As Glastonbury Festival approaches, with hundreds of thousands preparing to flock to Worthy Farm, the memory of a devastating fire nearly 30 years ago still lingers. The famous Pyramid Stage, the heart and soul of the festival, once went up in flames just days before the event was set to begin.
Back in 1994, Glastonbury was not yet the colossal celebration it is today. Organisers were thrust into crisis when the beloved Pyramid Stage was destroyed by fire in the early hours of June 13, less than two weeks before headline acts were scheduled to perform. Originally constructed in 1971 from modest materials like metal cattle sheets and scaffolding, the stage had evolved over decades into a powerful icon adorned with the peace symbol, representing the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
The stage was strategically positioned on the ancient lay-line connecting Stonehenge and Glastonbury Abbey, enhancing the festival’s reputation as a spiritual gathering place. After years of makeshift constructions, a more permanent stage was erected using telegraph poles and surplus Ministry of Defence iron sheets, standing as a symbol of peace and music alike.
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The fire was described by festival founder Michael Eavis as an “inferno” with 50-foot flames and smoke visible from miles away. Although the cause of the blaze remains unclear, the destruction threatened to derail the festival’s final preparations.
Fortunately, a local company that had built smaller stages stepped up with remarkable speed, assembling a replacement just in time. The new stage served the festival through the remainder of the 1990s until a major overhaul in 2000 modernised the Pyramid Stage, installing state-of-the-art technology while preserving the iconic peace symbol.
This dramatic episode underscores the resilience and spirit that have made Glastonbury a legendary festival worldwide. As fans gear up for this year, the memory of that fiery night reminds us all of the challenges overcome to celebrate music and culture on this historic site.