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Glastonbury 2007 really wasn’t a lot of fun to be quite honest.
Me and me mate Roy left Wednesday mid morning got there about 3pm, parked up then trekked a good 3/4 mile to where we were to camp. The weather was good at that stage, mild sun, stiff breeze.
Fortunately our friends had taken our tents, arrived there Monday and put them up for us. Also, we were in the camping area reserved for all the theatrical and circus performers which was separate from the public camping area. To get in and out of this area you needed an extra wrist band and a laminate pass.
As I know a couple of the performers at the festival – a comedienne named Harriet Bowden and former Squeeze frontman Glen Tilbrook – this wasn’t a problem. The theatre camping area had it’s own large bar marquee with a stage for bands to play and also a large restaurant marquee that sold good cheap food, so that was good.
Little did I know at this stage that I would actually spend probably 50% of the festival in that bloody bar tent watching one unknown band after another, sheltering from the rain.
Still, I’m not ungrateful, I was kinda privileged to have some respite that others weren’t privy too. The theatrical camping area also had hot water showers, another bonus.
Spent Wednesday evening in the bar tent, caught a couple of really good bands, one of which was called Cats and Cats and Cats, and managed to blag their CD album from them with promises of ‘I can get you gigs in SE London’
They were from Staines – could be worse…. 
On Thursday morning we all heard that one of our friends, Warrington, had died. His name was Steve Warrington but everybody called him by his surname. I don't know how he died but he was found at his home by his mother at 4am Thursday morning. Over the last few years he had slipped into alcoholism and his health had declined, we all spoke to him, tried to stop him, but he seemed determined to drink himself to death.
Looks like he succeeded, the funeral's July 12th. This really was not a good start to the Festival, tears were shed by most of the girlies and a few of the guys, myself included. I seem to be of that age where my peers seem to be passing on, scary...
It rained on and off Thursday, but not too bad, had a good stroll around the site. Glen played the bar marquee in the evening, as did John Otway.
On Friday the rain came down heavy on and off until late afternoon but mercifully stayed away for me to go and see Bloc Party on the main Pyramid stage. They were brilliant. Fortunately for both Friday and Saturday evenings, it didn’t rain at all.
From there I strolled round to the other stage to see Arcade Fire but I was too early so I stayed to see Rufus Wainwright (who I believe Steve (Nightrider - BBF Forum member) was looking after). Hmm. Not really my cuppa tea, I’m afraid, he done a not a thing for me.
So later, after darkness fell, I caught Amy Winehouse on the Jazz World stage and she was brilliant. Which was odd cos I didn’t think I’d enjoy her. She finished with ‘Cupid’ the Sam Cooke song done ska style and an old Toots and the Maytals number ’54-46 was my number’. Good stuff. Caught a comedian and some band somewhere I didn’t even know and then retired to the bar marquee again.
Most of us (there were about 30 of us camped together) decided it just wasn’t worth the effort trudging through the mud to the main stage and other stages far afield so we stuck to the stages near us, namely the Jazz World Stage, The Avalon Field Stage, The Accoustic Tent and The Cabaret tent.
Also, a tent with proper seating named La Belle Epoque, where I caught The Cosmic Sausages. They were good, they were camped with us and I got picked on during their set to sing out loud a part of the Star Trek theme, tres embarrassing
Other acts I saw, and I honestly can’t remember them all, were The Broken Family Band, The Waterboys and bestest, bestest of all – John Fogerty.
He came on at 9.30 on the Jazz World stage on Saturday, just as it was getting dark and was absolutely bloody brilliant. I’d wanted to see the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman since about 1969 and couldn’t believe my luck when I saw he was performing at Glastonbury 2007.
He rocked and for about 100 minutes I actually managed to forget the mud, ‘Keep On Choogling’; ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and many more, every one absolutely giving me a big rosy warm feeling. And he sounded like a straight ahead guy when he spoke as well. He figured we were ‘Smarter than those guys I played to at Woodstock’ I’ll never forget that set long as I live, it made the Festival worthwhile for me.
Sunday morning I woke to yet more rain, I’d had enough, I left. Left Roy there as well, lol, cos he didn’t go to bed until 6am and it was then 9am and I was ready to go. I did make sure he had a lift home though.
It was a long walk through mud back to the car so I abandoned stuff, including my tent and cooking equipment. It was still hard work though, lugging the stuff I had, took me an hour to reach my car and I had one of the security guys, Brian, carrying one bag for me. He was there by the fire in the morning smoking a spliff when I woke up and offered to help me. I gave him my laminate pass so he could get back into the theatre area.
Brian was an absolute diamond, without him I actually think I may not have made it back to my car. He’s from Hackney. Brian mate, if we ever meet up again – and I think we will – I owe you a pint or six.
Got in the car, changed into dry jeans, then drove and got stuck in the mud. I thought I had nothing to lose so revved the wheels, they went lower but finally bit hard earth and off I went. Had to perfect my rally driving skills, sliding sideways, this way and that, quite good fun actually then made the main road.
To Bristol, the M4, North Circular, through Blackwall Tunnel and home.
Bathed, cleansed, clean sheets, my own bed, Guinness, warm sleep and vowing never ever again, 2007 was, sadly, my last Glastonbury Festival. I’ve been going on and off since 1981 and I’ve had some brilliant times, but come on, I’m 56, it is beginning to tell on me I think, it’s just not worth the gamble of relying on the weather.
In future, Festivals in Europe for me, Beni Casim is in August, on a beach near Barcelona in Spain, guaranteed sunshine, music from 10pm til 6am, sleep all day, then party all night again. Yes.
I don’t regret going, I am a bit peeved I missed most of a really good lineup, they had some superb acts at Glastonbury this year but the rain and the mud just ruined it.
And coming up here, a selection of pictures for you. I used my old Canon A80 4.1mp Digicam for these pix, didn’t want to risk taking my Nikon D40X SLR down there.
The Marquee Tent Bar, setting up:
Me, drinking, early on
Opening of the bar announcement:
John:
Glen Tilbrook:
Roy, John, Severine:
Glenn, Simon, Suki 1, Suki 2, somebody’s son:
Dan, Harriet, Simon, Suki:
Thursday morning:
Surreal stuff:
More surreal stuff:
Me in the Peace Field:
Top of the Peace Field:
Rubbish bins:
Sand sculptures:
Dodgem Car Bar:
A girl dummy grabs Roy’s bits:
Some children are just lazy:
Stanley gets funky:
Restaurant Marquee:
Severine grooves:
Me & April:
April snogs Lela (much alcohol had been consumed at this stage):
My goodness
Me and me mate Roy left Wednesday mid morning got there about 3pm, parked up then trekked a good 3/4 mile to where we were to camp. The weather was good at that stage, mild sun, stiff breeze.
Fortunately our friends had taken our tents, arrived there Monday and put them up for us. Also, we were in the camping area reserved for all the theatrical and circus performers which was separate from the public camping area. To get in and out of this area you needed an extra wrist band and a laminate pass.
As I know a couple of the performers at the festival – a comedienne named Harriet Bowden and former Squeeze frontman Glen Tilbrook – this wasn’t a problem. The theatre camping area had it’s own large bar marquee with a stage for bands to play and also a large restaurant marquee that sold good cheap food, so that was good.
Little did I know at this stage that I would actually spend probably 50% of the festival in that bloody bar tent watching one unknown band after another, sheltering from the rain.
Still, I’m not ungrateful, I was kinda privileged to have some respite that others weren’t privy too. The theatrical camping area also had hot water showers, another bonus.
Spent Wednesday evening in the bar tent, caught a couple of really good bands, one of which was called Cats and Cats and Cats, and managed to blag their CD album from them with promises of ‘I can get you gigs in SE London’
They were from Staines – could be worse…. On Thursday morning we all heard that one of our friends, Warrington, had died. His name was Steve Warrington but everybody called him by his surname. I don't know how he died but he was found at his home by his mother at 4am Thursday morning. Over the last few years he had slipped into alcoholism and his health had declined, we all spoke to him, tried to stop him, but he seemed determined to drink himself to death.
Looks like he succeeded, the funeral's July 12th. This really was not a good start to the Festival, tears were shed by most of the girlies and a few of the guys, myself included. I seem to be of that age where my peers seem to be passing on, scary...
It rained on and off Thursday, but not too bad, had a good stroll around the site. Glen played the bar marquee in the evening, as did John Otway.
On Friday the rain came down heavy on and off until late afternoon but mercifully stayed away for me to go and see Bloc Party on the main Pyramid stage. They were brilliant. Fortunately for both Friday and Saturday evenings, it didn’t rain at all.
From there I strolled round to the other stage to see Arcade Fire but I was too early so I stayed to see Rufus Wainwright (who I believe Steve (Nightrider - BBF Forum member) was looking after). Hmm. Not really my cuppa tea, I’m afraid, he done a not a thing for me.
So later, after darkness fell, I caught Amy Winehouse on the Jazz World stage and she was brilliant. Which was odd cos I didn’t think I’d enjoy her. She finished with ‘Cupid’ the Sam Cooke song done ska style and an old Toots and the Maytals number ’54-46 was my number’. Good stuff. Caught a comedian and some band somewhere I didn’t even know and then retired to the bar marquee again.
Most of us (there were about 30 of us camped together) decided it just wasn’t worth the effort trudging through the mud to the main stage and other stages far afield so we stuck to the stages near us, namely the Jazz World Stage, The Avalon Field Stage, The Accoustic Tent and The Cabaret tent.
Also, a tent with proper seating named La Belle Epoque, where I caught The Cosmic Sausages. They were good, they were camped with us and I got picked on during their set to sing out loud a part of the Star Trek theme, tres embarrassing
Other acts I saw, and I honestly can’t remember them all, were The Broken Family Band, The Waterboys and bestest, bestest of all – John Fogerty.
He came on at 9.30 on the Jazz World stage on Saturday, just as it was getting dark and was absolutely bloody brilliant. I’d wanted to see the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman since about 1969 and couldn’t believe my luck when I saw he was performing at Glastonbury 2007.
He rocked and for about 100 minutes I actually managed to forget the mud, ‘Keep On Choogling’; ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and many more, every one absolutely giving me a big rosy warm feeling. And he sounded like a straight ahead guy when he spoke as well. He figured we were ‘Smarter than those guys I played to at Woodstock’
I’ll never forget that set long as I live, it made the Festival worthwhile for me.Sunday morning I woke to yet more rain, I’d had enough, I left. Left Roy there as well, lol, cos he didn’t go to bed until 6am and it was then 9am and I was ready to go. I did make sure he had a lift home though.
It was a long walk through mud back to the car so I abandoned stuff, including my tent and cooking equipment. It was still hard work though, lugging the stuff I had, took me an hour to reach my car and I had one of the security guys, Brian, carrying one bag for me. He was there by the fire in the morning smoking a spliff when I woke up and offered to help me. I gave him my laminate pass so he could get back into the theatre area.
Brian was an absolute diamond, without him I actually think I may not have made it back to my car. He’s from Hackney. Brian mate, if we ever meet up again – and I think we will – I owe you a pint or six.
Got in the car, changed into dry jeans, then drove and got stuck in the mud. I thought I had nothing to lose so revved the wheels, they went lower but finally bit hard earth and off I went. Had to perfect my rally driving skills, sliding sideways, this way and that, quite good fun actually then made the main road.
To Bristol, the M4, North Circular, through Blackwall Tunnel and home.
Bathed, cleansed, clean sheets, my own bed, Guinness, warm sleep and vowing never ever again, 2007 was, sadly, my last Glastonbury Festival. I’ve been going on and off since 1981 and I’ve had some brilliant times, but come on, I’m 56, it is beginning to tell on me I think, it’s just not worth the gamble of relying on the weather.
In future, Festivals in Europe for me, Beni Casim is in August, on a beach near Barcelona in Spain, guaranteed sunshine, music from 10pm til 6am, sleep all day, then party all night again. Yes.
I don’t regret going, I am a bit peeved I missed most of a really good lineup, they had some superb acts at Glastonbury this year but the rain and the mud just ruined it.
And coming up here, a selection of pictures for you. I used my old Canon A80 4.1mp Digicam for these pix, didn’t want to risk taking my Nikon D40X SLR down there.
The Marquee Tent Bar, setting up:
Me, drinking, early on
Opening of the bar announcement:
John:
Glen Tilbrook:
Roy, John, Severine:
Glenn, Simon, Suki 1, Suki 2, somebody’s son:
Dan, Harriet, Simon, Suki:
Thursday morning:
Surreal stuff:
More surreal stuff:
Me in the Peace Field:
Top of the Peace Field:
Rubbish bins:
Sand sculptures:
Dodgem Car Bar:
A girl dummy grabs Roy’s bits:
Some children are just lazy:
Stanley gets funky:
Restaurant Marquee:
Severine grooves:
Me & April:
April snogs Lela (much alcohol had been consumed at this stage):
My goodness
Your Oncologist is the true expert though