Neil Young

by Daniel Durchholz

Tournée française de Neil Young! Paris - Bercy le 06 juin 2013 Arênes de Nîmes le 17 juillet Les Vielles Charrues le 20 juillet Neil Young est l'un des monuments du rock'n'roll. Un survivant et une icône des swinging seventies , qui a connu plusieurs vies, plusieurs carrières parallèles, dans des groupes illustres (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crazy Horse) ou en solo. Un artiste d'une sincérité absolue, y compris dans ses embardées les plus déroutantes -sur l'abum Trans , paru en 1982, sa voix était déformée par un vocoder !-, qui a exploré toutes les pistes musicales, sans se laisser influencer par le bizness. Et qui n'a jamais cessé de travailler.


Aujourd'hui, à soixante-sept ans, le Canadien de Toronto tourne toujours et enregistre des disques, certes pas tous aussi géniaux que Harvest (1972) ou Rust Never Sleeps (1979), mais jamais banals. Comme son compère Dylan, le seul à qui il puisse être comparé, Neil Young a entamé un " never ending tour ", un combat pour les valeurs auxquelles il croit. Dont la musique : " Hey Hey My My / Rock'n'roll can never die ".

Cet artiste d'exception méritait un grand et beau livre, riche en témoignages et en documents inédits, qui le saisirait sous toutes ses facettes, défi relevé par Durchhholz et Graff, deux stars de la rock critique américaine. Un exercice d'admiration, mais sans nostalgie : " J'ai passé ma vie à détruire systématiquement les attentes de mes fans. C'est pour ça que je suis toujours vivant. Je n'ai cure de la nostalgie ", dixit Neil Young himself .

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Autobiography

223 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2010

Reviews

[Dawn Lennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after reading Shakey, the Neil Young biography which ultimately, I think, became the authorized biography. If you know Young, you understand the way things work with him.

This book drew in great part from Shakey but included lots more, taking the reader up to 2012. The images of Young playing, all the album cover art, the presentation of all his albums in order, commentary by other musicians, and helpful organization of the bits and pieces of a helter-skelter musician made this book a terrific, entertaining reference.

It is actually a cocktail table book but with plenty of heart. Anyone who tried to sort out Neil Young and his career deserves plenty of points. This book earned more than a few.

[West Hartford Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casual fans and Neil Young fanatics alike will love this book. More of a scrapbook than biography, each page is filled with great photos, ticket stubs and jacket art from the decades of Neil's career. The text is generously sprinkled with quotes from previously published articles and interviews with Neil and his bandmates, family, and friends. The book covers his life from birth until 2010, with most of the focus on his music. There are sidebars into other things (Farm Aid, The Bridge School, Lionel Trains, etc.) but not much on his personal life and certainly no new revelations. Those looking for a full treatment of Neil's life would do better with Jimmy McDonough's 2002 authorized biography Shakey.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep reading as much as I can about this amazing and unique artist. This is another in the realm of Neil Young books that I have come across. It is a pleasure to see all of the great photographs on practically every page.

I have enjoyed seeing Neil in concert many times, solo, with CSNY and with Crazy Horse. This impressive history is a fun and interesting read. Lots of photographs, posters and ticket stubs illustrate his career, albums recorded and impressive tid bits about everything Neil Young. I particularly enjoyed the quotes from other artists about Neil and how they feel about him. Universally positive messages from all of them, simply illuminate an astounding and gifted artist who has stayed true to his muse.

Yes Neil, Long May You Run!

[Janne Paananen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varsin onnistunut henkilökuva Neil Youngista. Kuvituksena paljon komeita valokuvia, julisteita, levynkansia, konserttilippuja ja -julisteita ynnä muuta Youngin musiikkiin liittyvää. Teksti etenee koronologisesti kattaen hurjasti levyttäneen artistin uran alkuhämärästä aina vuoden 2009 Forkin the Roadiin asti. Välillä syvennytään sivun tai aukeaman verran yksittäisiin merkityksellisiin asioihin: Neil Youngin lempikitaraan, hyväntekeväisyyskonsertteihin tai riitaan Geffen levy-yhtiön kanssa. Näissä on toisinaan ikävän tuntuista toistoa varsinaisen tekstin kanssa, koska merkitykselliset asiat luonnollisesti tulevat varsinaisessa tekstissäkin esiin. Viimeisimmät vuodet saavat palstamillimetrejä alkupään tuotantoa vähemmän Tämä on sikäli sääli, että Young lienee niitä harvoja artisteja, jonka viimeaikaisimmatkin tekemiset ovat kuranttia tavaraa. Joka tapauksessa hyvä kirja aloittaa Neil Youngiin tutustuminen.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casual fans and Neil Young fanatics alike will love this book. More of a scrapbook than biography, each page is filled with great photos, ticket stubs and jacket art from the decades of Neil's career. The text is generously sprinkled with quotes from previously published articles and interviews with Neil and his bandmates, family, and friends. The book covers his life from birth until 2010, with most of the focus on his music. There are sidebars into other things (Farm Aid, The Bridge School, Lionel Trains, etc.) but not much on his personal life and certainly no new revelations. Those looking for a full treatment of Neil's life would do better with Jimmy McDonough's 2002 authorized biography Shakey.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first: this book is a visual stunner. In terms of biography, it might disappoint some folks -- the info comes through in anecdote, scenes and images. It's not a straight start to finish narrative. The thing that I think sets it apart in awesomeness (yes, that's right, awesomeness) is the collection of graphics. There are ticket stubs, buttons, album covers, book covers, photos, matchboxes -- it's amazing. I loved this one.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil Young: Long May You Run: The Illustrated History by Daniel Durchholz, Gary Graff (Voyageur Press 2010)(780.92) is a great collection of memorabilia for the hard-core Neil Young fan. I've read David Crosby's two memoirs and Graham Nash's biography, and I still don't have a handle on what kind of guy Neil Young is. My rating: 5.5/10, finished 9/20/12.

[Erikalcms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great way to learn more about my favorite artist, when at first I knew nothing about him. It was very interesting, and I loved all of the photos and memorabilia! Keep on rockin, Neil!!

[Bob Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Made me dig up all his stuff and listen with a new ear.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a light read, but it does an okay job of putting down the chronology. Some great photos too. A nice book to dip in and out of.

[David Becker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thin on narrative and even worse as far as insight into Young's work and thinking. But some nice images of career ephemera.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

via NYPL - well structured, great artwork, clear and easy to read. Not essential for Neil fans, but welcome.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The collection of interviews and images of Neil Young's work is really interesting but this reads like a history textbook.

[Frans van der Reijden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old man I'm a lot like you are.....

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woo Hoo!!!

[Du · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so coffee table book written for just that audience.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

"the illustrated history" complements the other Neil Young books!