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david pearson / Alamy

The history of Glastonbury in 25 incredible photos

Get your wellies out it’s that time of year again, Glastonbury Festival opens on June 24th 2015. The most famous music festival in the world is taking place in Somerset, England and we can’t wait. Initially a free festival inspired by the ethos of the hippie culture and free festival movements in the 1970’s  the festival has taken  place almost every year since and has continued to grow in popularity (and price!). To celebrate the largest Greenfield festival in the world we’re going to take a look back at Glastonbury over the years and share with you some of its awesomeness (you might spot some changing fashions too!).

Date taken: 1971

The Glastonbury Fayre of 1971, a free festival planned by Andrew Kerr and Arabella Churchill . Picture shows: Hippies inside their rain igloo at the festival. 19th June 1971.
© Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy

Date taken: 1982

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL 1982,
© Mike Goldwater / Alamy

Date taken: 1985

CBK1W2
© Daily Mail/Rex / Alamy

Date taken: 1989

Glastonbury never sleeps & is arranged around the UK midsummer solstice period.A girl wrapped in her sleeping bag wanders. 1989. Image shot 06/1989. Exact date unknown.
© STUART ROY CLARKE / Alamy

Date taken: 1992

Young white family play together, all looking towards young child in the middle. Glastonbury 1992
© PYMCA / Alamy

Date taken: 1993

Three men sit on couch wearing virtual reality goggles. Glastonbury 1993
© PYMCA / Alamy

Date taken: 1994

Glastonbury festival 1994. Image shot 1994. Exact date unknown.
© james cheadle / Alamy

Date taken: 1995

The Cure Singer Robert Smith onstage at Glastonbury June 1995 Robert Smith playing guitar at The Glastonbury festival
© Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy

Date taken: 1997

Man dancing in the mud and rain, Glastonbury Festival 1997, Somerset, England, United Kingdom.. Image shot 06/1997. Exact date unknown.
© Edd Westmacott / Alamy

Date Taken: 1998

Blur playing the Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury Festival 1998.
© Photo: Edd Westmacott / Alamy

Date taken: 1999

MICHAEL STIPE OF REM ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT GLASTONBURY UK 1999. Image shot 1999. Exact date unknown.
© Adrian Sherratt / Alamy

Date taken: 2000

Glastonbury 2000 Crowds at entrance to the Greenfields
© Photofusion Picture Library / Alamy

Date taken: 2002

DJ Die DJing at Glastonbury Festival, UK, 2002
© PYMCA / Alamy

Date taken: 2003

Festival goer close to Pyramid Stage holds her mobile phone so that her friend hear the music.Glastonbury Music Festival 2003
© Mike Goldwater / Alamy

Date taken: 2004

Sir Paul McCartney performing on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2004.

Date taken: 2005

Pennard Hill Camping field with staff in waterproof suits and tents in flooding water and mud following heavy rain at Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts Somerset England UK 2005
© Andrew Holt / Alamy

Date taken: 2007

Dame Shirley Bassey 2007 Glastonbury Festival day 3 Somerset,England - 24.06.07
© WENN Ltd / Alamy

Date taken: 2008

Amy Winehouse Day 2 of the Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury, England - 28.06.08 ( ) Nick Pickles/
© WENN Ltd / Alamy

Date taken: 2009

A crowd sheltering from the rain at an outdoor concert
© Alan Burles / Alamy

Date taken: 2010

The Flaming Lips performing on the Other Stage at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, Somerset, UK, 25 -
© Lebrecht Music and Arts Photo Library / Alamy

Date taken: 2011

26.JUNE.2011. GLASTONBURY AMERICAN R&B SINGER BEYONCE HEADLINING ON THE PYRAMID STAGE AT THE GLASTONBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011.
© EDB Image Archive / Alamy

Date taken: 2013

The Rolling Stones Head-line On The Pyramid Stage
© Daily Mail/Rex / Alamy

Date taken: 2014

Dolly Parton performs at Glastonbury music festival, England, Sunday, June 29, 2014.
© London Entertainment / Alamy

Do you want to take photos at this year’s festival? Find out about our live news opportunities for photographers on our website.

Looking for images to buy? Check out our Glastonbury lightbox  for images from 1971 – 2014 and keep an eye on our Live News feed over the weekend for images of this year’s festival.