I think for many of the old-schoolers it's a combination or rather the culmination of ticket-hoop-jumping, international ticket crappiness, coach crappiness, followed by shite weather, lack of facilities to ease the impact of mud and overcrowding, (I could go on!) all being considerably rubbed in when having put up with all that and people being stuck in the car parks with no facilities which previously would have been brought in, the festival had a fair chunk more cash (16% price increase plus extra tickets) which clearly wasn't used to help negate the weather effects even to the level of previous years.
Nothing else is that HARD to get to, then it's hard work to raise that "Dunkirk spirit" day after day for the week, and year after year just recently. When you add it all up, (and you see posts every year of folk doing just that), in time, effort and money, and take into account most of us have limited annual leave, it's not so much being upset by Michael's comments as feeling he/it's gone too far downhill to get back to something where all the effort is worthwhile even if it's guaranteed to be 26 degrees the entire month of June. It's not the mud, Michael's comments or t-day stress, it's all of it. You need some very major plus points to be motivated to go, or less negatives. I'm as stubborn as fuck, but there's a lot more negatives/effort required for me to go than you***, so I'll forego the misery of all that and put up with going out on a muddy one. Everyone's reasons to go/not go are different and equally valid to them. My decision was actually made before last year's festival so neither Michael's comments nor the weather had an influence. The only thing that's surprised me is just how many of the die-hards feel the same way, but didn't realise it until there/leaving or weren't there and didn't feel half as bad about it as they expected.
William: WHY was the mud a nightmare last year? We've had mud more years than not recently and still kept going. Why wasn't it a nightmare previously?
***I realise the international thing doesn't seem that major, but try doing it sometime!
You posting from overseas blues?
You make some fair and interesting points, but in answer to your specfic question about why Mudbath 2007 was so particularly hellish for me after so many other ones in the past, well paolo's answered that really. Last year was for me the worst Glasto mudbath EVER, only rivalled in Somme like hellishness by 1985 (so I hear), 1997 and 1998 -- and in the latter two years I was 34 and 35! I'd say 2007 was even worse than 1998 because, yes, there were far more people, and unlike in 98, the weather got steadily worse as time went on. Last year, the very worst mud built up on Sunday and Monday when people were already exhausted after 5 days of partying, getting caned, mudtrudging (most of the time), and (worst of all) sitting down being at such a total premium. And all this on top of 2004 and 2005, neither a TOTAL mudbath, neither nearly as bad as 2007, but both pretty skanky at times .... I'm resilient, I know how to enjoy and party and make the best of things, I'm experienced, and bring the right protective clothes, but BLIMEY was my longest holiday of the year in 2007 hard work towards the end!! Didn't help I suppose that last June I was going through a pretty bad phase personally .... but sunshine and NO MUD would have assuaged that
so much better ....
I think I would feel seriously depressed if I failed to go this year and it was a sundrenched scorcher. Fuck me I'm owed!
I don't especially give a shit about the lineup, I always found the best things further down the bill on smaller stages anyway, and I'm already hearing good names being mentioned (for me things like King Blues, Slackers, Pama International, 3 Daft Monkeys etc etc and everyone else will have completely other preferences, there's so much for everyone). And there's lots more to come. If people don't like Jay Z they can see Massive Attack or loads of other stuff instead anyway . Leonard Cohen is a legend and this is a unique chance to see him. Can't wait to see Jimmy Cliff again and he WILL bring sunshine back
. We'll be working this year for the first time -- new perspective, fresh outlook. Commerciality, well aspects of that are well shit, but there's STILL vast quantities of the less/non commercial stuff at Glasto. Lost Vagueness being shit last year? True, but it's been sacked and it's replacement looks VERY promising. Mainstream/conventional attituded crowds? I've always been less judgemental about that than some, if you go with as positive and open and friendly an attitude as possible, you will always meet/chat to/spend time with congenial positive people who bring something new to the party. Twats are easily enough avoided.
I think paolo's right just above, give us a modicum of sunshine and an absence of mud, and Glastonbury 2008 could well be a total winner, entirely contrary to all the jaded doom and gloom sayers who have IMO become far too locked into not just making legit criticisms (many of which I agree with) but writing the whole thing off and being almost incapable of saying
anything positive about it any more -- I find such negativity really sad and annoying to the point of tedium be honest! And you know that's not at all because I think Michael Eavis/Glastonbury are beyond criticism or anything.
If you don't come, enjoy your other festivals (many of which I'll also be at, being lucky enough for an either/or decision not to be necessary this year). If you do head Pilton way, enjoy Glastonbury -- it's still fucking brilliant IMO, EVEN after last year!
Still needs old schoolers around, just doing me Festographer job!
For the 13th time in Glasto's case and I'm not jaded ...
) but I thought you could just tell in the film which bits had been shot in this century - the background Hooray Henry & Henrietta count was far higher.
) because they're posh loud twats ... but they're easily avoided and much outnumbered.
