Neil Young: "I Will Be Taking The Rap"
As we posted last night, Neil Young is very angry about the Bob Dylan & Neil Young Concert: Hyde Park, London - 12 July 2019 announcement recently made "without my knowledge."
Now, in today's Song of the Day, "Who's Gonna Stand Up?", Neil Young comments that "I Will Be Taking The Rap".
Zollhafen / Nordmole, Mainz, Germany 28 July 2014
Photo of the Moment by Takahiro Kyono | Flickr
Neil Young's full reaction on NYA. Primarily, the corporate sponsor Barclays Bank is a "fossil fuel funding entity." But more infuriating was the lack of coordination with promoters in the announcement which caught everyone off guard.
Neil Young: "There’s no doubt about it - Its been a massive fuck up!
Subsequently, the NYA team has had many ‘Come to Jesus’ meetings."
Image via NYA
We here at Thrasher's Wheat are totally down with Neil on getting righteous about the rampant unethical promoters. In fact, we're totally down with everyone also getting down on corruption and speakin' out.
Neil has been trying to be as upfront as he can with the NYA subscriptions. So, as soon as the site finally launches and ... BOOM. What might have been the biggest pre-sale the site will possibly ever see again suddenly goes out the window. The concert of a lifetime for both Bob and Neil's entire respective careers and yet the rollout is so totally f-'ed up by the greedy hands.
Respect, trust, full disclosure, transparency are what matters and Neil's taking the stand. Taking the rap.
So who else is gonna standup?
UPDATE:
Now, it looks like Elliot Roberts, Neil Young's long time manager, is gonna standup.
Thanks Elliot and Lookout Management for standing up and taking the rap with Neil.
Now how about Dylan's management? The Promoters? Are they gonna stand up?
This is about Dylan's management taking advantage of Neil's fans by having a jump at best seating options for a historic concert.
Elliot Roberts says: "We will make every effort to ensure that this doesn’t happen again."
Nope. Sorry. Doesn't cut it. There never will be another Bob Dylan & Neil Young summer time concert in Hyde Park for 50th anniversary of Woodstock.
We say: Start Over. Take the hit. Back to starting blocks and give everyone a fair shot.
You guys fucked up. Now pay for it. Not some lame apology and promises about next time.
Make it right. Cough up the f-n $'s, dudes.
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.
There's also a negative side.”
~~ Hunter S. Thompson
More on the upcoming Bob Dylan & Neil Young Concert: Hyde Park, London - 12 July 2019.
"My Back Pages"
Bob Dylan and Tom Petty & Neil Young
Bob Dylan and Tom Petty & Neil Young
Although I feel for Neil about the way Hyde Park was announced, I think we need a bit of perspective here. Nobody got jumped for the "best seating options for a historic concert" because this concert is fully standing. No seats for sale. And even a few days after tickets had gone on general release, you could still buy a Diamond Circle ticket (the best 'seat' in the house). Although those have sold out now, you can still get Golden Circle tickets and general admission. On the sponsorship point, I do not think anyone should be under any illusions that this is not slick corporate rock. Sky high ticket prices and dubious sponsors are par for the course. And Barclaycard has been sponsoring this event for years. Including in 2014 when Neil played with the Horse. I'm all for Neil playing intimate seated gigs with tickets being presold on NYA for the fans but, if its going to be the festival option, then Hyde Park is well organized with superb sound and loads of tickets for all wallets. You pays your money, you takes your choice.
ReplyDeleteEarth's grandchildren ? Neil what's going?
ReplyDeleteSome people are saying that Neil will lease a couple of jets to fly NYA subscribers to Heathrow — gratis — as well as provide three days of London lodging. It’s what I’ve heard.
ReplyDeleteThis will push Neil back to the intimate theatres which are epic gifts to fans!! These big shows are a money grab for the greedy hands ... Neil is a different and unique artist in that he's willing to fight against this madness ... and fight for his loyal fans ... the shows in 2018 were populated by true fans ... I signed up for an archives subscription before the official deadline out of gratitude for Neil and his team. albeit the value for the price is ridiculously good for the fans ...
ReplyDeleteLoads of tickets for all wallets? The cheapest is £95 and for that you'll be waaaaaay back behind people whose pockets are far deeper than their appreciation of the music - they will chat and heckle their way through the gig. They will also probably be taller than me and wear big hats so I can't see anything. I went to Hyde Park last summer for Paul Simon, James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt (about £80). The sound was great for outdoors and festival was pretty well-organised but super-corporate (they even had people there with clipboards asking me questions on my awareness of all the brands sponsoring the event).
ReplyDeleteTime to get back to the country Neil. Get on the bus, announce shows 48 hours in advance, play the small theaters, gymnasiums, parks, city to city, state to state. Cut out all the middle men. 30 days at a time, 10-12 shows, go rest for a bit, tackle another state, move on to the next. Leave the top 40 (promoters, sponsors, etc) behind. Pack up your marbles and create your own game. You're the best at that anyways. Use radio for announcements, it's free. Tickets only from NYA. The site and fan base will grow as word spreads.
ReplyDelete(It's only a dream, it's only a dream.... or is it?)
Neil Young is the ultimate hippy hypocrite. Full of gas yet will take the money. Bob Dylan will take the money perform and quietly go home. Dylan has honor in his quietness /Young lacks integrity in his fake loudness. Sometimes I wish this Neil Hannah would disappear. Hard to be a fan.
ReplyDeleteI thought much of this Grandchildren of the Earth clap trap has come DH !
ReplyDelete