Muse Tour Director Glen Rowe comes off the road to launch music charity

After 25 years of touring, MUSE Tour Director, London-based Glen Rowe, is stepping down from the band and coming off the road permanently – just a few days after MUSE released Drones World Tour, a one night only event in cinemas worldwide on Thursday 12 July.

Having worked with what he believes is the best live band on the planet for 18 years, Rowe is stepping down to pursue his passion for supporting the next generation of crew who can breathe new life into the live music sector.

As Founder of the only “roadie school” in the world, CATO Academy, and Managing Director of Backstage Academy, the UK’s centre of excellence for backstage training, Rowe has been a pioneer in supporting and delivering training and education to hundreds of young people across the UK. He has worked hard to hold down these positions whilst being on the road.



Earlier this year, he spearheaded a UK-wide education tour supported by Beat The Street, Marshall, Yamaha, Zildjian, Shure & Production Park. Taking a tour bus around schools and colleges across the country, Rowe and his partners met with more than 500 students to promote the wide range of roles that are available in the live events and creative industries and to educate young people about transferable skills that can be applied in the sector.

This week he launches his own charity, NEKO Trust, with an ambition to build small venues around the UK to be staffed by those training to work in the live events industry. Supported by the Industry, Government and Councils alike, the time has come for us to all work better together.

Commenting on his exciting plans, Glen Rowe said,

“I’ve had an amazing career on the road with some of the best bands in the world like MUSE. And I did it because people gave me the opportunity to learn and succeed. It’s my time to do the same for both young people whose eyes need to be opened to the wealth of roles available in the live events industry and for the live music venues that need to be supported.
“The live events industry is in peril if we do not look after the ecosystem. If we do not nurture it, it will not grow. This is an industry that’s powered by youth and we need to protect it. Britain is great at exporting our musical talent, but where will the next generation come from if they don’t have venues to grow into greatness.”

NEKO Trust is an ambitious charity that will live and breathe all things music. One of its primary objectives will be to establish and sustain the world’s first music and arts festival – HULLAbALOO – entirely created by students, for students. Working with colleges across the UK, Rowe and the charity will be calling on teachers and educational institutions to support the initiative and bring it to life. For more information, visit www.nekotrust.org