Artist Shepard Fairey Paints Neil Young's New Songs

"Clementine”
by Shepard Fairey
(Click photo to enlarge)

According to the other NYTimes.com, artist Shepard Fairey is making a painting of each song for Neil Young's new album “Americana.”

What Mr. Fairey didn’t expect was the intensity of Mr. Young’s involvement.

For all the tracks, the artist submitted several digital mockups inspired by the narrative (none based on an identifiable original source, he emphasized). Then Mr. Young picked his favorites. Mr. Fairey said he was also surprised to learn that “God Save the Queen” is not just a Sex Pistols song but an old British anthem and the source of the melody for “My Country ’Tis of Thee.” His finished painting depicts the Queen and Betsy Ross sewing a combination of British and American flags; its text reads “God save the land of liberty”— a phrase with both a dual origin and a double meaning.

“Neil and I talked about that,” Mr. Fairey said. “They left England, and basically made the same mistakes. In some respect it all blends together.”

As for the paintings themselves?

According to NYTimes.com, they will put up for sale, may be used in music videos for the album or for stage design for ***the tour***.

Here's a look at some other work by Shepard Fairey ...

Cover Art Design by Shepard Fairey
Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition


Photography by Henry Diltz
Neil Young and his White Falcon guitar at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, 1969
Neil Young Print by Shepard Fairey

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