Sir Paul McCartney has said that he thinks it will be "very difficult for a while yet" in the fight against coronavirus and has cast doubt on whether Glastonbury will be able to go ahead last year.
The legendary musician, 78, was booked as the headliner for this year's festival to mark its 50th anniversary but the spread of the deadly disease meant that it was called off in March.
A vaccine against COVID-19 has been rolled out this month but is not expected to become available to members of the UK population aged 50 and under until late June 2021, according to the latest government estimates, and it is likely to be the end of next year before almost all of the country is vaccinated.
Such timescales would seemingly suggest that Glastonbury may not be able to proceed in June 2021, but McCartney has revealed fears that it could be two more years before the music industry is back to normal.
"Like everyone, we're all on hold. You just don't know what's going to happen from one second to the next," he told The Sun.
"I was talking to a mate of mine who is a musician and he said to me, 'When do you think we'll get back?' And I said, 'You mean on the road and stuff?' I said, 'I don't know, maybe next year?'
"And he said, 'No, two years'. And he's not a sort of downer this guy, he's very positive but he really didn't think we could pull it together any sooner, so we'll see.
"People have started to find ways with Zoom and with socially distanced things. But for a thing like Glastonbury where you've got over 100,000 people packed into a field, that's a super-spreader you know.
"But I'll be glad when we can get back, it will be a nice change to actually play to some people."
He added: "The vaccine will get us out of this. I think we'll come through it, I know we'll come through, and it's great news about the vaccine. I'll have it as soon as I'm allowed."
Earlier this week Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis admitted that she will have to take a decision on whether to go ahead with the 2021 festival sooner rather than later.
Follow us on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
Media Mole Black Friday Offer: Get Sky Entertainment, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £19 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends December 3, 2024
