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An unofficial news blog for Neil Young fans from Thrasher's Wheat with concert and album updates, reviews, analysis, and other Rock & Roll ramblings. Separating the wheat from the chaff since 1996.
Neil Young shared a photo yesterday on social media on his 74th birthday.
While we have seen thousands of images of Neil over the decades, there are relatively few of him smiling broadly. But never have we seen a full ear to ear grin of such a happy man. It really looks like the guy was having one of his best days. We sure hope so after the year he's had thus far with his losses of Pegi and Elliot earlier.
So here's to happier days ahead.
While the photo is un-credited, one feels that it was taken by someone who loves life. But don't we all love life. LAOL
It should be noted that the listing of charitable causes and benefits is only partial and stops at 2010 -- which was our last update. Rarely -- if ever -- has a single artist supported so many causes, for such a sustained period, raising considerable funds and awareness while reaching out to millions and millions around the world. When reviewing Neil's listing of benefit concerts, not only is one struck by the sheer diversity of benefits he has supported over his 50+ year career, but that clearly Neil Young is a humanitarian rebel WITH causes.
To say "Long May You Run" is to wish for more Neil goodness and his outstanding "GMC (Good Moral Character)" in our futures.
First off, Neil Young is 74 years young today, Tuesday, November 12. So Happy Birthday Neil!!!
2nd, this was to be a momentous day for Neil Young as he expected to take an oath of citizenship to become a U.S. citizen. Unfortunately, that has not happened because his application has been delayed due to "possible lack of GMC (Good Moral Character)".
Politics aside, this delay due to "possible lack of GMC (Good Moral Character)" has really struck a chord. For example, Crazy Horse's Nils Lofgren is not pleased with the news either tweeting at us @ThrashersWheat : "This is outright, utter bullshit. Fucking outrageous."
Many, many others have rushed to attest to Neil Young's moral character citing his efforts for The Bridge School (USA) and Farm Aid (USA), as just two example (more below).
As has been pointed out put by others, this situation is like what President Richard Nixon tried to do to Beatle's John Lennon. But John became bigger than ever. And Nixon became disgraced. Here's praying that's where analogy ends.
In 2011, Neil Young was honored with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at Canada's Juno Awards. The award honors a Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and recognizes Young's compassionate legacy behind events such as Farm Aid, Live 8, and Bridge School Concerts.
As we have noted previously, rarely -- if ever -- has a single artist supported so many causes, for such a sustained period, raising considerable funds and awareness while reaching out to millions and millions around the world. When reviewing a listing of benefit concerts that Neil Young has played over the years, one is struck by the sheer diversity of causes he has supported over his 45+ year career.
Rarely -- if ever -- has a single artist supported so many causes, for such a sustained period, raising considerable funds and awareness while reaching out to millions and millions around the world.
In 2010, Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year in Los Angeles, two days before the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. An impressive roster of musicians lined up to honor Young which included Booker T. Jones, Jack Black, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Everest, Patty Griffin, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, k.d. lang, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leon Russell, James Taylor, Wilco, and Lucinda Williams.
Here is just a partial list of benefit concerts that Neil Young has played over the years that we posted on the Rust list back in 1994. And the diversity of causes is particularly striking. Of course, the two primary beneficiaries of Neil's generosity have been the Bridge School Benefit Concerts and Farm AID. The Bridge School concerts began in 1987 and are to benefit the school for children with severe speech and physical impairments. The Farm Aid concerts began in 1985 and benefit the small American family farm. Farm Aid is the longest running event of its type in music history.
Neil has performed annually at both the Bridge and Farm AID shows and has raised considerable sums for these causes. The performances at these two annual benefits are well documented.
The Farm Aid 4
Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Neil Young
But what about the other benefits and causes of the charitable Mr. Young?
Hungerthon - Palace Theater, Los Angeles, CA w/ CSNY, 11/12/88
Nordoff Robins Music Therapy Benefit Concert - NYC, NY, 11/17/88
Paul McCartney and Neil Young
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Bridge School Benefit Concert - October 23, 2004
Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA
Photo by Kim Komenich of San Francisco Chronicle
Friends of Parents Helping Parents - Santa Clara, CA, 12/88
Earthquake Aid - Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, 11/26/89
Dallas Taylor Benefit - Santa Monica, CA benefit former CSNY drummer, 3/31/90
California Environment Benefit Concert, Santa Monica, CA, 4/1/90
Nelson Mandela Benefit, Wembley Stadium, London, 4/16/90
Bill Graham Tribute w/ CSNY, San Francisco, CA, 11/1/91
Walden Woods Benefit - Los Angeles, CA, 4/1/92
Children's Health Benefit, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA, CA w/ Simon & Garfunkel, 3/1/93
Certainly this is only a partial listing as there are surely many undocumented causes and performances that Neil has supported over the years. But you get the idea. He's got a heart of gold.
Neil Young Night - Tuesday, November 12
Tonight's The Night Because Every Night is Neil Night
Happy 74th Birthday Neil Young!!! Long May You Continue To Run & Run.
"Happiness is the valuable commodity and that's what makes life good."
~~Neil Young
Photo by Matt Furman for The Wall Street Journal
(Click photo to enlarge)
CITIZEN NEIL: Canadian Neil Young's Application To Become A U.S. Citizen Delayed Due to "Possible Lack of GMC (Good Moral Character)"
Neil Young
In somewhat surreal news, the application by Canadian Neil Young to become a U.S. citizen has been delayed due to "possible lack of GMC (Good Moral Character)".
In a posting on Neil Young Archives: "I Have Been Very Successful In My Life", Neil reveals that his initial citizenship interview went fine, but due to a technicality, another interview has been required by the USCIS because of his "marijuana related activities".
Last month, Neil Young said in an interview: “I’ve passed all the tests; I’ve got my appointment, and if everything goes as planned, I’ll be taking the oath of citizenship” shortly after turning 74 on Nov. 12." Neil continues to be optimistic on becoming a U.S. citizen in order to "vote my conscious on Donald J. Trump".
Completely agree Nils/Amy! Neil Young lacking moral character?? Wow! - The Bridge School - Farm Aid - Stands up to injustices - Protector of the environment - Ohio, Southern Man, Alabama, Rainbow of Colours, Rocking in the Free World We will always love and support Neil in 🇨🇦
In a posting last week , we covered a Times-Contrarian article that Neil Young is considering releasing all his unreleased album projects for subscribers well in advance of their normal physical releases.
In response to a NYA Letter to the Editor by Uncle Eddie -- who is concerned about living long enough to ever hear the unreleased albums by Neil Young -- Neil reflects on his aging fan base and what to do. Neil writes that he is looking to accomplish releasing everything in 2020.
And the response thus far has Neil thinking about "A New Tier (Uncle Eddie's Tier?)" which he contemplates on yesterday's posting on Times-Contrarian | Neil Young Archives. This higher tier would access unreleased material.
As with all things internet related, the issue of piracy is the challenge. How to post unreleased material and maintain exclusivity in age of rampant theft, corruption and piracy by the evil parasites which crawl amongst us innocent "Children of Destiny"? But we digress ... yet again ...
Neil Young's Film "Journey Through the Past" on NYA Hearse Theater - UPDATED
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 10/10/19 - UPDATED 11/19/19
Frame via Neil Young's Film "Journey Through The Past"
As noted earlier, an updated schedule for Hearse Theater is now posted on Neil Young Archives which includes the premiere repeat screening (on Hearse Theater) of Neil Young's film "Journey Through The Past" earlier this week on Tuesday.
Hearse Theater on NYA is now playing this weekend Neil Young's underground-cult-classic-midnight-movie "Journey Through The Past".
And -- unsurprisingly - some folks were underwhelmed and thankful Neil pursued a musical rather film career. Some folks just never get it. sigh.
In January, Neil Young announced that his 1973 film "Journey Through the Past" would be coming to NYA Hearse Theater. The 1973 film -- presciently referred to as "Early Neil Young as Reality TV" -- has long been an underground cult classic for fans with it's quite weird trippiness and stream of consciousness incomprehensibility.
Interestingly, look closely at the desert scene in the film Journey Through the Past where there is a shot revealing The Graduate wearing a Woodstock shirt just before shooting up.
The Graduate (note Woodstock shirt)
The film is saturated with extremely symbolic imagery which has been the subject of vigorous debate for decades (on Neil forums like RUST) as to what Neil may have been implying. In particular, the images of those inside the chauffeured limousine, which represent Church, Military and Business.
The Military, The Church, and The Business
After re-watching on NYA, it seems clear the implication is that this "Holy Trinity" is directly involved in conspiring to kill the hopes and dreams of future generations of young adults. It would would be much longer before terms such as "Military-Industrial-Complex" entered mainstream discussions as the root cause of societal dysfunction, breakdown and decay. Very prescient, Neil. All a rather profound and provocative "truth bomb/wake up call" from a "stoned hippie's home movie" (as critics dismissively declared upon release).
So here's to "experimentation without fear"! discuss.
Neil Young speaks about the new streaming audio service Amazon Music HD in a promo.
It's been a long, lonely battle on quality sound over the decades, but redemption for Young's quest is near at hand with HD streaming.
Earlier this year, a book on the subject titled "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker was released on Neil’s quixotically quirky quest to deliver high-quality audio.
"To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker Release Date: September 9, 2019 (Pre-order it here. Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link. Thank you!!!)
Now playing in Hearse Theater | NYA, The Prairie Wind Sessions by Neil Young with a 10 minute film by L.A. Johnson on recording the song “The Painter”.
>> Pre-Order on Amazon.com << 
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