More about: Glastonbury Festival
Festival boss gives most of 32 million to charity, and discusses the future
Glastonbury festival organiser Michael Eavis has revealed his annual salary from the festival - showing that most of the proceeds do indeed go to charity.
As Glasto prepares to unveil the line-up for their 2015 event in the coming months, Eavis spoke to the Western Daily Mail about the relatively humble lifestyle he chooses to live, taking home £60,000 per year, despite the fact that the world's most famous festival makes an annual turnover of over £32 million.
"I get a wage of £60,000 but I pay more than that to my cowman," said Eavis, who also finds the time to be a farmer. "I am not going to buy a flashy car – I bought a Mini for my wife 14 years ago. I don't really like going on holiday – I just have a little cottage in Cornwall.
He added: "There is no money stashed anywhere. We do a lot on the charity side – we aim for £2 million a year. I like to go into the following year on the edge – I like that. I like the challenge. Yesterday, the girls said there is a quarter of a million left over. I said let's get rid of it, send it on to the charity today."
Looking to the future, Eavis continued: "I am not slowing down at the moment because I enjoy myself so much and it works. My festival works and we have one million people waiting in the wings to buy tickets – one million waiting to get in. What a huge demand that is.
"I go for a cold water swim to get me going every morning. That is my secret."
When asked if daughter and co-organiser Emily Eavis would be taking the reigns in future, Eavis said: "Emily is now 35. She didn't really like it at the beginning – try and tell a three-year-old why 100,000 people are in her back garden. She didn't understand it all at first.
"She is working her way into the role but will decide whether she wants it. She is very cunning and very clever, but at the end of the day, does she want it? The role is very demanding – you are at everyone's beck and call every day of your life."
Glastonbury Festival 2015 takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset from 24 - 28 June 2015. Lionel Richie is the only act to be confirmed so far, while other rumours include Foo Fighters, Queen + Adam Lambert, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, The Libertines, Florence + The Machine, Prince and many more.
The Libertines: After a triumphant summer and Pete Doherty finishing a successful stint in a Thai rehab, the band are making progress on album No.3 - with festival rumours to boot. 'Sources' have claimed that the band will be topping the bill at one of Glasto's stages this summer.
Foo Fighters: Having headlined everywhere else but not gracing the good fields of Worthy Farm since 1998, Dave Grohl and co have long been a strong rumour for Glasto 2015. Their string of massive UK stadium shows line up with it nicely, but Grohl has remained coy and tight-lipped about the rumours - saying that they'll headline as long as Prince and Oasis do.
AC/DC: Metallica proved that hard rock and Glastonbury can mix after all, and few are as huge or beloved as the 'Back In Black' superstars. Their upcoming UK stadium shows are just days after Glasto - could they bring some Dirty Deeds to Worthy Farm?
Elton John: He's got some pretty huge UK outdoor shows in the weeks leading up to Glasto, and we'd say that 'Rocket Man', 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing', 'Tiny Dancer' and 'Your Song' would make for a tear-jerking, historic closing set.
Noel Gallagher: He's got a new album coming out, and a catalogue of classics that would put all others to shame. With an Oasis reunion looking increasingly unlikely, we're sure that Noel on his own can more than fit the bill.
Taylor Swift: Festival boss Michael Eavis has said he wants her to play, and she's in the country to play Hyde Park that weekend - should she 'do a Beyonce' and make history with a headline set of shameless pure pop? Swift's friend Ed Sheeran says no but we're still hopeful...
Florence + The Machine: Album No.3 is tantalisingly close and due for release in 2015. She's announced a whole bunch of EU festival dates around late June but nothing in the UK yet - could Glasto be calling?
Rihanna: Another global megastar with a new album expected any day now, we'd also say that RiRi is the perfect candidate to follow in the footsteps of Queen Bey.
Motorhead: As they prepare to celebrate their 40th anniversary, we'd welcome some mid-afternoon main stage mayhem from the 'Ace Of Spades' kings.
Prince: It just wouldn't be Glastonbury without a good old Prince rumour. Maybe we'll get lucky this year?
Calvin Harris: The world's richest DJ is also being linked to Glasto 2015. With a live show that looks like this, expect him to blow up one of the dance stages. We just hope he brings Will Smith along like he did at T In The Park...
Chromeo: They had to pull out at the last minute last year, which is why we're excited about the potential return of some 'Fancy Footwork'.
Queen Adam Lambert: They've a new compilation album out, are touring this winter - but last year bookies slashed odds on the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' icons taking to the Pyramid Stage.
Patti Smith: The punk poet will be playing Horses in full at Field Day a few weeks beforehand - so it stands to reason that she should bring the same legendary LP to Glastonbury too.
Foals: They only played a couple of UK festival dates last year and have been hard at work on album No.4 - now they're tipped to make their live return at Glasto.
Ride: The return of one of the finest shoegaze bands of all time, some big festival shows - Glastonbury just makes sense, surely?
Take That: Yes, really. Howard Donald told the press last year: "Historically we've never done festivals – we did try and contact Michael Eavis but he didn't reply." Emily Eavis played down the claims, but then she would - wouldn't she?
Pharrell: Mr Williams and his hat is tipped to make Glasto feel all 'Happy' come June. He's playing with The Script in Dublin the week before so we wouldn't be too surprised if he did.
Adele: She'd have to overcome her fear of mud, wellies and playing outdoors, but her upcoming new album has seen the massive-selling Adele ranked among the possibilities.
Alt-J: They've graduated to greatness with a sold-out show at The O2 in London, now expect them to follow it up with something massive at Glasto - headlining The Other Stage perhaps?
Royal Blood: A victory lap for the newest champions of guitar rock.
More about: Glastonbury Festival
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