How do you think the festival has evolved

[Dog Burger]

I've been going since 1990 and I'd agree with all of that. I miss the late night rigs the most. These days it does feel like you no choice but to head to Arcadia/TC etc if you want music after midnight.

I think the festival reflects the way society has become de-politicised. I'm not sure who you blame for that though. I remember some great Anti-Nazi League and Rock against Racism gigs where you really felt like it was important to be there, and Glastonbury was the same. That all seems to be ebbing away now.

Edited February 12, 2010 by Dog Burger

[Buddhafish]

I'd have given my right arm to have been a Glastonbury-goer when it was so heavily politicised and aligned with the counterculture. I've bored many a friend/girlfriend to tears and argued until I'm blue in the face about the importance of understanding the ethics political history of the festival but like so many people, a lot of those I've gone with in the past haven't really been interested in that and just want to listen to music and have a party (not entirely unpleasant endeavours of course!).

I also agree with you about the loss of the soundsystems. Even in the 12 years since I first went the amount of music as you walk around the markets and stages has dropped significantly.

[Dog Burger]

I always used to feel like I'd properly arrived at Glastonbury whenI took my first walk around the sight and as you moved from each market stall to the next, a fresh, bassy sound thunder of the next soundsytem would hit you in the gut.

Brilliant, your sentence in bold just gave me proper goosebumps! I think it was the fact that the music was 24hrs that gave the place it's 'anything goes' vibe, and it's sorely missed. And more importantly, the various soundsystems meant you were wandering the site, meeting people, making friends (even if just for a few hours!) and getting to know the place and it's culture. Now it's a case of, "<bong> midnight folks, lets all get herded into TC".

I still love the place, but it's a bit like being married. You love the wrinkles and saggy bits just as much as ever, but you can't help looking back at the time when it was all fresh and perky and thinking 'ah, those were the days...'

[Buddhafish]

Why thank you . I'm a writer, it's what I'm paid to do. Ha ha. But seriously, you're right, and what makes me love and appreciate Glastonbury so much is that it still exists and continues to push the boundaries, and expand and diversify what's on offer, despite having to jump through more and more hurdles put in its way by licensing conditions and pressure from various authorities.

[Haggis]

Ah yes, gotcha! Makes sense. Never felt they or large sections of their "fan base" fitted the Glastonbury ethos. God rest their soul...

[Dog Burger]

oh come on, us Pulp fans weren't that bad

[Dog Burger]

Well I've thoroughly enjoyed this anthropological debate. Has certainly made work go quicker this evening! What will we tackle next week? Lasting peace in Northern Ireland? Israel and Palestine? A cure for Katie Price......?

[scudetto_boy]

Since i first went in 1994, there are no travellers now & an increase in wealthier people. No fence jumping, tent thieving/slashing compared to the old days. Far too many police there last year!!

[soledadssl]

I posted the 05 compared to 06 question earlier and I thank all who responded even the jokesters.

Now, I have run across a an 04 for sale actually, 2 of them. Im wondering if anyone can tell me how the 04 measures up. Other than the excess heat issue is there anything else that I should be aware of?

All coments appreciated.

Thanks,

John

[Joshuwarr]

Been twice No monumental changes for me bar the fact that the Leftfield had vanished

[ivan]

I've been going since 1990 and I'd agree with all of that. I miss the late night rigs the most. These days it does feel like you have no choice but to head to Arcadia/TC etc if you want music after midnight.

I think the festival reflects the way society has become de-politicised. I'm not sure who you blame for that though. I remember some great Anti-Nazi League and Rock against Racism gigs where you really felt like it was important to be there, and Glastonbury was the same. That all seems to be ebbing away now.

edit; grammar. duh.

[beodeejay]

Next year will be my 15th year of Glastonbury.

Back "in the day" I went without the kids....but since 98, they have been as well, Family group, camping in one form or another, and since 2002, near the acoustic stage.

2000 was our last year on the hill opposite the pyramid.

Changes are legion - but on the whole needed. I have posted here over the years about taking kids, the scallies, the drugs, the crime etc.....and I think GFL have struck a fine balance between the festival "spirit" and being closed down.

Compared to many other festivals, glastonbury is still a (relatively) wild week - if you want. Many smaller festivals ( Cambridge, Shrewsbury, Shepley etc ) have designated BBQ areas in white painted areas.......and more pro-active stewarding in the camping areas.....no fires, no camping in groups. The "corporate" events herd kids like cattle, use beer tokens, golden passes and are basically not most peoples idea of fun......piss and worse everywhere, and some ar*e burns your tent on Sunday..??? Leeds etc are just a payday for the bands and a "rite of passage" for teens and twenties.

Today, , like it or not, Glastonbury is a major event, and also a place that has "customers" paying probably around £400 500 a head to go....so it can't be like it was, mainly for licensing reasons, but also because £50 for 5 blurry days with your mates is a different proposition to £200 for a big logistical camping trip.

Agree with Neil that the changes to music can be/is overplayed - there is just as much "fringe" stuff going on - but with three biog stages you are going to get a more "radio2 " feel to the line-up.

Policing is, imo, incredible - the fact is a lot still goes on that would land you with a caution/summons/spot fine if it happened on a high street......and thats a society changing not the police. They just apply the rule book ( although I know there are ways and means) BUT....on the whole, I think they quite obvioulsy strive to let people be.....its dealers that get grief, and thieves.

If you take the mickey, youy take a risk....but if you keep yourself to yourself, have aparty with your mates, then the police will leave you well alone, unless you talk to them - which you should.....they love it.

Being fatter, balder and well north of 40, and with teenagers in tow, is very different to being in your 20's and spening 20 hours on the razz........but thats life !!!!

Seriously thinking of retiring this year,............but maybe the end of the next licence round will be the right time to lay down my Burrow Hill cup for the last time, bury the brithers pint pot, and have one last growler.

Shrewsbury Festivals was a reelation last year - very civilised, great music, loads of real ale, and i took a guitar and mandolin without worrying some git would burn them !!

Roll on June :-)

Edited February 13, 2010 by beodeejay

[ivan]

Its true what you say about the Police !

A few years ago around 8.00 am I was walking back to my tent at big ground , somewhat worse

for chemical wear , but really happy.

Two Policeman asked if I was OK and I knew where my tent was , somewhat concerned for me .

"Aye ! do see you that blue SUZKUKI RIZLA SUPERBIKES flag ? , thats where my tent is ! "

I told em I was off for tea and breakfast first, up near the cash machines and we all walked up

together !

[THEBOILERMAN]

[

first went in 81,

cha-cha-changes.....!

there has been a few, far too many to mention them all.

a few major ones.

people i go with,

first year 4 of us in a moggie minor van loaded down with home made wine and opium laced black. hassled and seached by the old bill on the way in (didn`t find any thing)

next few years the group gradually got bigger but by late 80`s early 90`s dwindled down to just me ,wife and 2 others.

late ninties early "0`s" mostly just with just the wife.

2005-2008 on my own.

last year went with gf, a mate who i went with in 81 and who had not been since 85, my daughter, his son and about 16 of there friends (all 17-19 year olds!)

this year 15 of us in a hired minibus, 11 of them are people i met through these boards.

the site.

2 major changes

not being able to camp next to the car

the super fence.

the vibe

Glastonbury is now 6 festivals in one, the orignal fest vibe can still be found although that has mellowed and is not so polictal.

the music,

whilst the pyramid may be more main stream there is such a huge range that there is always somthing speacial to listen to. (steve hillage and gong at the glade stage last year)

inspite of the way the fest has evolved, for one week of the year there is still no place better on earth to wander around at 3am in the morning with a cider in one hand a J in the other and chat to your fellow man.

[Pipkins]

First went in 86. Will be going this year and have only missed 3 years over that period.

The eighties were basically Woodstock in Somerset. It was a case of anything goes. Trail bikes riding around the site, naked people everywhere. Filth and general mayhem. When people say there were drugs openly on sale, it was just that. The top half of the pyramid field was row after row of market stalls. Inbetween your food/record/clothing/bootleg stalls (more of the bootlegs in a minute) there would be coutless drug stalls. These would have menus on blackboards of just about anything you wanted, heroin, speed, LSD, coke. Most of the drug stalls were run/protected by yardies with machetees. Not the best atmosphere for a non-drug user such as me.

One sad change has been the bootlegs. Obviously we've moved towards streaming and CDs, but nothing could beat waiting by the back of a van waiting for your cassette of Van Morisson's set to be run off! This would be complete, with cover, within half an hour or so of the gig finishing!

The bad points over the years? Only one, really - the influx of scousers in 2000(?). A thoroughly dangerous feel to the festival that no one was safe from. Prejudist? you wouldn't say so if you had been there.

The best? L Cohen, Richie Havens in the acoustic tent (after the wonderful Be Good Tanyas), Richard Thompson (main stage then followed by a set in the acoustic tent), L Wainwright III, Tony Bennett, Robert Plant (main stage) and seeing The Velvet Underground on main stage! There are others, but my mind's gone blank.

Good times... good times...

[pman]

First went in 86. Will be going this year and have only missed 3 years over that period.

The eighties were basically Woodstock in Somerset. It was a case of anything goes. Trail bikes riding around the site, naked people everywhere. Filth and general mayhem. When people say there were drugs openly on sale, it was just that. The top half of the pyramid field was row after row of market stalls. Inbetween your food/record/clothing/bootleg stalls (more of the bootlegs in a minute) there would be coutless drug stalls. These would have menus on blackboards of just about anything you wanted, heroin, speed, LSD, coke. Most of the drug stalls were run/protected by yardies with machetees. Not the best atmosphere for a non-drug user such as me.

The bad points over the years? Only one, really - the influx of scousers in 2000(?). A thoroughly dangerous feel to the festival that no one was safe from. Prejudist? you wouldn't say so if you had been there.

Good times... good times..

[Pipkins]

To be honest, the early years were very, very peaceful. Most people were out of their heads on one thing or another which probably helped keep it relaxed. As a teenager then, and a not so teenager and parent now, I'm glad uniformed police are at the festival. They were always there undercover anyway.

One big change is forgot to mention is the ticket situation. Never paid for many years. It was a case of walk through the hedge. No heavy security, everyone turned a blind eye to it (even Eavis). When they clamped down a bit more it was simply a case of get a wristband off someone already in the festival (after buying one from somebody going home early on the first day - don't ask why - it just happened!) then taking the second wristband back out to get the next person in - and so on.

I never, ever, I stress, jumped the fence or damaged a fence. In the early days it really was a case of (natural) large holes in hedges. Now I simply pay large sums of money to Seetickets and they arrange for a golden ticket to be delivered to my door.

BTW - the only thing that could improve GB from now on...?

Simon and Garfunkel headlining mainstage (preceded by Yusef Islam and Kate Bush).

Edited February 13, 2010 by Pipkins

[jbutcher]

This ia a quality thread, love reading peoples old stories from the 80's and 90's before my mates or I went... Ive seem some photos and it sounds wild! Keep em coming...

Second the Kate Bush request!

[Sabcully]

Can't earn a tenner anymore by putting up a ladder against the fence or digging a hole

for people to drag themselves through the mud to get in.

Not that I ever did that...!

[beamends]

To be honest, the early years were very, very peaceful. Most people were out of their heads on one thing or another which probably helped keep it relaxed. As a teenager then, and a not so teenager and parent now, I'm glad uniformed police are at the festival. They were always there undercover anyway.

One big change is forgot to mention is the ticket situation. Never paid for many years. It was a case of walk through the hedge. No heavy security, everyone turned a blind eye to it (even Eavis). When they clamped down a bit more it was simply a case of get a wristband off someone already in the festival (after buying one from somebody going home early on the first day - don't ask why - it just happened!) then taking the second wristband back out to get the next person in - and so on.

I never, ever, I stress, jumped the fence or damaged a fence. In the early days it really was a case of (natural) large holes in hedges. Now I simply pay large sums of money to Seetickets and they arrange for a golden ticket to be delivered to my door.

BTW - the only thing that could improve GB from now on...?

Simon and Garfunkel headlining mainstage (preceded by Yusef Islam and Kate Bush).

[LusciousLucy]

95 was my first and sunniest. I relent the loss of the soundsystems the most. I hate being herded along the railway tracks to SL/LV/TC (although after attending for so many years now I know how to avoid the queues using short cuts and can get across site bloody quicky) and I really hate the London-esque approach to the late night venues where you have to queue or pay to get into!

I loved the soundsystems, there were so many to choose from. Some were teeny and some were huge and an awesome late night party place. Such a shame the markets are so quite and dark at night now.

Also the bad attitude from the late night security teams is getting unpleasant these days. They are really rather heavy handed in the epic queue systems and cant take a joke/gentle ribbing.

The muppet attitude from an awful lot of newer attendees these days. Very young, rude and seem to only ever been to V before and bring their silly attitudes with them. They cant take a joke or a simple Glasto wind up either, dont understand or get what Glasto is really about and then when they cant handle it get shitty with those around them! Not nice or pleasant at all.

Fancy dress was far more inventive in the early Noughties and late 90s. Not many stag parties and certainly not endless hordes of superheroes!