Editing Michael Eavis

{{Short description|English farmer, Glastonbury Festival co-creator (born 1935)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]
| name               = Michael Eavis
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}
| image              = Coldplay Glasto24 290624 (224) (53838030769) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Eavis in June 2024
| birth_name         = Athelstan Joseph Michael Eavis
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1935|10|17}}
| birth_place        = [[Pilton, Somerset]], England, UK
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = {{Flatlist|
* Farmer
* businessman
}}
| known_for          = Co-creator of [[Glastonbury Festival]]
| spouse             = 
| parents            = 
| children           = 5, including [[Emily Eavis]]
}}
'''Sir Athelstan Joseph Michael Eavis''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}<ref name="londgazette">{{London Gazette |issue=58358 |date=16 June 2007 |supp=y |page=7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Alex |date=19 June 2022 |title=Michael and Emily Eavis: The father-daughter driving force behind Glastonbury |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/michael-emily-eavis-father-daughter-230100410.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=[[Yahoo News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> (born 17 October 1935) is an English dairy farmer and the co-creator of the [[Glastonbury Festival]], which takes place at his farm in [[Pilton, Somerset]].

== Personal life ==
Eavis was born in [[Pilton, Somerset]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> on 17 October 1935,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Smith">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=benson>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

Eavis and his first wife Ruth had three children, Juliet, Rebecca and Jane, but divorced in 1964.<ref name="Smith" /> He next married Jean Hayball, with whom he had a son, Patrick, and a daughter, [[Emily Eavis|Emily]]. Jean died of cancer in 1999, and Eavis has since married his third wife, Liz.<ref name="Smith" /> In common with his parents and second wife, Eavis remains a practising Methodist,<ref>{{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}}</ref> although he has also stated that he is "not really bothered" about the existence of God.<ref>{{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 (magazine)|Third Way]]|access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref> He is a [[teetotalism|teetotaler]] and does not smoke.<ref name="Smith" />

== Glastonbury Festival ==
{{Main|Glastonbury Festival}}
[[File:Michael-Eavis-Glastonbury-2005-2.jpg|thumb|Michael Eavis in 2005]]
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 (festival co-founder)|Andrew Kerr]] and associates. It later developed into Glastonbury Festival.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 

In 2010, [[Glastonbury Festival 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 (Stevie Wonder song)|Happy Birthday]]".

== Political activity ==
[[File:Jeremy-Corbyn-Michael-Eavis-Glastonbury-Cropped.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jeremy Corbyn]] 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 [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|nonconformity]] in his family, as well as his time as a miner, during which he was a member of the [[National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain)|National Union of Mineworkers]].<ref name=benson /> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

After recovering from stomach cancer, Eavis stood as a candidate for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] in [[Wells (UK Parliament constituency)|Wells]], polling 10,204 votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wells Constituency|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/1414/wells |work=The Guardian|access-date=28 September 2010|location=London}}</ref> In 2004, however, he suggested that disillusioned Labour voters should switch their vote to the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] in protest at the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq War]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> though he returned to supporting the Labour Party in [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2006, he was appointed as President of the [[Somerset]] [[Chamber of commerce]] and Industry.<ref>{{cite journal |date=December 2006 |title= Business News&nbsp;– Eavis for President |journal=Mendip Times |volume=2 |issue=7 |page=8}}</ref>

In 2011, Eavis was quoted as lamenting the decline in political activity associated with the Glastonbury Festival.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He was guest editor of the ''[[Western Daily Press]]'' newspaper on Glastonbury's 'fallow' weekend, 23 June 2012.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Eavis invited Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] to appear at the 2017 festival, introducing the [[Run the Jewels]]' set. Eavis supported Corbyn's [[Anti-nuclear movement in the United Kingdom|anti-nuclear]] and [[Anti-austerity movement in the United Kingdom|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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Charitable work ==
<!-- [[File:Michael Eavis 2021.jpg|thumb|upright|Michael Eavis in 2021]] image needed? -->
Eavis has apportioned profits from his Glastonbury Festival to support charitable causes, including local projects such as the restoration of the [[Tithe Barn, Pilton]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2009, Eavis starred in a short film to promote Somerset, commissioned by Inward Investment Agency [[Into Somerset]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 the United Kingdom|badger culling]]. In response to the petition, Eavis claimed that signatories "probably live in Kensington" and had "never seen a badger".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Honours and tributes ==
[[File:Michael Eavis' Wellington Boots.jpg|thumb|right|A pair of Eavis's [[Wellington boots]] on display at the [[Museum of English Rural Life]] in [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]]]
Eavis holds honorary degrees from the [[University of Bath]] (Doctor of Arts ''honoris causa'', 2004)<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the [[University of Bristol]] (Master of Arts ''honoris causa'', 2006).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cms/go/hon-degree/Feb/feb-eavis.html |title=Bristol University &#124; Public and Ceremonial Events Office &#124; Honorary degrees |publisher=University of Bristol |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=29 June 2014}}</ref> In the [[2007 Queen's Birthday Honours]], he was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) for services to music.<ref name=londgazette /><ref>{{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}}</ref> He was appointed [[Knight Bachelor]] in the [[2024 New Year Honours]] for services to music and charity.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=64269 |date=30 December 2023 |page=N2 |supp=y}}</ref>

In 2009 Eavis was nominated by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2012, he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from the [[University for the Creative Arts]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2015 train operator [[First Great Western]] named [[InterCity 125|High Speed Train]] powercar [[British Rail Class 43 (HST)|43026]] ''Michael Eavis''.<ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/music/glastonbury-41-1224415 Train to Glastonbury named after festival founder Michael Eavis]. ''[[NME]]'', 23 April 2015</ref> After this was withdrawn, [[British Rail Class 802|802013]] was named after him in April 2019.<ref>Wrong IET set at Castle Cary for Glastonbury event founder naming ''[[The Railway Magazine]]'' issue 1418, May 2019. Page 106</ref>

Eavis was awarded the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Town]] of [[Glastonbury]] on 3 May 2022.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In early 2024 Eavis was knighted at [[Windsor Castle]], by the [[Princess Royal]], for services to music and charity.<ref>{{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 |date=23 April 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Max Yasgur]], American farmer who hosted the [[Woodstock Festival]] in 1969
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [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}}
{{Authority control}}
{{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]]