Pete Long, author of Ghosts on the Road -- the definitive published guide to Neil Young concerts, has passed away.
From Guardian News obituary by John Soane: (thanks Mark J.)
Pete chose a typically idiosyncratic approach to analysing – and appreciating – music. This was particularly evident in his self-published book, Ghosts on the Road (2007), in which, through meticulous research, he documented every live Neil Young performance from 1961 to 2006 – the venues played, songs performed and accompanying musicians – to create a unique perspective on Neil’s life and work.
Having established himself as an expert on all things Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Pete developed a great relationship and friendship with the photographer and musician Joel Bernstein. This led to Pete becoming part of the team Neil surrounded himself with for his archive releases. He also worked with Joel on Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young projects, including the 1974 concert series box set, receiving a Grammy nomination in the process. Graham Nash looked to them similarly on his solo reissue releases.
Pete Long ... gone but not forgotten ...
Also, see Neil Young Appreciation Society's Broken Arrow Search Results (via Sugar Mountain) for Pete Long's huge contributions to The Society & BA.
| Book Excerpts - Pete Long - Ghosts on the Road Reviewed By Tim Burgin Neil Young Appreciation Society's Broken Arrow | |
Thank you again Pete for your invaluable contributions which have made the The Society, BA and rusties around the world so much richer for your dedication and devotion to the subject.
Long May You Run, our friend!
Essential books for fans - RIP
ReplyDeleteWhat sad news – for me Ghosts On The Road is not only essential but without it listening and following Neil just wouldn’t be the same. I purchased the first edition in a local book store in Chicago back in 1996, I then purchased the second edition ordering in Hardback thanks to information posted here at Thrasher Wheat.
ReplyDeleteWhat Pete’s book does for more is provide context to Neil’s recordings as I listen to them. Obviously not so much new releases but the recent and welcomed torrent of archive releases. For me there is nothing better than playing the likes of Way Down In The Rust Bucket on your favorite player, your favorite brew on the side and Ghosts Of The Road opened at page 273. It is the chapters (years) opening text that sets the tone of the year or the tour details to follow.
The work Pete put into this is just astounding and follows other equally dedicated and interested Rustles, such as the now gone but not forgotten NYAS folks, Tom Hambleton's incredible site Sugar Mountain, the recent work of Robert Broadfoot encapsulated by his equally essential The Unofficial Archive - UPDATE Vers. 5.2 and lastly but by no means least Thrasher’s great work here on this blog.
So thank you Pete and rest in peace knowing your work still lives and breathes.
Kevin D. in Morro Bay
Just read a few of Pete Long's pieces. Well-Informed, stylishly written. A wonderful example is his article on the Time Fades Away tour, which was a key moment in NY's evolution. Great journalism. https://www.sugarmtn.org/ba/pdf.ba/web/ba_viewer.html?file=%2Fba/pdf/ba096.pdf#page=11=4&zoom=page-fit
ReplyDelete@ Kevin - really gratifying to see these comments on Pete's work and it being recognized as the labor of love that it is.
ReplyDeleteAs you mention, the archives on Sugar Mtn of NYAS's Broken Arrow is essential for the devotee.
Really can't beleive how many article Pete submitted to NYAS?! Astounding the level of detailed research. So thankful to Tom & SM for indexing all of Pete's work in BA.
@ Minke - so many great articles. Thanks for highlighting TFA article. We can recall before The Internet having little sticky notes in our BA pages to articles such as Pete's.
ahhh, the joys of hard copy.
last of a dying breed...
LMYR
Such a kind soul was Pete.
ReplyDelete