ONE YEAR ON
June 27th 2025
If Richie Burns had not sent me a reminder the significance of the date would have passed me by. Exactly one year ago to the day we played our “fourth” final show in the acoustic tent stage of that most iconic and prestigious venue, Glastonbury.
The other three finals were The Stables, Milton Keynes, The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool and Dudley Town Hall. Our career as officially the longest serving band in UK pop history was turning out to be the gift that keeps on giving. In truth the Thank Your tours were turning out to be the most fun we’d had in decades. It was exactly what playing pop music with your chums for fun should always be.
When Glasto was offered we jumped at the chance but not without some trepidation. When you are among the superstars that headline the festival it’s a scary thing. What if no one entered the tent to catch our set? What if we didn’t play well that evening? – there have been times when we were maybe a bit under par. In the end we need not have worried. It was a triumph for us that we could never have expected. When the enormous ovation came at the end of our set we were all very emotional. And on top of all that Macca (Paul) turned up backstage beforehand for a chat and a selfie.
And that was to be the end of our 68 year career – possibly. So many were saying you can’t stop but in truth we wanted to end on a high and there was no better way of doing that. Then the questions came.
Q. Will you do another tour?
Probably not unless Glastonbury asked us back for 2027. The possibility was discussed between us and Alan Field because the BBC and the festival got an awful lot of stick in the press about not having filmed any of our set. Seemingly there is a total ban on filming at the acoustic stage. Maybe they would take note and make amends by giving us a return visit.
Q. Have they asked us?
No, it’s only conjecture on our part, a thought that it might crop up. But as yet they have not suggested it and in truth I doubt if they will.
Q. But if they did?
We would certainly have to consider it. And then I think the outcome would rest on John’s shoulders. We are both of a certain age and in 2027 he would be racing towards 86 years old while I will be just a few steps behind at approaching 84. We are both fairly fit for our ages but I think John is feeling the onset of years a little more than me. I have actually woken up in the night with worry praying that we don’t get asked because the thought of putting another tour together was a frightening prospect (a necessary thing in order to get up to scratch playing-wise before the biggie) and I know John doesn’t relish getting behind the wheel of a car and battling with Britain`s motorways again. However I secretly think he just would not be able to resist the challenge.
Q. Would it be filmed this time?
Not if we returned to the acoustic stage. The ban remains in place as far as I know. I don’t know the reasons but my instinct tells me that there is probably a sizeable fee to be paid when the Beeb films a stage and they possibly don’t consider the value of the artistes there warrants the outlay.
Q. Would you reject the offer in that case?
I suspect if it was a take it or leave it ultimatum then we would still love to do it again. In fact I recall talking to the stage manager, (by the way, all the staff there was sooooo friendly and helpful. They couldn’t do enough for us) who was full of praise for our show. He actually said to John McNally junior that he had never seen anything like it on the acoustic stage. If you’ve checked out the clips on the Home Page you will have seen the local crew applauding along with an ecstatic crowd.
And that’s where we have left it. We are certainly not expecting a return. If by any remote chance it was offered we would talk over the pros and cons and make an executive decision.