canada.gif

gb.gif

de.gif

us.gif
Neil Young's new release ""World Record" w/ Crazy Horse is now available for pre-order. Order here
(Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link or YOUR COUNTRY's FLAG. Thank you!!!)
ADVERTISEMENT
<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Monday, January 09, 2012

Kurt Cobain Sleeps With Angels



Pearl Jam's recent film PJ20 featured Neil Young discussing Kurt Cobain and his final days.

In Kurt Cobain's suicide note he quoted Neil Young's song "My My, Hey Hey" lyrics "It's Better to burn out, than to fade away."

From Kurt Cobain and Neil Young:

Cobain's use of the lyrics had a profound impact on Young, who recorded portions of the 1994 'Sleeps With Angels' album in Cobain's memory.

Apparently, Neil Young had been trying to reach Cobain by telephone in the days before his suicide to no avail.

From New Musical Express article "Reflective Glory" (07/15/95) by Steve Sutherland & Kevin Cummins on recording "Mirror Ball" (Neil Young and Pearl Jam collaboration) in the aftermath of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain's suicide and the contradictory forces of life and death:

    On "Mirror Ball", though, the natural incompatibility of these forces has been raised into shocking relief by one disciple choosing an unfeasibly extreme interpretation of Young's message when Kurt Cobain quoted, "It's Better to burn out, than to fade away." In his suicide note, citing Young's lyric as artistic justification for ending his inconsolable anguish, Young was shaken to the bone. Always an advocate of allowing the listener his or her own individual path through a record, he was so devastated by Cobain's personal reaction to a song that was basically written as a celebration of Punk that he was impelled to record the 'Sleeps With Angels' album in lament."

The NME article continues and observes:

    "Perversely, it is testament to Young's emotive power that Cobain should choose his words as an epitaph, but it is something Young still visibly shudders from. Once a song is out there on the radio, he reasons, it's not anyone's responsibility anymore.

    'It's the machine and the fuel. It's over now. I'm not behind the wheel at all. It's gone. It's over.'

    As for Cobain, he mutters: 'I don't wanna talk about that. I just don't know what to say. Obviously his interpretation should not be taken to mean there's only two ways to go and one of them is death.'

    He laughs a cold, dry laugh.

    It's rumoured that Young was trying to contact Cobain at the time of his suicide, that he somehow foresaw the tragedy coming.

    'I don't wanna talk about it," says Young. 'I really don't because I respect the fact that he's a guy who did what he did and, y'know, he did what he had to do and I don't wanna get any ...' He falters and recomposes himself behind alarming blue shades.

    'I prefer to not be involved at all. I certainly don't wanna take advantage of talking about something like that for the interest of somebody else I've never met and selling myself in paper in the process. I'd rather you just left it out. It's just distasteful to me.' "



During Neil Young's induction speech into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 13, 1995, Young choked up and concluded by thanking Cobain for "all of the inspiration".

It has been debated as to whether Kurt Cobain or Neil Young is the Godfather of Grunge? Cobain's demise has only added to Nirvana's musical legacy and influence. Yet Young has strenuously avoided any such labeling, preferring to be called "Don Grungio" instead.

From a Neil Young interview in MOJO Magazine with Nick Kent:

    Q. Sleeps With Angels seems deeply haunted by the spectre of Kurt Cobain and his sad end...

    A. Sleeps With Angels has a lot of overtones to it, from different situations
    that were described in it. A lot of sad scenes (pause), I've never really spoken about why I made that album. I don't want to start now.

    Q. Has it anything to do with the similarity of Kurt Cobain's death to Crazy Horse Danny Whitten's death in 1972? They both looked so much alike...

    A. I just don't want to talk about that. That's my decision. I've made
    a choice not to talk about it and I'm sticking to it. [Also see, Danny Whitten and Kurt Cobain: Tragic Similarities]

    Q. Let's not discuss Cobain's death then. But what about his life? Did his music inspire you?

    A. He really, really inspired me. He was so great. Wonderful. One of the best, but more than that. Kurt was one of the absolute best of all time for me.

    Q. "Scenery" on Mirror Ball (recorded with Pearl Jam) seems equally haunted by Cobain's doomed image.
    It's like there's OJ Simpson on one side and Kurt Cobain on the other: two very different victims of celebrity madness?

    A. Well, the problems with celebrity and rock'n'roll start with the
    fact that nowadays it gets way too big too fast. Back in the '50s and '60s, rock'n'roll was 'big' but it was only 'big' to people who cared about it.

    Now it's big to people who don't care about it. So they can't begin to understand it. They just make ill-informed judgements on performers without first comprehending why or what it was that made the person famous in the first place. In the '60s there was a bond between the artists and the audience.

    It's harder to see now because so much these days is simply down to image projection. But today's pessimistic bands have a vision and an attitude that's unified their generation just like the 'peace and love' groups helped unify the '60s generation.


More on Kurt Cobain and Neil Young.

Labels: , , ,


17 Comments:

At 1/10/2012 12:50:00 AM, Blogger doc said...

As I said on another post...one can only wonder what would/could have been if Kurt had not ended his life so prematurely...a collaborative unplugged Neil/Kurt session maybe?
We will never know now, hey hey(my my)

doc

 
At 1/10/2012 09:47:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've never heard this acoustic version - what a gift!! Thanks Thrasher - where is this audio taken from? A Bridge show??

Peace...

 
At 1/10/2012 11:35:00 AM, Blogger Tweck9 said...

Wow, that version of SWA is awesome!! Thanks Thrash, that made my day.

 
At 1/10/2012 12:11:00 PM, Blogger SONY said...

A very fine rendering of, to me, a very dark song. It is easy at this point to see Neil's influence on the grundge scene, and their reverence for him. I think the appreciation both ways is based on the respect given for artistic integrity.
Personally I haven't encountered the 'genius(?)' of Cobain, or of Pearl Jam, or Eddy Vedder. Can't quite take it in. To me it's more noise than muse, but that's personal taste to artistic ability and delivery. I think they are very lucky to have 'Uncle' Neil in thier corner.

"A. Well, the problems with celebrity and rock'n'roll start with the fact that nowadays it gets way too big too fast. Back in the '50s and '60s, rock'n'roll was 'big' but it was only 'big' to people who cared about it." - This insight is pure Neil, from one who lived the changes in culture and society relative to the access and importance of the music and the exaggeration of stardom. He has always been able to impart a view of things seldom expressed on most topics relating to the real, down to the ground, impact and interpretation of what's going on.

The linked MOJO interview on the whole is as good a one as I have read, Hard to believe it's 16 years ago already with Neil at 50. Where does the time go?

 
At 1/10/2012 12:29:00 PM, Blogger Mother Nature on the Run said...

That's what most people don't get about tortured artists and why so many of them are already dead even before they begin their journey.

The drugs come after you discover that the music or art you create (or the fame you acquire) doesn't quite fill that void for the pain or sorrow or depression or loss.

Kurt needed early intervention. Unfortunately, too many people prospered from this man's pain, fragile mental health, and depression.

 
At 1/11/2012 12:35:00 AM, Blogger Dan1 said...

Mind blowing, what an awesome version! Thanks Thrasher! Sugar Mountain lists the song as being played live ... eight times ... eight whole times ... 3 in '94, 1 in '95, and 4 in '02 ... I can never get over how Neil puts out an epic album, a real life changer ... then he plays the songs a few times live, before you know it he's on to the next thing, you look back and realize there's dozens of these albums out there ... and he's playing 20 songs a night ... and so there's dozens of example like 'Sleeps with Angels' where he's played an epic, epic song live less than 10 times ever ... my conclusion to this realizations is we need Neil out there touring so his epic songs get the exposure they rightfully deserve:)

RIP Kurt!

 
At 1/11/2012 09:16:00 AM, Blogger thrasher said...

SWA from 1994 Bridge Concert, with Crazy Horse.

 
At 1/11/2012 09:18:00 AM, Blogger thrasher said...

@Dan1 - yes, it is quite astonishing how many great tunes have been rarely played live.

There's one song in particular from the RNS era that we'd really like to hear live again someday... ;)

 
At 1/11/2012 02:09:00 PM, Blogger SONY said...

T-funny how 'that song' is on the RNS DVD but cut from the album. Must be when he couldn't release the warts.

 
At 1/11/2012 03:21:00 PM, Blogger Mother Nature on the Run said...

Stupid question here:

I'm curious how most people knew about "that song" because it was last played in '78. Other than bootleg tapes to which not many people had access (only real Neilophiles) and only very "recent" access to bit torrent technology, I'm curious how most people knew about "that song" before it surfaces in the release of the concert dvd?

 
At 1/11/2012 04:05:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

MNOTR - no stupid q's here.

And speaking of stupid... what song are you referring to???

I was referring to the song Thrasher never being played in concert since.

 
At 1/11/2012 09:47:00 PM, Blogger Mother Nature on the Run said...

I was talking about "Trasher."

 
At 1/12/2012 03:12:00 AM, Blogger doc said...

Another song Neil never played much live was "goin'home" with crazy horse..its a great song with a really good guitar riff.

Your right Thrash,there are a lot of great songs he never hardly played live at the time.

doc

 
At 1/12/2012 03:38:00 AM, Blogger doc said...

I notice youtube has a compilation of 100 of Neil's songs..the selection isn't bad...a couple of repeats from different live concerts..but otherwise a good variety of his hits and live gems...worth a look

doc

 
At 1/13/2012 11:10:00 AM, Blogger Mr Henry said...

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried
--Richard III

When your bones are frail
I'll still sleep soft at your side
--Tobin Sprout

I've been listening to Sleeps With Angels quite a bit lately. Not that surprising really, since it's one of my favorite Neil albums. So much transformation going on there, dealing with the emotion and confusion. And I'm drawn back at certain times.

Kurt's death so sad. I remember watching him during that last tour as he played his guitar. If only he could have come through the other side. I'm watching him again now, through the magic of film. Go to 1991: The Year Punk Broke and Live at the Paramount to see Nirvana when the flame burned hot and bright.

So sad when we lose music greats. We lost another one this past Friday with the passing of Tommy Ardolino, drummer extraordinaire for NRBQ. In the words of Bonnie Raitt, "There's Charlie Watts and there's Tom Ardolino. That's it." Like many others, I took the Q for granted way too long, until some good musician friends helped me realize their true greatness. The rhythm section of Tom Ardolino and Joey Spampinato was just another way of saying "rock and roll". RIP....

Tommy's story is also one of the great tales of music. He first saw NRBQ when he was fifteen, playing at The Paramount Theater in Springfield, MA. He got in touch with Terry Adams, became friends, then wound up playing drums in the band for the next thirty years. Magical things can sometimes happen at The Paramount...that's where I saw the greatest show of my younger years (more on that some other time).

Sometimes the flame burns really hot, roaring and illuminating everything around. Sometimes it's a long and steady flame, one that's reassuring and right. Either way, when it goes out you sure do miss it. So for Tommy and Kurt, here's a video of Sometimes I Dream of Willie Mays, performed by The Baseball Project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PzAwu7OUzk

Out on the corner
The angels say
There is a better life
For me someday
--Neil Young

 
At 1/15/2012 02:25:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

Thanks Mr H., as always.

"Sometimes the flame burns really hot, roaring and illuminating everything around. Sometimes it's a long and steady flame, one that's reassuring and right. "

Captures the sentiments brilliantly.

And sad news on NRBQ.

 
At 1/18/2012 09:43:00 PM, Blogger Mr Henry said...

"I awoke with well-being and was happy all day until bending to a chore it occurred to me that I had merely dreamed. Caught in this fading strain I tumbled. Yet I felt that once I had been truly capable of this modest incredible feat and could be again if I willed so."
--Patti Smith from Woolgathering

You're very welcome...People Have The Power!

 

Post a Comment

<< Home

<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Willie for a Nobel!
#Willie4Nobel

Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize
for Farm Aid and his work on
alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives.

farm-aid-logo.gif
Farm Aid

Go Farmers Markets!


"In the >field< of opportunity
It's plowin' time again."

SUPPORTER
logo
Silverline Communications

(Home of the FarmAidians)
Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
(519) 737-7979



This blog supports free speech!


Demand justice for Aaron:
Support "Aaron's Law" and inquiry into his prosecution

(... he didn't kill himself either...) #AaronDidntKillHimself

Induct Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame



Please Help Support Independent Media &
Non-Corporate Advertising
This Blog's For You!


The Hypocrisy of the Mainstream Media

It's Been Called The
"Missing Link" in the Ditch Trilogy

time-fades-away-banner2a

Sign the Release "Time Fades Away" Petition
Join The 10,000+ Who Have Already Signed


broken-arrow-mag-new-logo.gif

Neil Young Appreciation Society


sugar-mtn-logo.jpg
Sugar Mountain

Neil Young Setlists
rust-radio-new
Rust Radio


bumpersticker-neil-concert.jpg


i-l-ove-neil-young-sm.jpg
Bands Covering Neil Young songs


bumper-sticker-live-music-better-sm.jpg
LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER


ny-times-logo.jpg
Official Neil Young News Site

bridgeschool_logo
The Bridge School


The Bridge School Concerts
25th Anniversary Edition

**100% of Proceeds to Benefit Bridge School***

linda-eastman-neil-young-sugar-mtn-sm.jpg
The Essential Neil Young

neil-young-sleeveless.jpg
Fans Favorite Neil Albums

neil-young-heart-of-gold-film-still
Top 50 MP3
Neil Young Song Downloads


Top 10 Best Selling Neil Albums Today
amazon-neil-store.GIF
Support Thrasher's Wheat
via Purchases from:
United States - Amazon.com us.gif
Canada - Amazon.ca canada.gif
United Kingdom - Amazon.uk gb.gif
Germany - Amazon.de de.gif



Neil Young Songbook Project

In the fields of wheat

"Children of Destiny" will NOT be harvested
However, the chaff will be burned by unquenchable fire

Neil Young + Promise of the Real

Europe 2016 Tour Dates



2015 Rebel Content Tour


Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Alchemy Concert Tour Reviews

Fall 2012 N. America Tour
Spring 2013 Australia/New Zealand Tour
Summer 2013 Europe Tour

Europe Summer 2014 Concert Tour
Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Thrasher's Wheat Radio Supporters Go To Europe

jttp-film-poster-sm.jpg
Neil Young Films

musicares-neil-young-2010.jpg
2010 MusiCares Honors Neil Young

Features Elvis Costello, Crosby Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, Dave Matthews, James Taylor, Keith Urban, and others.
Proceeds from sales go to MusiCares,
which helps musicians in need of
financial and medical assistance.

live-rust-promo-poster.jpg


"There's more to the picture
Than meets the eye"

#BigShift

trans-promo



Neil Young FAQ:
Everything Left to Know About the Iconic and Mercurial Rocker
"an indispensable reference"

paul-neil-bridge2004-sat-sfc-kkomenich-sm.jpg
Paul McCartney and Neil Young

woodstock-poster.jpg


"You can make a difference
If you really a try"

lennon_peace_liberty
John Lennon and Neil Young


"hailed by fans as a wonderful read"

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young:
csny-1974-poster.jpg
The Supergroup of the 20th Century



Director Jonathan Demme's Exquisite film "Heart of Gold"

eddie & neil
Eddie Vedder and Neil Young

buffalo-springfield-poster.jpg
Revisiting The Significance of
The Buffalo Springfield


"The revolution will not be televised"
... it will be blogged, streamed,
tweeted, shared and liked
The Embarrassment of Mainstream Media

Turn Off Your TV & Have A Life


"Everything Is Bullshit" +
"Turn Off The News"
Turn Off the News (Build a Garden)


Neil Young 2016 Year in Review:
The Year of The Wheat

Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain and Neil Young

Neil Young's Feedback:
An Acquired Taste?

Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years
by Rustie Sharry "Keepin' Jive Alive in T.O." Wilson

"the definitive source of Neil Young's formative childhood years in Canada"

neil & joni
Joni Mitchell & Neil Young

europe 1987.jpg


dylan-young-crop
Bob and Neil

weld
So Who Really Was "The Godfather of Grunge"?


Four Dead in Ohio
kent state
So What Really Happened at Kent State?


The Four Dead in Ohio



May The FOUR Be With You #MayThe4thBeWithYou

concert-pass-europe-2003-solo.jpg


dissent is not treason
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism

Rockin' In The Free World



Sing Truth to Power!
When Neil Young Speaks Truth To Power,
The World Listens

emmylou-harris-neil-young-0305-crop
Emmylou Harris and Neil Young

wilco-062305-wide-background.jpg
Wilco and Neil Young

bluenotes-pass-young88crewlam-sm.jpg

bruce-springsteen-neil-young-bridge-oct-1986.jpg
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young

europe87concertpass


elton-john-neil-young-crop-sm.jpg
Elton John and Neil Young

ronnie-vanzant-neil.jpg
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young

+

The Meaning of "Sweet Home Alabama" Lyrics


Neil Young Nation -
"The definitive Neil Young fan book"

powderfinger
"Powderfinger"
What does the song mean?

Random Neil Young Link of the Moment
neil-sad.jpg

Bonnie Raitt and Neil Young

Wisconsin-solidarity.jpg
I'm Proud to Be A Union Man

UNITED WE STAND/DIVIDED WE FALL


When Neil Young is Playing,
You Shut the Fuck Up


Class War:
They Started It and We'll Finish It...
peacefully

A battle raged on the open page...
No Fear, No Surrender. Courage
WE WON'T BACK DOWN. NEVER STAND DOWN.

"What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees?"
Full Disclousre Now


"I've Got The Revolution Blues"

Willie Nelson & Neil Young
Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize



John Mellencamp:
Why Willie Deserves a Nobel

willie_picnic_poster_070503


BOYCOTT HATE

Love and Only Love

"Thinking about what a friend had said,
I was hoping it was a lie"


We're All On
A Journey Through the Past

Neil Young's Moon Songs
Tell Us The F'n TRUTH
(we can handle it... try us)

Freedom:
freedom-video
Does Anything Else Really Matter?

"Nobody's free until everybody's free."
~~ Fannie Lou Hamer

Here Comes "The Big Shift"
#BigShift

Maybe everything you think you know is wrong? NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
"It's all illusion anyway."

Propaganda = Mind Control
NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
Guess what?
"Symbols Rule the World, not Words or Laws."
... and symbolism will be their downfall...

Brighter Planet's 350 Challenge
Be The Rain, Be The Change

csny2k-plate.jpg
the truth will set you free
This Machine Kills Fascists


"Children of Destiny" - THE Part of THE Solution

(Frame from Official Music Video)

war is not the answer
yet we are
Still Living With War

"greed is NOT good"
Hey Big Brother!
Stop Spying On Us!
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism

The Achilles Heel
#NullifyNSA
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.”
~~ Bob Marley

The Essence of "The Doubters"



Yes, There's Definitely A Hole in The Sky


Even Though The Music Died 50+ Years Ago
,
Open Up the "Tired Eyes" & Wake up!
"consciousness is near"
What's So Funny About
Peace, Love, & Understanding & Music?

churchsign

Show Me A Sign

"Who is John Galt?"
To ask the question is to know the answer

"Whosoever shall give up his liberty for a temporary security
deserves neither liberty nor safety."

~~ Benjamin Franklin

Words

(Between the lines of age)


And in the end, the love you take
Is equal to the love you make

~~ John & Paul

the zen of neil
the power of rust
the karma of the wheat

~Om-Shanti.

Namaste