Glastonbury festival at 40

The first Glastonbury festival took place in 1970. Famously, you got a pint of milk with your ticket. This kind of incentive might be why only nine people and a horse turned up Photograph: Brian Walker/glastonbury40.com Photograph: Brian Walker/guardian.co.uk It's been said before, but Glastonbury has always had something other festivals lack. Namely, nudity and the very first man bag (1970) Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/guardian.co.uk June 1971, and the Eavis family get the hang of this entertainment lark with the building of the Pyramid stage Photograph: Ian Tyas/Getty Images Photograph: Ian Tyas/guardian.co.uk Some 10,000 people who attended the festival in 1971. Now, we've all been guilty of turning up without the basics (toilet roll, perhaps, or a supply of cereal bars) but who forgets to bring a tent? Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images Photograph: Popperfoto/guardian.co.uk The church had a high profile during the early days of Glastonbury, represented in this picture by three priests and (possibly) a very grumpy and cold-looking God Photograph: Daily Mail / Rex Features/Rex Features Photograph: Daily Mail / Rex Features/guardian.co.uk By 1982, the festival had joined forces with CND, the Pyramid stage received a makeover and, judging by the numerous patterned jumpers in the crowd, many people had discovered the importance of warm clothing for an English festival Photograph: David Corio/Redferns Photograph: David Corio/guardian.co.uk And those without warm clothing resorted to pyrotechnics for heat (1983) Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/guardian.co.uk This picture, taken at the 1983 festival, represents the exact moment someone started the trend for flags at festivals Photograph: Pete Cronin/Redferns Photograph: Pete Cronin/guardian.co.uk Aw, even hard-as-nails punks need a little afternoon nap (1983) Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/REx Features Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/guardian.co.uk And from this day forth in 1984, drugs were unheard of at Glastonbury Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex features Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/guardian.co.uk Billy Bragg's name has been on the Glastonbury line-up every year since 1725 Photograph: Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features/Rex Features Photograph: Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features/guardian.co.uk A BNP poster aiming to stir up controversy against Glastonbury festival with a picture that depicts drunken debauchery. Oddly, it failed to put the nation's teenagers off attending the event Photograph: guardian.co.uk 1986, and the world's youngest hipster makes his debut at Glasto. He was later seen telling one of the organisers that the festival had 'totally sold out' Photograph: Ben Gibson/Guardian Photograph: Ben Gibson/guardian.co.uk We're no experts, but it's going to take a lot more than those small squares of cloth to patch up the ozone layer (1992) Photograph: Mick Hutson/Redferns Photograph: Mick Hutson/guardian.co.uk Damon Albarn enjoying a delicious (and free) spot of Glastonbury cuisine in 1995 Photograph: Brian Rasic/Rex Features Photograph: Brian Rasic/guardian.co.uk Here's a rare sight at Glasto: revellers are actually sheltering from the sun (1995) Photograph: Mick Hutson/Redferns Photograph: Mick Hutson/guardian.co.uk 1997, the year everyone remembers for its perfect ice cream weather Photograph: Rex Features/SWS Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk Hmm, these passes look suspiciously fresh and new to us (1999) Photograph: PA Photograph: guardian.co.uk By 2002, the food at Glastonbury had impoved so much it looked as if it had fallen off the back of an Ocado lorry Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/guardian.co.uk John Peel displays his droll sense of humour with this protest sign (2003) Photograph: Rowan Griffiths/Rex Features Photograph: Rowan Griffiths/guardian.co.uk Fatboy Slim and some can can dancers enjoy the revelry in the Lost Vagueness field in 2004 Photograph: Barry Lewis/Corbis Photograph: Barry Lewis/guardian.co.uk By 2005, the quality of tents had improved dramatically ... Photograph: Jon Kent/Rex Features Photograph: Jon Kent/guardian.co.uk ... and yet, that was of no help whatsoever when the heavens opened (2005) Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Photograph: Yui Mok/guardian.co.uk Approximately three and a half minutes after this photo was taken, this fruity couple realised just what a terrible, terrible decision this was (2005) Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/guardian.co.uk When people say, 'Glastonbury is a really unique festival,' what they mean is that they've got bendy spoons and stuff hanging all over the place Photograph: Jon Super/Redferns/Getty Images Photograph: Jon Super/Redferns/guardian.co.uk As the festival expanded over the years, so did the array of precious good you could buy. By 2005, they even had these lovely coloured vases on sale, though heaven knows why you'd want something so delicate at a music festival! Photograph: Andy Aitchison/Corbis Photograph: Andy Aitchison/guardian.co.uk Never underestimate the British public's ability to power on through no matter how bad the weather conditions (2007) Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Photograph: Dylan Martinez/guardian.co.uk A dangerous menace to the public is reprimanded by police at Glastonbury 2007. If anyone knows the identity and whereabouts of this young gentleman, the police would like you to get in touch Photograph: Sonia Melot/Guardian Photograph: Sonia Melot/guardian.co.uk An aerial view of the festival in 2007 shows just how far they've come from the days when free milk and a horse was all that was on offer Photograph: Mick Hutson/Geety Images Photograph: Mick Hutson/guardian.co.uk A good picture to gaze at if you missed out on getting a ticket this year Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/guardian.co.uk A good photo to gaze at if you did get a ticket – the witching hour at Glastonbury Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/guardian.co.uk Michael Eavis T-shirt, tutu, heart-shaped sunglasses and a beer. Pretty tame for a Glastonbury outfit, really (2008) Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/guardian.co.uk Festivalgoers utilise the 'She-Pee' female urinal in 2007 Photograph: David Levene/Guardian Photograph: David Levene/guardian.co.uk Flags, flags, as far as the eye can see, flags (2008) Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian Photograph: Linda Nylind/guardian.co.uk Bob Geldof and Michael Eavis asked the crowd to 'make poverty history' in 2005 by holding hands. It's things like this which make people hate Glastonbury, isn't it? Photograph: James McCauley /Rex Features Photograph: James McCauley /guardian.co.uk Kaiser Chiefs lead singer Ricky Wilson performs some energetic moves in 2007. Looks like drummer Nick is hoping Ricky won't land on his head Photograph: Rune Hellestad/Corbis Photograph: Rune Hellestad/guardian.co.uk A bride and bridesmaids on her happy day in 2009. Where are those priests when you need them? Photograph: AFP/AFP Photograph: AFP/guardian.co.uk The crowd enjoys a rare moment of sunshine at Glastonbury! All except the two men on the right in the blue, that is (2009) Photograph: James McCauley /Rex Features Photograph: James McCauley /guardian.co.uk Jay-Z's 'controversial' headline slot in 2008 went down magnificently with the crowd, despite him opening with an Oasis song Photograph: Rune Hellestad/Corbis Photograph: Rune Hellestad/guardian.co.uk Damon Albarn, back with Blur in 2009 for one of the most memorable headline slots in history. He just couldn't resist that free dinner , you see Photograph: Rex Features/Rex Features Photograph: Rex Features/guardian.co.uk