UPDATE: Neil Young 2017 Sabbatical News

Neil Young - October 2014
Photo by Matt Furman/The Wall Street Journal
(Click photo to enlarge)

As Neil Young’s self imposed 2017 sabbatical continues, we know that creativity never sleeps.

Last month, Neil Young was supposed to induct Pearl Jam into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, however he fell ill (fortunately, "nothing major"), so David Letterman performed the induction honors instead.

Later in April, Neil Young emerged in public at a Willie Nelson concert at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio on Saturday, April 29. It was Willie Nelson's 84th birthday and he led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” during which Neil Young joined in on the harmonica.

Otherwise, it has been very quiet on the Neil front, aside from news that he is working on a film described as a “post-apocalyptic western fantasy musical.”

But in other Neil Young sabbatical news, it looks like we have a new Neil Young album coming this summer, with news of "Hitchhiker" due out 14 July 2017.

So to summarize, during Neil Young's 2017 "sabbatical", he will release:

• Neil Young's Official Release Series - Discs 8.5 - 12
• Record Store Day's Neil Young Vinyl Releases: Official Release Series Discs 5-8 (delayed)
• Neil Young's "Ditch Quadrilogy" Re-Re-Release
• Neil Young's Decade To Be Re-Released on Record Store Day (delayed)
• NEW ALBUM: Neil Young's "Hitchhiker" Due 14 July 2...

Or, as summarized elsewhere, Neil Young is releasing "10 single albums, 1 double album, and a supposed multiple album set (archives, unreleased material is unknown) in the next few months.....and only 3 new songs".

Neil Young accomplishes more while on sabbatical than most do while fully engaged. So -- just to clarify -- while we call 2017 a "sabbatical year", so far it only applies to touring. Clearly, Neil is still young and restless at heart.

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