free-michael-eavis-on-getting-freedom-of-glastonbury |website=ITV News West Country |access-date=8 May 2022 |language=en}}

In early 2024 Eavis was knighted at Windsor Castle, by the Princess Royal, for services to music and charity.{{Cite web |title=Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis to receive knighthood |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4n1e89k0ylo |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

• Max Yasgur, American farmer who hosted the Woodstock Festival in 1969

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{{reflist}}

• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2005/07/21/michael_eavis_interview_feature.shtml Interview with Michael Eavis (July 2005)]
• {{Commons category-inline|Michael Eavis}}

{{Glastonbury Festival}}

{{Historic rock festival}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eavis, Michael}}

Category:1935 births

Category:Living people

Category:British Merchant Navy officers

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:21st-century English farmers

Category:English Methodists

Category:Glastonbury Festival

Category:Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates

Category:People educated at Wells Cathedral School

Category:People from Mendip District

Category:Dairy farmers

Category:Music promoters

Category:English patrons of music

Category:Knights Bachelor