Room Thirteen: How's the preparation going?
Michael Eavis: This is the best bit really; a lot of paperwork is involved. We're looking to recycle water this year. We may have to build something new or just work with something we have got. There are all the bands to arrange - Shirley Bassey has been on the phone. There's a story in the Daily Mail and half a page in the Independent saying she may be playing. She actually approached us asking if there was a vacancy and infact there was because Smokey Robinson and Tom Petty were coming over and we lost both of them, so she just phoned up at the right time.
R13: So can you confirm she will be playing?
ME: Yeah I do hope so, she wants to do it. I'm really looking forward to it, we haven't asked her before.
R13: Do you like her music?
ME: Well there all that Goldfinger stuff, the stuff she does is very powerful.
R13: What do you say to people who ask "Glastonbury's only on one weekend – what on earth do you do in the rest of the year?"
ME: What do I do? Never work so hard in all my life, I will tell you that but I work as hard as your grandfather was when he was 18. We have 400 cows. The farming is important to me, it's more important than anything else; the festival could stop if it wanted to. The farm is a big business. We produce 10,000 of litres of milk per day, which is a tonne of cheese.
R13: What's behind the idea of registering this year?
ME: Because of the touting. Touting is a real disaster because anyone who had a ticket could put in onto eBay and sell it for a fortune. It just spoilt the whole feel of the festival. The photo idea is the best idea I have ever had. I had to fight it through the system. We have got the driving license people from Glasgow to do it; it's a doddle for them. We have got 402,000 registered. Some people complain and say is all too much, the other day one man complained and said it's harder to get into your festival than it is America!
R13: Would you ever consider doing a ticket lottery whereby you randomly select those who have registered, cutting out phone and internet congestion.
ME: People I've asked don't like the idea; they would prefer to have a fair chance on the 1st of April. I actually like the idea, but my team are against it.
R13: You had a break last year, has the land had time to recover?
ME: Yes, the farm is looking lovely. After the festival there are casualties to the cows as there are many hazards. We actually drag a magnet over the site and pick up as much as we can. So it's quite good to have a clean year, a clean field year.
R13: Glastonbury Festival is known to have a conscience when it comes to charities, who are your main charities, and how much do you estimate the festival has raised over the years?
ME: The festival has raised millions of pounds over the years; 2 million pounds will be donated this year. The festival supports Oxfam, Greenpeace, Water Aid, Anti Global Warming, and low cost housing. A lot of the money is spent in the Far East in a place called Ache, where the Tsunami struck. We are building houses there now, I send 10,000 quid at a time, then they send pictures of people moving into the houses.
R13: Were you upset Kylie couldn't play at this year?
ME: Yes I was, because I quite like her. I know it's not NME's favourite artist, but I thought it was a great show when I saw her play at Earl's Court. Most people think it's a bit populist, I was really upset when she pulled out. Things do change and The Who wanted to do it anyway, I have other artists in the evening that I can't wait for.
R13: Who are your favorite bands at the moment?
ME: I'm big on the Artic Monkeys and the Killers. I think the new Killers album is terrific. I think we were spot on with headlining with the Killers.
R13: Where do you see yourself and the festival in the next 10 years?
ME: Phew...God. It's a new experience that's for sure. There's nothing else quite like it. It's a whole massive amount of fun and joy and wellbeing because of the amount of energy put in by the artists. The feedback people give after 2, 3 or 4 days is amazing; people leave with such a great buzz.