Hey! Who's that stomping all over my face?
It now seems as if the long awaited Buffalo Springfield 2012 Reunion Tour will not be going down after all.
There have been quite a few rumors, confirmations, denials, and relentless speculation about Buffalo Springfield reunion tour plans over the past months.
In an interview with Stephen Stills on 97.3 KBCO: World Class Rock, Stills says the tour is off, that he will tour solo, Richie Furay has solo tour plans also, Crosby & Nash will tour together next summer, and Neil Young is "writing a book".
Stills says, "Neil [Young] started a book and said, 'Don't mess with the muse, man.'"
Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Rick Rosas and Richie Furay
Fox Theater, Oakland, California, June 2, 2011
Photo by and courtesy of Suzi Roks Photography (all other rights reserved)
We're really not sure where to go with this.
We could blog on all of Richie Furay's quotes on the tour happening.
Or recite stories of Neil and his on and off relationship with his bandmates.
Or about how we thought Neil was working on NYA Volume #2.
Or whether following The Muse is a good idea.
But we won't. Not today.
Because we're so grateful that we saw the triumphant reunion of The Buffalo Springfield at 2010 Bridge School Benefit Concerts.
And, for what it's worth, those memories can never be taken away from any of us.
Buffalo Springfield @ Bridge School Concert - 10/23/10
Photo by John Green - San Jose Mercury/Bay Area News Group
UPDATE: From Buffalo Springfield Postpone Reunion Tour Again | Rolling Stone Music By Andy Greene:
"This delay happened for a multitude of reasons," Richie Furay's manager David Spero tells Rolling Stone. "The plan is still to tour next year. There's not a timeline at this point. Buffalo Springfield is at the top of Neil's list or priorities. It's just a matter of finding a time that works for everybody."
Looks like Neil pulled a Neiler on Stills once again. Hope the muse puts Neil on the road again soon!
ReplyDeleteNow I won't be back 'til later on
ReplyDeleteIf I do come back at all . . .
*sigh* Now I really, really wish I'd gone to Bonnaroo.
Do I have to come right out and say it..?
ReplyDeleteF@$%^#$^#$^#$^&#^&$%^%#&!!!!!
I'm truly thankful I choose 2010 for my first Bridge School Benefit...
ReplyDeleteWell ... huh. That dang muse thing - it gives, gives, gives, gives.
ReplyDeleteAnd once in a while it takes, too.
I think the best thing to do is enjoy the music in its various parts, pieces, and extended family forms.
And chew slowly.
What, no one is excited by the prospect of a book by Neil? Come on...
ReplyDeleteLet's have some suggestions for the title. Here's mine: In Service to the Muse.
Yes, Sean, that's exciting. But what sort of book is he writing, I wonder? If it's a straight memoir (or even if it's not - say it's a book of collected lyrics), then I nominate:
ReplyDeleteWords (Between the Lines of Age)
@Melanie - well, hopefully the Buff will ride again someday.
ReplyDelete@SONY - yes, you do.
@Brian - chewing slowly...
@Sean B - great idea! How about "Never Listen To Your Fanbase: True Secrets of a Rock Legend" ;)
But seriously, you can't mess with the Muse. That said, we all would like Neil to continue focus on the music while he can. A book could wait until he can no longer tour it woukd seem.
Although the Muse works in mysterious ways we hear....
Not that a book penned by the man himself isn't extremely interesting to ponder - BUT - as each month ticks by I just can't help but face up to the probability that the Horse may never ride again for a full tour or maybe even a few shows - or one show. That sinks my heart quite low because none of them and none of us are getting any younger.
ReplyDeleteYou ever get the feeling that Neil has ADD?
ReplyDeletelet's see whether writing a book will take as much time as to release Archives volume 1!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletebook title: 'Journey thru the past'
@Old Black - see "Neil Young is like a lighthouse beam": Joel Bernstein
ReplyDeleteI honestly thing that Stills is saying the Springfield isn't touring because Richie and Stephen have solo dates announced. No one will buy tickets if everyone knows they could wait for early next year for the real thing. As soon as Richie and Stills are done with their tours, the Buffalo anouncement is imminent. I do agree Neil should write a book once he can't perform anymore. I'm 24, I've seen Neil every year of my life since 2006, seen CSNY, Neil solo, Neil with Springfield twice and many different electric bands (5 of wich were with Ben Keith)and it kills me that I may never get to see the Horse. Wake the Horse Neil!!!!
ReplyDeletethink*
ReplyDeleteHow about "They Call Me Shakey For A Reason"
ReplyDeleteRight now I'd have to say that I'm a little more than frustrated with Neil's use of his 'muse' to escape from commitments, especially at the expence of the livelyhood of so-called 'brothers'as he leaves them in his wake of destruction. I thought he was finally over that?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBook title - "Why do I keep fu*%in` up?"
ReplyDeleteI think the book is about LincVolt and how 1st came to be and how it is being reborn from the ashes.
ReplyDeleteAs Richie said to Neil when Neil suggested that they put off the tour until later, "Neil, do the math" .. Neil Young + Buffalo Springfield Reunion = disappointment!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll follow my muse and not go to work next week.
ReplyDeleteNeil Young stole my dog!
ReplyDeleteWell, we always have the tapes....
ReplyDeleteDid a tape from LA Wiltern ever surface? I can hear a definite evolution through the tapes I have right up to Bonnaraoo......I don't think the playing ever got to be transcendant (maybe if I were there I might have felt differently), but by Bonnaroo's Bluebird, things definitely loosened up a bit....
Although it's sad that the Buffalo Springfield tour has been cancelled, I'm excited about the fact that Neil is working on a book.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of a book exactly, though?
What first came to mine is that he's working on his autobiography. But then I thought this was a bit odd because the Archives have always seemed like the equivalent to his autobiography. Then again, I know that Jonathan Demme went on a road trip with Neil in Ontario right around the time that Demme was filming Neil's two gigs at Massey Hall in mid-May. (I was at both shows.) Demme shot some footage of them driving around and visiting some of Neil's old childhood haunts while Neil reminisced about his childhood. Some of this footage is included in "Neil Young Life," which is being premiered at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Monday, September 12. (I'm planning to get a ticket. They go on sale tomorrow.)Perhaps the road trip with Demme ignited something in Neil and he now wants to write a book and get his thoughts down on paper.
My next thoughts on the subject wandered to LincVolt. I know Neil is still really into LV, so perhaps the book could be a history of LincVolt.
Then again, I'm only speculating so anything is possible.:)
Neil doesn't owe any of you whiners anything. Thank the God of your choice that Neil Young lived on this earth the same time as you and stop with all of the moaning. It'll be a sad, sad day when Neil passes from this world. Until then, anything can and will happen. Just chill people.
ReplyDeleteSteven James
^ 'Tis true, folks ... 'tis true.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you delete my comment Thrasher? Because I expressed my frustration with Crazy Horse fanboys who took this occasion to ask again for a Horse tour?
ReplyDeleteDon't wanna be Buffaloed...
ReplyDeletedworc taerg a sward noisufnoc taerg semitemos... ym ym daed si luaP
Hmmmm a book! Will it be a somewhat hallucinatory, rambling memoir? Or an epic, satirical, futuristic sci-fi eco-thriller about a space-based agricultural society on a gigantic farm-spaceship orbiting a pollution-ravaged planet?! Or will it be The Linc-Volt Story, Book 1 of a projected 10 volume series!?? Or maybe an immense historical nonfiction tome about American Indians? Or uh... hmmmm!! The possibilities!!
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is, I'm pretty certain it'll be a great read. I'm rooting for the eco-sci-fi satire, myself.
@LRR - yes, and hopefully a BS film too someday. maybe Demme will edit?
ReplyDelete@Sharry - Who knows about the book? It would seem to be a long way off before we'd ever see anything published. maybe something for release after all the Archives are released? Maybe a book for the next NYA volume? As for the LV book, it seems there's a film in the works. Anyways, so many projects. lucky us. ;)
@Alex - nothing has been deleted. Make sure you refresh. Also, did you get a publish confirmation? Sometimes comments fail. Need to make sure you have a persistent connection between time you start comment and hit publish. Always good to c&p just in case.
Chief, perhaps I'm taking you too literally, but are you suggesting that Neil's decision to postpone the tour, or rotate the lighthouse beam or whatever, is going to devastate Stephen and Richie economically?
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about guys who have been living incredibly blessed lives, who have more than they could ever need, and have never had to have "jobs" like the "rest of us" in their entire adult lives. They are wealthier than many of us could ever imagine being.
Not to mention that Neil is not responsible for how they manage their insanely fortunate lives.
What do all you people expect? This is what we all have been seasoned to expect from the man. This is quite normal for neil.
ReplyDeleteNeils life is an open book, is there anything he knows that he ain't said? This book will written with pleanty of time to record a new album and ride that crazy horse next summer.
Dug
@Matthew - right, it'll be all of that and more .. hallucinatory, rambling, epic, satirical, futuristic, eco-thriller.
ReplyDeleteY'know greendale on acid or something.
@dug - precisely. Curve balls are Neil's forte. Expect the unexpected. It's all good. Books, films, albums, concerts, Q&A's, eco-cars. etc...
It just never stops with adventures in Neil. lucky us.
Neil is a wealthy old Canadian Legend. He has been performing incessantly since 1982 with just 4 brief intermissions(1991,1994,1998,2005). He is maybe just a little tired of the road-record routine and prefers to work at home for a while without warning his fan base.Anyway,I'm happy with a new book, tour, record, whatever...
ReplyDeleteSo Tired
That`s true Andrea, and yes we are lucky. My first reaction to this was `oh no, not again`, but on the positive side it shows once again that Neil at 65 is still very creative and actively driven. He still delivers a new studio album most years, as well as the fantastic Archives Performance Series, and we know he`s working on numerous projects. Ok, the delays are frustating, but I can`t think of another artist of his status and age group who is so productive. And I can`t think of another artist I`d rather follow.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder whether he`s trying to cover as much ground as he can, while he still can, and while `the muse` is still with him, although that`s not something any of us really want to contemplate. Part of the joy of following Neil is that you never know what could be waiting just around the next corner.
I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it.
ReplyDelete— Audrey Hepburn
Things change.
--David Mamet & Shel Silverstein
(as spoken by Don Ameche)
The Moving Finger writes
And, having writ, Moves on
Nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back
To cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears
Wash out a Word of it.
--The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Verse 51
Remember the Alamo
When help was on the way
It's better here and now
I feel that good today
--Neil Young
Do whatever you want.
--Neil Young
"I believe in you Jack"
--Hurley (final episode of Lost)
There's a lot of love floating around in our family. The original 1984 edition of Neil and Me stands as a heartfelt record of one part of our lives. Others have written, will write, or are writing books updating Neil's life. I happily leave them to it.
ReplyDelete--Scott Young from Neil and Me (1997 edition)
To the next generation
--Scott Young
Suggested book titles include:
ReplyDeleteLet's Eat A Peach With The President
His and Hearse: Driving To America
What If We'd Gone With "Sitting Bull" instead?
Know Hid In Pass
Play Fucking Loud
Walking My Dog
Honey Slide Blues
Redwood Highway
But seriously, I think the Springfield tour will happen when it's the right time...but I do sure wish that I'd bought those tickets for the first LA show like I almost did.
And I think that a book from Neil will be something very special. Maybe with a core based around the 70's and a chapter about Carrie. I'm really looking forward to this and whatever else Neil does. And I can see why he might want to pull back for a bit...don't we all sometimes.
I'm currently reading Steve Earle's great new novel I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive and it's a must read. I got to meet Steve a couple weeks back after he performed a wonderful set and was signing copies of his book and latest album.
Saying what a fan I am, I added "That's a beautiful new son you have there Steve". "Thanks" he replied, smiling slightly, "he's asleep in the bus right now".
So this is for Steve and Allison's son Henry Earle! Or dare I say "Master Henry" (ouch).
And finally for Neil, Richie, Stephen and everyone else, I offer this wonderful video of Wilco playing California Stars at this year's Solid Sound Festival. Sarah Lee Guthrie is singing along to her granddaddy's words, and hearing this performed live was one of the pure pleasures of my life. Hope that you enjoy--hang in there!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHTqZVHoX2s
@Mr H. - some good titles there. :)
ReplyDelete"What If We'd Gone With "Sitting Bull" instead?" Good question.
Thanks for Wilco clip. Solid, indeed.
Just saw this news and can't help but feel initially disappointed ... we've been blessed for a number of years now to have Neil almost constantly touring and putting out new (and old material) it has truly been a worldwind for Neil fans for the past number of years ... it seems of late that things have slowed down a bit ... can't help but wonder if the loss of Ben Keith plays into this somewhat ... it seems that he was really lovin' that band for the past number of years and it just opened up his whole canon and brought a vibrancy to the shows and to what was possible for Neil to play. That along with Archives I with all its warts marked at least a multi multi year peak of being a Neil fan IMHO ... with Ben's passing he moved on the Le Noise, which in my mind was an epic master piece easily the best studio album in 10 years ... Le Noise exposed how alone Neil was/is in terms of the options out there for pushing forward .. basically he was saying he'll just keep pushing forward alone because there isn't a great band option to inspire him ... The horse always had its limitations in terms of testing Neil's impatience and one can only think it gets harder not easier as everyone gets older and perhaps rustier (no pun intended) ... Seems Neil always wanted the Springfield reunion and it happened but my guess is his enthusiasm, after a pause, waned as he realized it happened, now what, not sure Neil could stay that enthused for a whole tour and he's not a faker as we all know ... I wonder if the book was as much the muse saying no to Springfield as it was saying yes to a book (just a theory) ... seems like maybe Neil will stay on the sidelines until the music starts pounding (or strumming) in his head and then he'll be back with vigor and passion which is what we all expect and love about him ... the lack of band options at this stage is a big question mark and in retrospect, even though we all knew it, we were blessed with his previous band which without Ben is clearly no longer ... the good news is that we all know Neil can't stay on the sidelines for too long and the break, as hard as it is to accept, will be the bridge to renewual and the next chapter in his live performances which is bound to be fabulous. In the interim, we fortunately have a vast canon of live and studio music to rediscover until Neil comes around again.
ReplyDeleteDan
You'll have to excuse me for I'm having one of those 'disappointed fan' moments. I could write a rather lengthy post in my defense, yet I could still follow it with a longer one of praise and admiration. Such is the irony of being a Neil Young fan. However, the full story has yet to be revealed ... But Neil writing a book?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we've seen the last of the Buffalo, and maybe not. As someone on FB mentioned, there's probably a lot more going on than made public. The thing about the Buffalo was that it was totally Neil's baby. Although it was Stephen who first suggested a reunion, it was Neil who took the ball and ran with it. It was Neil's people who put the whole tour together right up to and including stage setting, logistics, venues and selecting Gilliam Welch as the opener. I can't totally believe that he would turn his back on all that.
ReplyDeleteBTW, did you notice that there never was a word from him in any of the interviews? Still, we learned a lot just from what Stephen, Richie, Joe, Rusty Young, and others had to say.
As I posted elsewhere, I saw them, got the videos, and a T-shirt. I'm set, but I really would like to see more from them. Record a modern day CD of the better 'demo' songs from the Box Set, and maybe new material from all of them.
As for the Buffalo, from what I've read, it's been on Neil's and Stephen's mind for a long time. It was those two and not Richie who felt there was some unfinished business to be taken care of. As to why it didn't happen sooner, that is something we may never know. Richie and Stephen have always said that it was up to Neil as to whether the Buffalo roams or not. Personally, I don't think that we've seen the last of them, but we also all know that time is running out. An example of that are the posts from those who have medical and health issues who are hoping for one last look at the Buffalo, and time may be running out for them.
Zot
Everything posted here is just speculation, and that's all well and good. What remains to be seen will play out in the coming months, years, whatever. If we've seen the last of the Buffalo, then so be it although I do feel a twinged of sadness if that becomes the case. I said before that I am a Buffalo Springfield fan first, Poco second, and everybody else including Neil after that.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that does concern me is that time is running out, and the older ones gets, the faster time flies by. There are Buffalo fans that were hoping to see the band soon because they are facing health issues and that they may not be around too much longer. So, if Neil decides it's time for the Buffalo to roam again, I hope that it is sooner rather than later if for no other reason for these fans with health issues. (Hey. I've got'em too, but I'm still walking, talking, and fairly mobile)
Is Neil following his muse or Mr Keith Richards ? Keith sold over a million copies of his book...and earned great acclaim...
ReplyDeleteIt's always about Neil. I love him, but if you have read Shakey you know what a selfish jerk he can be. The rest of them just wait for him. Graham said that well whatever when Neil calls we come. He needs to be disciplined!
ReplyDeletethe first real group for both stills & young, should focus on tour w/ new sougs & cd while the both are still in good health
ReplyDelete