Through The Lens: Henry Diltz (featuring Neil Young) | Gibson

Through The Lens: Henry Diltz (featuring Neil Young) | Gibson

From YouTube: (thanks Mike "Road Dawg"!

Henry Diltz, one of the most iconic rock and roll photographers, shares his stories of photographing Neil Young and the music legends of Laurel Canyon, Buffalo Springfield, and beyond.

Henry Diltz was just finding success with his band, the Modern Folk Quartet, when he picked up a camera by chance in a secondhand store. From that moment, his place in history was set in motion. Living in the heart of the music movement in Laurel Canyon, Henry was perfectly positioned to capture some of the most pivotal music moments, including Woodstock, the Monterey Pop Festival, The Doors' Morrison Hotel album cover, and his friend Neil Young.

Watch the latest episode of Gibson TV’s “Through the Lens” as Henry shares stories of photographing Neil Young, capturing the spirit of the music scene in the 60s and 70s, and chronicling the era that shaped rock and folk music forever. From the intimate moments of Neil Young’s early days to legendary festivals like Woodstock and Monterey Pop, Henry’s work offers a rare glimpse into music history as it was being made.

See never-before-seen images of Neil Young and get a firsthand look at the moments behind the lens—hear how Henry captured some of the most intimate photographs of Neil Young and how Henry managed to capture iconic moments in Neil Young’s career, his experiences with Laurel Canyon’s tight-knit musical community including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the trust that allowed him to capture rock’s biggest legends in their most unguarded moments.

This episode is a must-watch for fans of Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the golden era of folk rock. Henry Diltz didn’t just document history—he lived it. 

▶ For fine art prints & more information on Henry Diltz, visit https://henrydiltz.com

Henry Diltz ... in younger days ...

More on Henry Diltz and Neil Young.

Photographer Henry Diltz, with his iconic photograph of Crosby, Stills and Nash 1969 debut album cover is featured prominently in the exhibit at the Grammy Museum exhibit "California Dreamin': The Sounds of Laurel Canyon, 1965 - 1977"

(See Laurel Canyon Exhibit at Grammy Museum: California Dreamin' Explores Music Scene in the ’60s, ’70s)

 

"Unpainted Faces"
by Henry Diltz
(see "Unpainted Faces" by Henry Diltz)

A cherished wish of "Peace & Happiness!" from Henry

John Kwit & Henry Diltz

(see A CSNY Family Weekend Featuring The Our House Band)

---

---

REACTION: Neil Young's New Song & Video "Lets Roll Again"

"Tesla is just good; they've created something good."Neil Young -  June 24, 2016(Click photo to enlarge)

The polarizing reaction to Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts new song and video "Lets Roll Again" has ranged from robust cheers and applause to condemnation and accusations.

 "Lets Roll Again"  Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts (Video Frame via Official Video) (Click photo to enlarge)

Not since 2006's album Living With War has a Neil Young album had so much controversy before its actual release.

The primary controversy around "Lets Roll Again" -- set to the tune of  Woody Guthrie’s iconic “This Land Is Your Land” --   swirls around the lyrics:

‘If you’re a fascist, then get a Tesla/

If it’s electric/

It doesn’t matter/

If you’re a Democrat, then taste your freedom/

Get whatever you want, and taste your freedom.’ 

The video accompanies the verse with a ‘Heil Tesla’ image depicting Tesla's Elon Musk’s mistaken "Nazi-style salute", which, btw, was really just him touching his heart and waving to crowd in a gesture of love.

Elon Musk

(Video Frame via Official Video)

"Heil Tesla"

(Video Frame via Official Video)

Neil Young's Tesla/Musk outrage has not always been the case.   Neil Young famously converted a  Ford Lincoln Continental into "LincVolt", an electric car.  The project began in approximately 2008.

Linc-Volt Press Conference with Neil Young

 SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

Back in 2016, Neil Young was critical of German car manufacturers in an interview with Associated Press.  (thanks Rusted Moon!)

Neil Young: "There's nothing revolutionary about building an electric car with all the air pollution on our planet. 

But car manufacturers keep building the same cars over and over again—and they even advertise how advanced they are. The same old story over and over again. It's disappointing to see so little innovation. And then Tesla comes along and leaves everyone behind. Especially the German car manufacturers. They acted like it was a joke, like Tesla was a joke. But suddenly Tesla has overtaken them on the road.

And they're not even advertising. Tesla is just good; they've created something good.

I didn't make it ["LincVolt"] to sell it to anyone. I just wanted to say, 'Look, this thing exists, it's great.' I've put 55,000 miles on it now. 

I drive it all the time; I love it."

So. Times change, feelings change.

More on Neil Young's  LincVolt: Re-powering the American Dream.

                

                                    Neil Young & Marc Benioff

                   Keynote @ 2010 Dreamforce (SalesForce) Conference

More on Neil Young's latest album "Talkin To The Trees" with the band The Chrome Hearts.

 "big change is coming" 

by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

(Video Frame via Official Video)

---

---

NEW Official Music Video: "Lets Roll Again" - neil young and the chrome hearts + ALBUM COVER & TRACKLIST: Talkin To The Trees

 "Lets Roll Again"  Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts (Video Frame via Official Video) (Click photo to enlarge)

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts have released a new Official Music Video for the song "Lets Roll Again" (thanks JVJ!, see comment below).

 

From Neil Young Archives:

"Talkin to The Trees is announced today with our new single, ‘Lets Roll Again’ out there with its video. I hope you like it. I heard Elon was upset about it and called me ‘Neil Old’. Hey, I am the same age as the felon running this country.

In these times, many of us, including me, are stressed by what is happening in America. I sure hope you and your families have found ways of coping. We go out to the demonstrations every weekend and it feels good to stand with fellow Americans and Canadians, who feel the lack of empathy and consideration our felon president is presenting to our people.”

We must stand together. I don’t know where we are going but we are growing every day. I am with you, even if you voted for the president, I am with you. Too many things have been done that are hurting us all. Young families should be thinking about the day before them, and their children, not the days behind and fearing what is happening next to American lives. These are our people. All Americans. All Canadians. This sad moment in our history is Un-American.”

love

neil 

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts debuted the song "Lets Roll Again" last week at Stephen Stills "Light Up The Blues" Concert.

Anthony Sporting FarmAidian T-shirt!

The new song is from the upcoming album Talkin To The Trees scheduled for release  on June 13, 2025. 

Talkin To The Trees 

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts

(see update below)

Talkin' To The Trees by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts  

Tracklist:

01. Family Life 

02. Dark Mirage 

03. First Fire Of Winter 

04. Silver Eagle 

05. Let's Roll Again 

06. Big Change

07. Talkin' To The Trees

08. Movin' Ahead

09. Bottle Of Love

10. Thankful

UPDATE:

Apparently, this is the actual album cover per Greedy Hand:

Talkin To The Trees 

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts

In January,  Neil Young dropped a track from his latest album titled "big change is coming". In addition, an Official Music Video was released featuring the band  The Chrome Hearts.

 "big change is coming" 

by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

(Video Frame via Official Video)

---

---

Stephen Stills "Light Up The Blues" Concert w/ Neil Young, others - Los Angeles, April 26

Stephen & Kristen Stills

photo by Paul Salden

Neil Young SETLIST via Sugar Mountain:

1. For What It's Worth (guests with Stephen Stills)

---

2. Let's Roll Again (new song)

3. Big Box

4. Ordinary People (1st play in 36 years, 18+ minutes) 

5. Human Highway

6. Rockin' In The Free World

Photo by Jeff Allen

Neil Young w/ The Chrome Hearts 

frame from Todd Norris 

"For What It's Worth" - Stephen Stills & Neil Young ~Light Up the Blues for Autism Charity concert ~ Greek Theater, L.A., CA

Neil Young w/ The Chrome Hearts - “Ordinary People” 04/26/25 Greek Theater, Los Angeles, CA



"Let's Roll Again"


"Rockin in the Free World"


More photos and reports to come ...

---

Previous ...

Light Up The Blues Concert 
 (Click photo to enlarge)

Neil Young and Stephen Stills "Light Up The Blues" benefit concert will be held at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles tonight, Saturday April 26.

This is the seventh "Light Up The Blues" benefit concert in aid of the organization Autism Speaks, which aims to promote understanding and inclusion of individuals with autism and their families.

In addition to Stephen Stills and Neil Young, Billy Idol,  Nathaniel Rateliff, Cat Power, Linda Perry, Rufus Wainwright, Chris Stills, Christina Applegate, and Very Special Guests.  The evening will be hosted by Stills and his wife Kristen. 

Proceeds support Autism Speaks’ mission to provide resources and services for autistic individuals across the spectrum and throughout their lifespan. This includes funding life-enhancing research, increasing early childhood screening and interventions, and improving the transition to adulthood for people with autism.

Neil Young will perform with The Chrome Hearts band.

More on "Light Up The Blues" Concert (#6) in 2023.

Stephen Stills & Neil Young
Light Up The Blues 3rd Annual Concert (2015)
Photo by Jeff Allen
(Click photo to enlarge)

---

---

A Question on Neil Young's Product "Quality"

Neil Young's COASTAL film soundtrack 
 (Click photo to enlarge)

Discussions of the COASTAL soundtrack have raised questions on Neil Young's product "quality".

As background,  Neil Young's COASTAL film soundtrack vinyl & CD product have been withdrawn from sale on Greedy Hand due to errors in the album’s production and mastering process. In addition, after a series of glitches, the soundtrack is now streaming on NYA.

A comment by Old Black on a message received when ordering  COASTAL soundtrack:

"I regret to inform you that Neil Young has discovered an audio glitch on the cd and has therefore requested that we put an immediate halt to all shipments, and also issue an immediate recall on any stock that remains at retail."

The latest episode comes after various past struggles with quality, such as the Rust Bucket DVD issue or  BBC 1971 DVD reissue,  But as The Flying Scotzman points out, is this really production and mastering issues or simply poor quality control allowing bad product to go to production?

Other fans have in turn pointed out that’s unfair, as not all these issues are equal. Why? Because while most were errors in quality control, others were deliberate creative decisions.

The Rust Bucket dvd re-think, for example, was a separate issue to some of the recent QC issues. The mix was not a mistake, as such, but an intended effect by Neil — and one with good thinking behind it. 

(To clarify, the first Rust Bucket dvd featured an remastered version of John Hanlon’s flagship master mix for the CD version. The fairly aggressive remaster for the dvd involved John’s mix being made narrower, louder, and given a treble and bass boost. This was an attempt, perhaps only partially successful, to more thrillingly simulate the excitement of the authentic live sound. The second edition dvd restored John’s unedited mix.)

But despite being an intentional production choice, the first Rust Bucket does in hindsight feel like a pivotal project — a turning point of sorts:

It was around this time Niko Bolas took over from John Hanlon. (This is perhaps relevant, or perhaps merely coincidence. Niko has certainly done great work with Neil before, even if his preference for drums over guitars is perhaps less suited to Neil’s electric work than Briggs’ and Hanlon’s guitar-centric approach.)

 As Scotsman concludes: "And is it asking too much to expect Neil’s record company to play a role in actually checking the product works as intended (and meets even a minimal-viable standard of quality) before putting it on sale?". No, not at all.

Neil Young: Coastal

Directed by Daryl Hannah

Quality issues aside, the concert film COASTAL was a joy to experience in theaters with friends and new acquaintances. So one can only hope this all resolves swiftly so that the wonderful soundtrack can be properly experienced and enjoyed.

Lastly, we can only add that Neil Young's product quantity has been staggering over the recent years.  Definitely not an excuse, but it's not surprising when one declares "open the vaults" that there are faults.

To quote Neil himself: "Quality: Whether You Want It or Not".

Occupy Audio: Neil Young is "Angered By Today's Sound Quality"Jonathan Demme and Neil Young
Slamdance Festival 2012, Park City, Utah

---

---