Queen: Brian May says no to Glastonbury for political reasons

Brian May rules out any possibility of seeing Queen on the Glastonbury Festival stage. The reason, the guitarist reiterates, is not musical but political: a long-standing disagreement with the views of festival founder Michael Eavis on badger culling.

In a new interview with the Daily Mail, May explained that the band will not take part in the 2027 edition of the Worthy Farm festival, nor in future ones, unless there's a radical change of course by the organization. "I wouldn't do Glastonbury next year because of the politics of the people who run it. Unless that changes, it's not going to happen", he stated.

The rift between May and Eavis is nothing new. Back in 2019 the guitarist had already ruled out Queen playing the festival, a stance he then confirmed again in 2023. At the heart of the conflict is Eavis's support for badger culling as a measure to contain bovine tuberculosis, a practice May considers “a tragedy and a needless crime against wildlife.” “We've been trying to save these animals for years, and they keep getting killed,” he added. “That's why we're stepping away.”

Over the years, the clash has also turned personal. Eavis, a dairy farmer, has called May "a danger to agriculture", openly criticizing his opposition to wildlife control policies. May is co-founder of the organization Save Me, which campaigns against fox hunting and badger culling, and has long used his public profile to back animal rights causes.

The issue had already caused public fallout back in 2018, when actor Peter Egan, known for "Downton Abbey", promoted a call for music fans and animal rights activists to boycott Glastonbury.

Meanwhile, ahead of Glastonbury 2027, bookmakers have already started taking bets on the possible headliners. Among the most-mentioned names are Sam Fender, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna and Little Simz. The most recent edition of the festival saw The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo headline the Pyramid Stage, with a lineup that also included Charli XCX, Wolf Alice, Rod Stewart, Doechii and Kneecap, plus surprise sets from Pulp, Haim, Lorde and Lewis Capaldi.

Last month Brian May himself made good on his promise, unearthing an unreleased track from the Queen archives. During a radio special broadcast on Planet Rock, the guitarist unveiled for the first time the unreleased “Not For Sale (Polar Bear),” a recording that had until now remained locked away among the band's vintage tapes. May explained that the track dates back to 1974, a pivotal period when the group was working first on “Queen II” and later on “Sheer Heart Attack.” “It's a very old song, but as far as I know this version has never been heard by anyone,” recounted the musician, Freddie Mercury's longtime collaborator. May went on to confirm that “Not For Sale (Polar Bear)” will be included in a forthcoming reissue of “Queen II,” planned for 2026.

Listen to "Not For Sale (Polar Bear)" below.

The track was recorded during the “Queen II” sessions but failed to make the album's final tracklist. Over the years only an unofficial version had circulated, credited to Smile, the pre-Queen band in which May himself played. Originally released on March 8, 1974, “Queen II” is universally regarded as a pivotal step in shaping the band's aesthetic and musical language. It's no coincidence that, on the occasion of its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the album was hailed as a true cornerstone in the British band's history.

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