Neil Young is very angry about the Bob Dylan & Neil Young Concert: Hyde Park, London - 12 July 2019 announcement recently made "without my knowledge."
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
More on the upcoming Bob Dylan & Neil Young Concert: Hyde Park, London - 12 July 2019.
The post seems to have been removed now......
ReplyDeleteNope post is still up on NYA at 11:30am UK time.
ReplyDeleteSo trying to digest this, having purchased tickets.
I can't see an annual event called "Barclays British Summertime" getting an alternative sponsor as NYA suggests, and you'd have thought someone in Neil's team would have checked the very obvious sponsor's name out before getting into talks in the first place.
And yes I can see how some overexcited marketing executive might have "jumped the gun" on announcement, but again, isn't it Mr Robert's job to nail that sort of detail down?
So now are we looking at a cancellation and us punters having to extract some sort of refund on tickets? OR just bite the bullet and go see Bob only? (Confession time- it would be my first time).
And Neil - I am perfectly happy for you to have ethical terms of where you play, even if that means no more international tours - cause seriously most decent size venues are going to have someone involved who might not be Mr Clean - but please tell us NOW so we don't get fooled again.
Hambone - Newbury UK
I still can't find it on the mobile version.
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean he is going to cancel the show? If it does I'm going to lose my £64 non refundable hotel I've already booked. I'm sure Bob Dylan would be great but that wasn't the reason I bought the ticket.
ReplyDeleteHe played Barclaycard presents British Summertime Hyde Park with Crazy Horse in 2014 and I don’t remember him being upset about dodgy sponsors then.The sad fact is that most modern entertainment is pretty damned unethical.
ReplyDeleteI’ll be very pissed off if he pulls out of the Hyde Park gig having shelled out £300 for the diamond view.
You are right on. They criticize the very same entities that fund their lavish lifestyles.
DeleteThe ticket link to the Hyde Park show on Bob's site takes you to a 'page not found' although you can buy them if you start at the AXS site. I wonder if that means Bob's unhappy too?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bobdylan.com/on-tour/
@ P&L Doc - yeah, maybe Bob's pissed too? who knows w/ all things Bob.
ReplyDeletebut, we're totally down with neil getting righteous on unethical promoters. in fact, we're totally down with everyone getting down on corruption.
neil's been trying to get be as upfront as he can be w/ NYA subscriptions, the site finally launches and BOOM. The biggest pre-sale the site will possibly ever see again goes out the window. The concert of both their respective careers and the rollout is so f-'ed up by the greedy hands.
respect, trust, full disclosure, transparency are what matters and neil's taking the stand.
so who's gonna standup?
I agree with everything you said..... except : the concert of both their careers? That part is laughable.
DeleteMaybe Neil Young wants to give his money to African Dictators and comply with the Paris Climate Accords. Paris Climate Accords says the west has to give African Countries and other 3rd world countries 100 billion $. Everyone knows it will go to bank dictators bank account and not help climate change.
ReplyDelete@ Unknown - not sure what Barclays angle is re: African Dictators?
ReplyDeleteCertainly Neil isn't a supporter of African Dictators if that's what you're implying.
I saw Neil Young and Crazy Horse at Barclaycard presents BST at Hyde Park in 2014. Don't think it's a big deal.
ReplyDeleteIf he cancels, I'd like more UK dates please!
Interestingly (or not), I get diferent news based on whether I use my mobile or the laptop. On the mobile the last updated is "Ahead of Schedule" asnd on the laptop its "Hyde Park"
ReplyDelete@ Unknown - laughable? ok, game on.
ReplyDeleteThe Elder Statesman of Rock n Roll during 50th anniversary of Woodstock summer, right?
Name the last time Bob & Neil on the same announced bill? BobFest 1992. Pretty historic concert for both guys. Neil's All Along The Watchtower has been discussed over the decades since.
This concert will have a 7 month buildup cycle of hype.
By the time July 12 arrives, this concert will be billed as the 2nd coming. And the 3rd as well.
while its a shame there's blood on the tracks already, wee think this gives everyone even more incentive to get this right.
Elliot's mea culpa is unprecented. Not because he's never apologized, mainly b/c he's never really f-'d up this bad over 50 years. A worthy track record.
“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
your move
Neil's ethics caught up with coughing up the $s - support artists to be announced so save yourself the hassle don't bother it's a dreadful venue - really is this how to see live music ? Corporate VIP nonsense - Mumfords in support so that'll test any diehard fans.
ReplyDeleteMy heart jumped up when I read the news they planned concerts of Bob and Neil,but I got a cold shower when I read Neil's pissed off because he didn't know anything about this concert.I agree with him to nail them who did this.We all know Neil's alright and always honest,so I believe what he says.Cees Mostert.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bst-hydepark.com/gallery/gallery-2014
ReplyDeleteIs it all about the recent oil sands?
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/what-we-do/climate/barclays-tar-sands/
Neil Young was sponsored by Barclays and Barclaycard when he played Barclaycard Summer Time in Hyde Park for them on Saturday 12 July 2014.
What has changed?
Did he speak out then, before, after or from the stage?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclays#Controversies
I've seen Neil Young at Hyde Park before, but what I don't remember, and what truly sickened me about this gig, is the segregation between members of the audience as per the "Diamond Circle" and "Gold Circle". When I saw Neil Young at Hyde Park formerly - and at other similar large events, the ticket price was pretty much a flat fee, and if you found your way to the front, then so much the better. Separating people on the basis of what they're prepared to pay means that only a privileged few will get anywhere near to the stage. That is not acceptable and is about as far from rock and roll as you can get.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'm elated that Neil Young has taken a stand on this. It clearly shows that he's a man of integrity who genuinely cares about his audience. As it is, the UK is completely blighted by these greedy and nauseating companies ripping off the concert-going public. How refreshing to see Neil Young challenging their behaviour. I don't know how this situation will play out ultimately, but hearing about this has made my day. And well done to the staff of Thrashers Wheat for also playing their part in restoring my faith.
In the past Neil Young has been caring for the audience at least in detail. At a Munich concert at the Olympic Hall he had all the seats removed because it was to be a rock 'n' roll show. Those who had hoped for a seat got a tour t-shirt. At a show in Ulm (Germany) those who did not get to the front-of-stage-area received one of these Earth T-shirts featured on the CD. This time a t-shirt might not do... I had it all worked out already, plane to London City Airport at noon, check-in at accommodation, off to Hyde Park, then I saw the system of the British class-society and called it a dog's breakfast... Tickets might be cheaper post-Brexit, although seller might ask to be paid in hard currency.
ReplyDeleteDwayne your're thinking of the 2009 Hard Rock Calling gig, and yes that was single price entry. I well remember getting within 30ft of the stage despite crowd claustrophobia. That was organised by different promoters, who in the end moved out of Hyde Park to East London - due apparently to the cost of tendering to use the Park after 2012.
ReplyDeleteThat's when Barclaycard stepped in and revamped the event into what we see today - but as many have already said, Neil played there in 2014 under the same entry conditions.
I've been to a couple of these Barclay events since then and seen The Stones (now there's a walking cash machine), The Who, Paul Weller and Kaiser Chiefs for pretty decent prices since I have no interest in Gold Circles, & am happy to chill mid-crowd and have a bit of space.
They are hideously Nazi about bringing in own food & drink, etc. But hey these days a ticket to Glastonbury has become a bit of wealthy person bragging item rather than a true music festival for the masses and often these big events are the only way to see these bands.
Amd how different is this really from the complaints about overpriced US tickets on some of the recent solo tours in much smaller venues?
So anyway I'm now resigning myself that if Neil genuinely follows this through and pulls out then this will mean no more UK tours, since any venue large enough will have something unethical about them and smaller venues simply won't make economic sense for touring. Gone are the days of Neil pitching up at Brixton Academy.
Hambone
Any Publicity is good publicity. I suspect their
ReplyDeleteis an ulterior motive here. The music industry is
filled liars and thieves period. You don’t hear Dylan
making waves. They don’t call Neil shakey for nothing. As Neil has said “Take my advice don’t listen to me”
Neil had a right to be pissed off.
ReplyDeleteI pissed off Bob Dylan in Germany 1981 at a concert .I kept on insisting he play Everybody must get stoned. He finally stopped looked right at me and said "I do not play that song anymore" then proceeded to play Layla .
Hell he spoke more to me than many reporters.
I did not mean to piss him off.
He was in a period of his life where he had gospel singers on stage and was Reverent.
I hope to see him soon again
I will keep my mouth shut