Legendary guitarist. Anti-war protestor. Hall of Famer. Environmental crusader. Instantly recognisable vocalist. Father. Social activist. Filmmaker. Godfather of Grunge. Oscar-nominated songwriter. Heart of Gold. The Last Waltz. Crazy Horse. Let’s Impeach the President. Rockin’ in the Free World. Crosby, Stills, Nash and…
We could go on, but why not hand it over to the man himself? Five years since he last ventured Down Under, rock icon NEIL YOUNG returns this January for three very special shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
At 62, YOUNG is enjoying a prolific and charmed phase of his 40-year-plus career, with the albums Greendale (2003), Prairie Wind (2005) and Living with War (2006) among his most powerful and well-received. Last year came Chrome Dreams II: “Some listeners have said that this album is positive and spiritual,” YOUNG says. “I like to think it focuses on the human condition.” In between has flowed a series of archival releases, including the concert album Live at Massey Hall 1971.
YOUNG’s current touring band features pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, bassist Rick Rosas, drummer Chad Cromwell, guitarist Anthony Crawford and singer/guitarist (and wife) Pegi Young.
On recent European dates, his setlist has been eclectic, featuring newer material, rarities, and hits. As The Guardian put it after a London show in March: “As befits rock’s most unpredictable elder statesman, you never know quite what a NEIL YOUNG concert will entail... Tonight is something of a smorgasbord. Whatever the style, his sets have been “heavy on the classics”, from Powderfinger to Cowgirl in the Sand.
“Hey Hey, My My is pitched at a remarkable level of ferocity. More remarkable still, YOUNG maintains this ferocity for the remainder of the set… Even the most impartial observer could see why Young continues to inspire such devotion.” (The Guardian, March 2008)
YOUNG is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and two-time inductee into of America’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (firstly as a solo artist, then as a member of Buffalo Springfield). He is revered by peers and protégés alike, and has worked with artists from Emmylou Harris to Pearl Jam. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea wrote in Rolling Stone in 2004 that “Neil is the guy I look at when I think about getting older in a rock band and still having dignity and relevance and honesty. He’s never, ever sold out, and he’s never pretended to be anything other than what he is.”
NEIL YOUNG is, simply, the real deal. One of the rare modern musicians for whom the term “legend” is more under than over-statement. His shows this summer in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne offer a rare chance to witness the legend perform in his purest form.
And a message for fans elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand: stay tuned for a special announcement.