The Darkness dismissed as 'novelty' by Glastonbury bosses

The Darkness have hit out at the organisers of Britain's Glastonbury Festival after they claimed the band demanded €1.5m to perform at this year's event.

Festival creator Michael Evans also dismissed the I Believe in a Thing Called Love rockers as a "novelty" band - which has riled frontman Justin Hawkins.

He says: "Eavis went to the newspapers and accused us being mercenary and looking for a million pounds to play at the festival which frankly isn't true.

"The fact is that we approached them at Christmas time and they weren't interested because they thought we were a novelty band and wouldn't be around.

"Obviously, Reading booked us for their festival so when they (Glastonbury) came back later they had to match that offer or else we wouldn't consider it."

Hawkins also attacks the way Glastonbury is run: "So Michael Eavis altruistically lets out all that land with the sole purpose of donating to good causes?

"Not at all for the purpose of raising his profile and making an absolute fortune out of an overpriced festival?"