Pyramid Stage birthday?

[oliver_sb85]

Does anyone happen to know the exact date the new Pyramid Stage was opened in 2000? Around Easter time I think? It was apparently baptised with a pail of Worthy Farm milk by Robert Plant and Michael Eavis.

 

We should send a birthday card!

[Gnomicide]

It was announced as new stage was coming on March 28th.

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/00/000328a.shtml

 

I've nor seen anything about it being good christened. 

[stuie]

Interesting and thought provoking first post! 

Welcome to the madness. 

 

Was it born:

 

- when the structure was completed? 

- when they put the cover on? 

- when the first notes were played on it? 

 

🙂 

[dotdash79]

15 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

It was announced as new stage was coming on March 28th.

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/00/000328a.shtml

 

I've nor seen anything about it being good christened. 

If you look for the documentary Glastonbury Man it has a clip of it. 

[CaledonianGonzo]

Yeah - I think the footage is also in the Julien Temple film.

[tarw]

24 minutes ago, stuie said:

Interesting and thought provoking first post! 

Welcome to the madness. 

 

Was it born:

 

- when the structure was completed? 

- when they put the cover on? 

- when the first notes were played on it? 

 

🙂 

Wasn’t it a cattle shed for planning reasons that just happened to have a stage on top?

 

If so I think when it was christened as a stage or first note

[stuartbert two hats]

36 minutes ago, tarw said:

Wasn’t it a cattle shed for planning reasons that just happened to have a stage on top?

 

If so I think when it was christened as a stage or first note

Not this one.  This is at least the third incarnation, depending how you count it possibly the fourth or fifth.  

 

There were the original rickety ones from the 70s.  No idea  if there was any continuity from 70, 71 and 79.  I'm guessing a different stage every year.

There was the one with the CND logo on it that was a cow shed, built in 81.

Then that burnt down in 94 so was replaced by a super-generic stage from 94-99.

Then the current Pyramid was built for the 2000 festival, which we still have today and is a little small for the crowds it get IMHO.

 

https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/glastonbury-festival-1981.html

Edited February 27, 2025 by stuartbert two hats

[GhostOfMaurice]

I wassailed the Pyramid Stage once. True fact.

[gooner1990]

16 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

It was announced as new stage was coming on March 28th.

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/00/000328a.shtml

 

I've nor seen anything about it being good christened. 

 

There was a clip of it in the 'Glastonbury Man' documentary on BBC2 that was filmed during the run up to the 2000 festival.

 

Broadcast - BBC Programme Index

 

 

Edited February 28, 2025 by gooner1990

[henry bear]

*controversial opinion 

 

I do think it’s time for an upgrade - it now looks like a relic from a bygone area. Make it a bit bigger and more contemporary, with wraparound screens etc

[stuartbert two hats]

5 minutes ago, henry bear said:

*controversial opinion 

 

I do think it’s time for an upgrade - it now looks like a relic from a bygone area. Make it a bit bigger and more contemporary, with wraparound screens etc

I've been saying the same thing for years.  Apparently there are geographical limits to how big that stage can be, I believe the tree next to it is part of the problem and possibly the slopes.  But I still agree - they can make it bigger and it really could do with something to make it more impressive, especially since the Other Stage upgrade 10 years ago has made Pyramid the second biggest stage on site.

[incident]

23 minutes ago, henry bear said:

*controversial opinion 

 

I do think it’s time for an upgrade - it now looks like a relic from a bygone area. Make it a bit bigger and more contemporary, with wraparound screens etc

 

Rebuild it to a similar design, but big enough so it meets current standards for touring productions, yes.

 

But wraparound screens etc? No, that would only make it less of a Pyramid / less distinctive. Save stuff like that for the Other Stage which is already generic enough.

[Crazyfool01]

Presumably extending it in the same format would require planning consent ? Unless they had a removable structure but also think it’s iconic that it stays there all year round . So my preference would be to stick with that . We know the issues they had with Arcadia crane also 

[incident]

1 hour ago, Crazyfool01 said:

Presumably extending it in the same format would require planning consent ? Unless they had a removable structure but also think it’s iconic that it stays there all year round . So my preference would be to stick with that . We know the issues they had with Arcadia crane also 

 

Technically, the current structure is supposed to be removable, and I believe the original planning permission (when it existed as a standalone thing, before it got folded into the wider Festival application) said that the stage should be taken down every year between festivals. Though I think that's only actually happened once or twice since it was built, and not in the last 15 (or more) years.

[Someoni]

Time for the Glastonbury Sphere/Prism 

[GhostOfMaurice]

Solidly against all this tosh. It's fine as it is. If it starts to sink I to the mud, do something. If not, leave it be.

[stuie]

+1 for leave it as it is please. 

 

It's one of the most iconic and instantly recognised stages in the world.

 

It's would be like rebuilding the Eiffel Tower, because there are now other bigger towers in the world.  It's not even the biggest tower in France anymore etc. 

[henry bear]

It’s more like Blackpool Tower 

[Skip997]

It’s fine as it is and surprisingly big if you’re actually stood on it. 
 

The issue ain’t the stage itself. 

[Sawdusty surfer]

@Skip997 Tried to message you but it says that you're not accepting messages. Inbox full?

[Skip997]

5 minutes ago, Sawdusty surfer said:

@Skip997 Tried to message you but it says that you're not accepting messages. Inbox full?

I’ll have a look 

[Skip997]

@Sawdusty surfer

 

Try again I’ve cleared some space 

[GhostOfMaurice]

21 hours ago, Skip997 said:

It’s fine as it is and surprisingly big if you’re actually stood on it. 
 

The issue ain’t the stage itself. 

 

That brings visions of someone standing with one foot on the very pointy top of it and saying "err yeah, pretty big" 😅

[Skip997]

😁

[mph]

From 2000 programme