I've liked his music ever since CSNY and Rust Never Sleeps. As I grew older I don't think much of his leftist politics or his throwing temper tantrums and taking his music off certain streaming platforms for a while, but that's beside the point. I've only seen him once when he turned 50 and thought, "Hell, this guy can still rock!".
He's written many iconic songs over the years. I don't play his stuff as much as I used to, but they do stand the test of time, especially lyrically. Many jam bands and others throw in covers of his songs in their setlists and keep them alive for new generations.
Would I go to see him live now? Doubtful. I mean at some point say around age 75 or 80, these guys should hang it up and leave their reputations intact and as a part of music history.
Neil Young
Thought I would share a few thoughts here.
Neil Young is again on tour, so I am again giving this artist some thought.
I remember reading an interview with Bryan Ferry where he said that Neil Young was one of his favorite artists. I thought this odd given the glam rock of Roxy Music. But he described Neil Young as a musical chameleon, always changing up his music and bands, which is why he liked him so much.
That quote stuck with me. Buffalo Springfield, Laurel Canyon, Solo Acoustic, CSNY, The Shocking Pinks, The International Harvesters, Rockin’ In The Free World, and so on. Always a new twist for Neil. He really doesn’t stay stagnant.
Then, reading about his current tour it seems at every stop he is breaking out some long forgotten and unplayed live tune to keep his set lists interesting.
I’ve never seen him live, and frankly don’t think I have that much interest in seeing him live. Yet I own a metric ton of his recorded material. I remember reading someone else who described Neil as a one string soloist when it comes to rock guitar playing. That kinda stuck with me.
I do appreciate his approach to analog releases from his vast catalog.
Anyway, he is indeed a hall of famer.