THE FALLOUT: Neil Young Cancels 2026 Europe Tour & What Went Wrong?

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

The ongoing fallout over the sudden cancelation of Neil Young's 2026 European Tour with The Chrome Hearts continues to reverberate across the Atlantic and beyond.

As the eloquent Scotsman puts it:

"The cancellation of Neil Young's Euro tour has unleashed a tsunami of disappointment (and also bittersweet understanding) among those who had tickets — and raises questions about exactly what went wrong."

So first, let's try and unpack what we know.

Last year on November 21, 2025, Neil Young announced that the LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR would begin on June 19, 2026 in Manchester, England followed by about a dozen other dates.  Ticket sales began on November 28.

On January 21, a new tour date was added for June 17 at the Eden Sessions in Cornwall, UK.

On January 27, Neil Young held a Patron ZOOM call for roughly one hour -- "looking fantastic" -- where he discussed a multitude of topics including additional possible tour plans in the U.S. plus recording an album of new songs in the studio.

Neil Young on Patron ZOOM 

January 27, 2026

image via Rusted Moon

Then on February 6, Neil Young announced the cancelation of the 2026 European Tour with The Chrome Hearts. 

 Statement via Neil Young Archives

In a statement published on Neil Young Archives, Neil wrote:  

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but now just isn't the right time."

So what happened between January 27 and February 6? Apparently it was still the right time to tour on January 27 but less than 2 weeks later it wasn't?

Obviously, the rustie speculation is off the charts. Folks bought tickets for Europe. Bought plane tickets, booked hotels and rentals. And suddenly, no tour or plausible explanation.

And with that background, The Scotsman steps up to attempt to understand what's happening here ... although it ain't exactly clear. Scotsman walks through the standard litanies of Neil's health, Neil following his muse, Neil's "eat a peach" attitude, etc.

Recall that just back in 2024, suddenly all remaining dates of Neil Young's tour with Crazy Horse were canceled unexpectedly for "health reasons". The Scotsman sums up 3 possibilities for the Europe tour cancelation:

A) Health. B) Unsatisfactory sales/demand. C) Donald Trump.

The bottom line: who knows?

Lastly, we'll highlight The Scotsman's conclusion regarding The Eden Project, the event just added to the itinerary:

Finally: Take a listen to the first 180 seconds of the video embedded at the top of the page , (TW: below) about the Eden Project. Particularly, take note of the section around 2:30 to 3 minutes in. This all sounds like a dream scenario for Neil, doesn't it? Indeed, it explicitly focuses on the very same subjects he's passionately dedicated much of the 21st century to.

At least in this case, I think he is absolutely sincere about being sorry to let people down... and he will be disappointed not to attend, too.

If nothing else, we can all agree about the disappointment all around.  

Thanks Scots -- as always -- for the words. The passion.  The insights.

If you can, please support @ The Flying Scotzman | Patreon. 

peace

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Happy Valentine's Day to All of Our Hearts of Gold + Nathaniel Rateliff Joins Farm Aid Board

Nathaniel Rateliff @ Farm Aid 2025Minneapolis, Minnesota - Sept. 20, 2025 

photo by thrasher 

(Click photo to enlarge)

Happy Valentine's Day!  But first, some news ....

Nathaniel Rateliff has joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors. 

Per the Farm Aid organization, after a unanimous vote, Rateliff will work alongside founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, fellow artist board members Dave Matthews and Margo Price. Rateliff is the third artist to be added to Farm Aid’s Board since its original founding.

A statement by Nathaniel Rateliff:

 “Farm Aid has made a huge impact on me. 

It is always one of my favorite events of the year. It is an honor and a privilege to join my heroes and peers as a Farm Aid board member. I look forward to working together to continue educating the public on the struggles family farmers face and to raise money to support them for a better future.”

Congratulations Nathaniel. 

And in the spirit of Farm Aid, here is Bob Dylan's full set at Farm Aid 40 in HD video.

• Introduction by John Mellencamp 0:00
• All Along The Watchtower 0:54 
• I Can Tell (Samuel Smith) 5:27 
• To Ramona 9:02
• Highway 61 Revisited 13:20
• Don't Think Twice, It's All Right 17:31

And last but not least, a Happy Valentine's Day to All of Our Hearts of Gold out there! 

Appropriately, here is Neil Young with Crazy Horse with an animation video (by Micah Nelson) for the song "Don't Forget Love" from the 2022 album "Barn".

  

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Don't Forget Love, Animated Version (Official Music Video) 

It's been many, many years now since Neil Young's immortal song "Heart of Gold" entered our lives, and we'd like to wish that every day could be everyone's favorite day: Valentine's Day.  

It should be noted that the 2022 post on Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 kicked off a healthy discussion amongst our resident commenters (now known as ‘Thrashers Wheat Sanity Collective’) over "romanticism in Neil's music".  Check out those comments -- should you be a romantic.

and #DontForgetLove

ps - this belated comment is for all of our dear German readers. Hope you can pick up on what we're putting down ...

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New Neil Young Albums Coming: Live Chrome Hearts + 1997 Hippie Dream Warmup Tour with Crazy Horse

 Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts: Live Album
 (Click photo to enlarge)

For this year's Record Store Day on April 18, a limited double LP version of the upcoming live album by Neil Young & Chrome Hearts will be released on 140-gram clear vinyl. 

Per a RSD press release, the album has 13 tracks, recorded during the 2025 "Love Earth" tour in Europe and North America. 

Setlist: Neil Young with Crazy Horse 

El Trocadero, San Francisco, CA, May 8, 1997

image via Sugar Mountain

In other "another new Neil Young album coming" news, a concert of El Trocadero, San Francisco, CA, May 8, 1997 will be released TBD and "in advance of Archives Volume #4", per NYA.

From the 1997 Hippie Dream Warmup Tour with Crazy Horse, the concert album will be from two different sources: the Hard Luck Stories recording and a complete audience recording. The entirety of the Hard Luck Stories version, which is incomplete, was spliced ​​with the audience recording as seamlessly as possible, and the sound quality is said to be "very good". 

With "Razor Love" (played twice), "Don't Be Denied", "Hard Luck Stories", "Throw Your Hatred Down" (also played twice) and more. 

1st Set

01 Hard Luck Stories

02 I'm The Ocean

03 Razor Love

04 Crime In The City (false start)

05 Crime In The City

06 Truth Be Known

07 Piece Of Crap

08 Don't Be Denied

09 Throw Your Hatred Down

10 Downtown

11 Hippie Dream (aborted)

12 Hippie Dream

13 Mellow My Mind

14 Rockin' In The Free World

2nd Set

01 Hey, Hey, My, My

02 Slip Away

03 Big Time

04 The Losing End

05 Sedan Delivery

06 Throw Your Hatred Down

07 Razor Love

08 Cowgirl In The Sand

09 Prisoner's Of Rock And Roll

UPDATE:  It appears that early reports have been confused. Apologies. Corrections and clarifications in comments below.

More concert reports @ “Love Earth 2025 Tour”: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts.

love earth 2025 WORLD tour neil young and the chrome hearts (see “Love Earth 2025 Tour”: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts ) 

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Neil Young Cancels 2026 European Tour

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

Neil Young has cancelled the European LOVE EARTH 2026 tour with The Chrome Hearts.

Scheduled to start on June 17 in Manchester, England and include 14 stops across France, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy.  

In a statement published today on Neil Young Archives, Neil writes:

I've decided to take a break and won't be touring Europe this time. Thank you so much to everyone who bought tickets. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but now just isn't the right time. I love playing live and being with you and Chrome Hearts.

be well,
LOVE 

Neil

Elvis Costello was scheduled to open on several dates. 

Official Cancellation from Eden Festival

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Undressing Rock & Rolls Most Famous Cover-Up: Stephen & Neil’s Shared Sweater (Serape/Poncho)

Crosby Stills Nash YoungWoodstock - 1969photo by Barry Levine

Editor: In honor of National Sweater Day, we bring you an exclusive investigation into Stephen Stills and Neil Young's late 60's "sweater phase" by our "Mild Mannered Reporter in Chicago" John Kwit.

Happy National Sweater Day!

Peace

INTRODUCTION by John Kwit: This article is written to celebrate National Sweater Day which, if you believe what you read on the internet, is either February 4 or 5. 

The prose is meant to bring a smile and peace to those who are stressed out over current events.  Chill out, we can’t even agree what day National Sweater Day falls on but that’s ok.  Enjoying this story is also cheaper than visiting a therapist so sit back, read and study the pictures.  For those in the audience who are nit-picky let’s get one thing out of the way: I refer to the garment celebrated in this article as a sweater.  There is no National Serape Day that I’m aware of.  When you create National Serape Day we’ll talk.  

My apologies to the photographers whose images are unidentified.  I was on a tight deadline for my favorite editor. 

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Undressing Rock & Rolls Most Famous Cover-Up:

Stephen & Neil’s Shared Sweater (Serape)

Stills Crosby Nash Woodstock - 1969photo by Henry Diltz

So where do we start?  

Well with CSNY the logical date is August 18, 1969.  CSNY are about to step on a stage at Woodstock before a crowd of 500,00 people to perform their third concert ever - the first two were in Chicago at the Auditorium Theater.  Interestingly, I’ve never seen documented photos from either of their 1 night/2 show Chicago gigs so if you are aware of any send them to Thrasher so he can share them with the world.  It must have been a little bit cool at Woodstock in the predawn hours as the boys ambled on stage.  For this auspicious occasion, Stephen Stills decided to wear a dark blue/white striped sweater (serape).  It looks like it is made of heavy, thick wool, enough to keep the cold winds at bay. 

Here’s where my questions begin: Did the sweater originally belong to Stephen and where did he obtain it?  Neil was more into the fringe buckskin coat style, so my guess is it was Stephens.  I can picture Stephen walking into a Laurel Canyon second-hand clothes store where the incense is burning and the red-oil lava lamps are bubbling. “Hey man how much is that serape you got hanging on the wall?  $5.75? Cool, I’ll take it.” 

It became readily apparent that this sweater must have been one of his favorite items to wear because after Woodstock I don’t think he took it off much.  Stephen is donning it the following day on the Dick Cavett TV Show.

Stephen & Joni Mitchell on the Dick Cavett show the day after Woodstock 1969

 Stephen & Joni @ Big Sur Folk Festival 1969 

photo by Jim Marshall

Jack Robinson was a New York based photographer so my best guess is that he took these promo photos of CSNY soon after the Dick Cavett show while the boys were still in town before the band headed out to play the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California.  Once again, Stephen is wearing his striped sweater!

Stephen Stills

In September 1969, Stephen has the famous sweater on for a CSNY performance on the Music Scene TV show and then in California at the Big Sur Folk Festival.

Stephen with CSNY September 1969 

The Music Scene TV show (Manager Elliot Roberts in bottom left )

At some point in time, Neil Young enters the sweater story.  He’s been watching Stephen wearing this sweater constantly for the last month.  He might not have appreciated it right away, but at some point it probably dawned on him: “Man that is one d*mn, groovy sweater.  The chicks seem to dig it.  If I could only pry it off him.  I’ve got to see if he’ll let me wear it around town some day.”  So perhaps the conversation between the two of them went something like this:

Neil: Hey, man, I’ve been meaning to tell you that that is one cool sweater you’ve been wearing almost daily for the past month.  I’d hate for it to get too grungy. Why don’t you let me take it into the dry cleaners for you?

Stephen: Wha? Hey, you’re my brother and that’s an outta sight offer.  Let me take it off for you.  In fact, before you take it to the cleaners why don’t you try it on and see if you like it.  Like David says, what’s mine is yours so yeah, go ahead and wear it around for awhile.  If you can give it back before our next gig that’d be cool ‘cus it just gives me this comforting feeling when I wear it on stage, like a security blanket.

Neil: Right on, that’s boss, brother.  Man this fits like a glove what do you think?  Far out, huh?  I’ll take good care of it, that’s for sure.  I’m just gonna’ grab some bread from the community jar on the counter in case I decide to bring it the cleaners early.  Gotta’ run. Eat a peach.  See you in a few days.

The next thing you know, Neil is sporting the sweater all over town.  It was used for a promo photo as well as a 45 rpm single sleeve if I’m not mistaken.

Neil Young

At some point, Neil either willingly or begrudgingly returned the sweater to Stephen.  That’s what brothers do.  The last photo I could locate shows Stephen wearing the sweater to promote his first ever solo tour in 1971.  His bandmates included Dallas Taylor, Paul Harris, Calvin Fuzzy Samuel and Stephen Fromholz along with the Memphis horns (Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love).  It is sad to note that all those talented individuals have passed away with the exception of Fuzzy Samuel.  If you know your CSNY-related history, the first three men went on to become part of Stephen Stills’ band Manassas and Fuzzy was CSNY’s bass player in the studio and on tour in 1970, contributing to many of their greatest moments together including recording Neil’s song Ohio and their live performances on the album Four Way Street.

Stephen & Neil

Stephen Concert poster for 1971 tour

I have the honor of knowing Fuzzy and I called him about this article to see if he remembered Stephen or Neil wearing the sweater.  He did.  He did not wear it himself, and does not recall any other member of the CSNY family wearing it. 

Now for a shameless challenge to Stephen Stills: I’m assuming the next edition of your  Light Up the Blues Concert for Autism Awareness is coming up soon in April.  How come Fuzzy isn’t on your artist invite list?  The man still has the talent and chops to play.  To have Fuzzy, you and Neil on the same stage making joyful music for a worthy cause would be an awesome sight and make for a truly memorable night.  I’d even fly out from Chicago to take it in.  Cue up the next Thrasher’s Wheat exclusive article.

The sweater disappeared from Stephen’s wardrobe for four decades or so.  My guess is he has a decent sized closet to store things in.   The last time I saw Rock and Rolls most famous sweater was when I viewed it behind plexiglass at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (HOF) in Cleveland, Ohio.  I don’t know if it is still on display there or not.  Regardless, when in Cleveland never pass on the opportunity to visit the HOF as it is simply amazing to view all of the artifacts on display.  You could spend a week there and still not take it all in.

The two people with the real story to tell behind the sweater are Stephen and Neil.  Perhaps their “people” will share this article with them.  One or both of them can write directly to Thrasher and tell their side of the sweater story.

Patti Smith & Neil YoungBookExpo America in New York City - 2012

Neil with new sweater by DHLOVELIFE

Neil Young & The Kitchenettes - 2012
Photo by Paul D

Happy National Sweater Day!

Peace

John Kwit

Mild Mannered Reporter 

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Thanks John.  We all needed this.  And Happy National Sweater Day! Who knew?! Maybe someday a National Serape or Poncho Day!?

Keep on being mild mannered in the free world!

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