Neil Young's Ukraine Benefit Concert Canceled + Comment of the Moment
(Click photo to enlarge)
Per official Neil Young Archives, Neil Young's planned benefit concert in Ukraine has been canceled. (yes, "canceled" with one "l".)
Neil Young's statement:
"Our concert in Ukraine is cancelled.We had a good venue, close to a shelter, but the changing situation on the ground was too much. I could not in good conscience take my crew and instruments into that area. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a great country with a good leader.Slava Ukraini. [Glory to Ukraine]"
The Ukraine benefit concert was planned to kickoff the Love Earth Tour of Europe this summer, and provoked some rather heated discussions here on Thrasher's Wheat upon announcement earlier this month and after his wife Daryl Hannah declared "SLAVA UKRAINE" while presenting an Oscar at the Academy Awards Ceremony on March 2, 2025.
"Fool's errand"? I beg to differ.
Although my country enjoyed relative safety for the last 80 years, thanks to American friends, all the wars during this time affected us in Central Europe (such as in former Yugoslavia, Near East, now in the Ukraine with 1.2 million refugees in Germany alone, not to speak of Poland with her additional millions of Ukrainians seeking protection there). There is a lot of coming and going in Munich and Upper Bavaria (more than a 100 000 refugees), soldiers on temporary leave, families travelling back and forth. It's true that there is no place in Ukraine that appears to be absolutely safe. But that's true for the nightly streets of (insert American city) or under-staffed American air traffic safety of late.
Is it that Americans never had a war close by or even in their country since 1865 that they tend to overlook that even in war-torn countries people have to work, eat, sleep and desperately try to keep up some normality under these conditions? They go to concerts, watch movies and play football. And they would go and attend a Neil Young concert, just like American combattants not too far from the frontlines did enjoy shows by almost every major artists of their time, everywhere in the world where Americans fought for good or bad reasons.
I do understand and respect that Neil Young and his management walked a away from their idea but also believe that there could have been "show formats" with fairly safe perspectives and conditions. Maybe that would have required "to keep the trap shut", go for it and talk about it later? Lwiw, the next large town in Ukraine is about 1000 kilometres from München, a long day's drive and a distance that some Neil Young fans easily would travel to a Neil Young show.Gauging risks from any American territory being more than 7000 kilometres away is very difficult and reminds me of my mom being very concerned about hurricane Katrina hitting the South while my family and I were in Minnesota.
Many thanks Dionys for continuing to bring us a different perspective on EARTH events. And -- maybe just as importantly -- thanks for listening to diffferent perspectives on theother side of the pond.
Say what you will about Neil Young, he is a man who puts his music where his heart is ... nearly always.
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Labels: concert, neil young, schedule, tickets, tour
by thrasher@PermaLink: 3/22/2025 09:51:00 AM
37 comments
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37 Comments:
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Clear to me this was a publicity stunt to garner attention and good will. Probably didn’t hurt ticket sales in other countries.
In the U.S. ticket prices are insane. I don’t think there will be many, if any, sell outs. Neil ending “dynamic pricing” is more smoke & mirrors. Hasn’t decreased prices, makes no difference at all. Also, a recent comment by NY that the length of his shows affected his health is more of the same. I saw 2 shows last year, long before he pulled the plug. Both were maybe, slightly longer than 90 minutes. For the most money I have ever spent for face value, member only, pre-sale tickets. Prices higher now. If this all sounds unrelated to cancelling Ukraine, it’s not. It’s ALL ONE SONG. And the name of this song is Sell tickets.
That ticketing issue being connected to the Ukraine statement? That's all speculation. Doesn't it look more likely that Neil Young (and Daryl Hannah) are just appalled at the fact that the head of the current US protection racket figuring as government sold the Ukraine down the river, with everyone to see on TV, and the Gremlin guy just going ROTLHAO? Ticket sales have been slow in the past sometimes and that may be of concern to Neil Young and his management who want or need to keep the engine running, but a bad busines decision? That's nothing that can't be survived. A person as wealthy as Neil Young does not need more money for himself. However, being able to influence things, soft power so to speak, or at least taking a stand might be of interest for a 79-year old guy, who mostly already had a wonderful life and who can count on many admirerers no matter what a show ticket in the US costs. So the attempt to prepare for a show in Ukraine was a message to Daryl, who obviously is staunch supporter of Ukraine sovereignty, a statement regarding the other 79-year-old guy with his omnipotential pipe dreams, and maybe also an attempt to connect with his many (European) fans who probably by vast majority like the idea of Neil Young supporting the Ukraine. Sure, there are western Europeans who do not subscribe to the sanctification of Ukraine and rather believe in doing Putin's bidding but in the European west they are a minority. And while I not necessarily believe in the newly found Ukrainian holiness, Neil Young and I agree on the idea that Ukrainians currently are defending a set of values that Trumputin is selling off, as if he/they owned it. They don't.
Dionys
(Now playing for Sophie Auster's blue team, and that's not the American Democrats, there are left 1400 days and counting)
Honestly, I was a little incredulous when the show was announced. Not that the idea is out of character for NY—if anything, it fits with his almost reckless boldness. It may’ve been theoretically doable. Then again, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for the safety of everyone involved, or have it on my conscience if something went badly.
It’s worth remembering that large music venues have, quite recently, been deliberately targeted elsewhere in the world. If it’s just a political publicity stunt, I hope it draws some more attention to the issue at hand. If you’re going to be in NY’s position, might as well leverage that celebrity for a good cause.
Regarding concert length, I’m not surprised if NY can’t go at it like used to. 90 minutes of Neil in good form would be worth a reasonable price, particularly if one didn’t have to travel very far for it.
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An important point: a simple benefit concerning, staged somewhere other than Ukraine, strikes me as a reasonable suggestion here. How to ensure the monies would get to the right place is, unfortunately, another story. At this point, I think it would have to be on European soil for that to be anywhere near guaranteed.
*sigh* “concerning” should read “concert.”
I stand with Ukraine and support their independence from Russia. Perhaps a concert was doable there, but with our current government regime we should probably focus our energy on dealing with the criminal in the White House.
This evil man has committed crimes against humanity and should be impeached immediately and sent to El Salvador. We could trade him for the 2,000 people he sent there without due process.
Got to protect those all important instruments, cant have Old Black being hit by a Russian drone. He can always do an acoustic concert in the metro like U2.
To add I think there is a 50/50 chance there will be no tour at all. 1 he cancelled last year randomly over unspecified health issues. 2 his whole protect others thing since covid, concert goers, himself, now the crew and instruments 3 inability to sustain long shows over 90 minutes. 4 unpredictable personal announcements, Glastonbury on/off, Ukraine on/off. 5 random complaints about ticket vendors (he could suddenly pull a tour over this too). 6 the fact he is nearly 80
Generally old men are not to be trusted, especially once they are older than 78 years of age. These guys do not have to live up to their promises because their expected life span suggests that they do not have to live very long with their decisions while others might regret theirs for a long time. That's really funny because in the past of course this was different and much better. Neil Young's shows always lasted for more than two and a half hours, musicians never had any drug induced problems and never ever cancelled shows (with the exception of hand injuries of course when Poncho Sampedro jumped out of the bus or Neil Young tried to make a midnight sandwich), there never was a strong shakey rumor published by the few media we had and no probabilty scale on the rust list and elsewhere existed evaluating bits and pieces of communication by what then was called the "Neil camp", a phenomenon comparable to the Kremlin augurs assumptions during the cold war. Complaints about ticket prices were never known either. Infact the trees were taller and butter more yellow back then.
Neil has always done exactly what he has wanted to do, and I assume that he doesn’t consider his fan base in those considerations. He has already given us so much over the decades, and he has been consistently inconsistent with everything he’s done. The fact that anyone who has followed his career would have any expectations, may illustrate that they haven’t been paying attention.
This man doesn’t owe us anything. The fact that he still feels the need to tour at all is remarkable. He doesn’t need the money, and he doesn’t need the attention. He is just doing exactly what he wants, and I think he has earned the right to do so.
Paul McCartney is over 80 years old, and still continues to play live. His voice isn’t what it used to be, but his concerts continue to sell out. He definitely doesn’t need the money, but apparently he still enjoys the experience of playing in front of an audience.
These two men have already secured their place in music history, and neither one of them will be around much longer. So perhaps we could give them some credit for what they’ve already accomplished.
I think we should be able cut them some slack for not always fulfilling our personal needs.
Peace🙏
Dan, I too stand with Ukraine, against imperialist aggression and indiscriminate slaughter. Sadly, as this seems to be a somewhat radical position in the US, I doubt are country’s capability to be an effective ally (to anyone) at the moment.
On a lighter note, I appreciate the irony of people acting as though Neil (gods bless him) hasn’t always been changeable and impulsive. Given the miserable state of things, I can’t blame folks for having less good will to spare. I suspect a lot of us are struggling with how we can (and can’t) help during these times.
Peace and harmony,
Ian
(“Our”, not “are”)*
…
“ The grass was greener
The light was brighter”.
To some here: Jeeze, save the bitter anger and cynicism for the fascists of this world. NY wanted to do something good. Tried. It didn't work out. It IS a war zone. Maybe they will still pull off some kind of concert for freedom in Poland, or elsewhere. But if you are so down on Neil Young, and humanity, why are you on this site?
Anyone going to Paris?
I have failed to make any worthy comments in the last few months. I am exhausted after every work day. Our state just passed a law which literally takes rights away from transgender persons. They no longer have any protections against discrimination. Students are dismayed by the ruin of DEI offices, concerned about grants and scholarships. Free speech is clearly in jeopardy. This is very difficult to fight as there does not seem to be recourse. I have been to protests, and I am writing emails every day to the morons who passed these laws (they are too stupid and unoriginal to write these fascist things themselves, a national group writes them- what a joke). On top of this, we can add the thick layers of religious garbage: the theocratic jargon which is always a preemptive strike against authentic education and free thinking. Probably you all know the rest of it. I am struggling to keep my sanity. So, I just want to say that I have no idea what Neil Young thinks or how he plans to do anything. How does anyone who know who is not a friend or a colleague? He is nothing to me on that level. Dionys makes the disgraceful, cynical, and European claim that "old men cannot in general be trusted." But what if old men care more and more about their integrity? We Americans are more optimistic? What a joke. (Truth be Known? I trust no old men, especially white men, know it all assholes who actually believe and assert that "America is based on meritocracy (another howler). Ticket prices and so on? I cannot care about this right now and maybe I should. Maybe I should be enthusiastic about a live concert but I just cannot be at the present moment. I am having a very hard time as I lose faith in human possibility.
We have actually reached the point where solidarity with and support for Ukraine is "debatable"? Yikes
@Abner. Such it is, if you are trying to be ironic when writing in a foreign language. My comment is a reaction to a list above as to why tours by Neil Young have a 50/50 chance of not taking place. And it is an attempt, obviously futile, to remind interested readers that 79-year-olds might have the best intentions (Neil Young) or the worst (the current destructor) but will not live forever. With the current events (journalists participating in security briefings?) the assumption also is not too far-fetched that a loose canon rather sooner than later will reap what has been sowed (sewn?). We have all been here before. Remember Ronald Reagan's attempt to "sanitize" academia? The result is that nowadays American students have to indebt themselves in astronomic dimensions. And still: free and innovative thought was not to be suppressed back then and will not be suppressed now, no matter what happened at Columbia or in Pennsylvania. "Die Gedanken sind frei" (German folk song).
Dionys
Sophie Auster's Blue Team, 1398 days left and counting
probably: "sown"
Thanks, I was hoping you might respond.
I have a strong sense that this next Neil album is going to be a great one.
As per the latest batch of LTTE there are more future projects being worked on. Neil Young mentions a 50th anniversary TTN "Briggs edition" with 7 additional songs, also a solo "Greendale" live album (Vicar Street on Vinyl?) and the possibility of a "Coastal" DVD edition. Even when not going for concerts, just to keep up with the tangible output can be a costly thing.
@ Abner: I expect you are right that the new album will be very good!
But Disturbing & horrible things are taking place in this era of the US. Erasing DEI is such an ugly, mean-spirited crime. Proud racists rule the day, but the judicial system may yet save us from some of the ugliest things Trump wants to perpetrate.
April 5th at your state capitol: Protest with the people! 50501! I will be there. We must do whatever we can to bring down Trump, Elon, & Vance. Hobbling their agenda is a fun new goal.
Let Love Reign (that would be a big shift!). Feed the hungry because we are decent people. House the homeless. Are we not a civilized nation (despite all recent evidence!).
It is hard to get too worked up about Neil Young concert ticket complaints right now. I have not bought any concert tix this year and I may finish the year in the same spot. But I have plans to go listen to the show at Bend. It makes me happy to look forward to the tour, never mind the odds.
Old Man, thanks for keeping on keeping on. Yes, the sets will get shorter. We don’t want to wring him out. Just give us what you can, Neil.
And Thank you Thrasher!
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
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Yup. Got a few floor tickets in presale. 79 euros each which isn’t too bad at all.
And talking about sell outs… I seen NY & POTR in Paris at the Accor Arena back 2016. Half that venue was curtained off that night. Still a great gig. Like an Inca lives long in memory (even with bongos)
“We hold this truth to be self-evident: all men could be cremated equal”~ Pete Seeger (from Talking Atom). I can’t say anything meaningful about optimism or hope right now. Except that it’s needed. Younger generations, in particular, need to see some light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is just a mirror in the rainbow teepee sky. The great platitude in the sky. Ad nauseam.
(Please pardon my reliance on cliches. )
Definitely feel you @Abner. Out here in L.A. it's no doubt not as dramatic as where you are given that our state and local politicians are mostly still holding the line (although Newsom is sure playing a despicable game of footsie with fascists). Still the authoritarianism emanating from Washington casts a long shadow. I have a close trans friend and several friends with trans children who are being subjected to such a vile campaign of state-lead dehumanization it's truly frightening, since we know how this script usually reads. Undocumented folks are obviously also very frightened. A friend of mine in Germany has a son who is a law student in Berlin and got into a semester abroad program at Columbia, but now he is wondering if he should go. I think of all the people I've known who have lived under various forms of authoritarian or totalitarian regimes (Iranians, East Germans, Turks, Russians, Peruvians, Chinese, etc.), and I've come to realize with horror we are now added to that list.
With all that, I still have hope that there will come a comeuppance as the overreach of this regime begins to really hit, especially among those who supported this chaos. The farmers, whose crops will go unpicked because the workers who do it have been deported or too afraid to come out to the fields; other farmers, whose crops go unsold because USDA no longer buys food to feed the starving abroad or at home; those whose jobs are tied up with the auto industry, which will suffer layoffs as the tariffs kick in; the finance-bros, when the markets tank; anyone who bemoaned inflation in 2021-22, when the realize it's only going to get worse; those who suffer under the affordability crisis of the high cost of housing, child/elder care, and education, all of which will likely get worse as people who work in those industries are either deported or afraid of being deported (the first two) or laid off because of cuts to education and research (the latter); those in the tourism industry, as people around the world understandably turn their backs on us. At some point the damn will break, hopefully sooner rather than latter. Meanwhile, I'm with @Alan -- we keep protesting until the others wake up and join us
I appreciate these comments. Being on the same side matters very much. There is no "middle ground" on this one. I do think that the radical incompetence is important, as we attempt to peel the mask off these total buffoons and criminals. Strange isn't it? They don't really even have a mask except for easily detected lies. April 5 is a protest day for me. I am preparing and I hope to give a talk at the protest.
In case anyone here read the letter to Neil “Turning Point” and missed the author’s site:
https://criticalmass108.org/pages/our-message-1
This letter turned me around. I was feeling pretty down.
The youtube video is remarkable. We NEED to wake up. Now.
https://youtu.be/R-KPt-n6R48?si=CiX9-JDZ92XNnlQg
Saturday April 5th 2025 at noon in your state capital. Stand with us as we show our numbers against authoritarianism. We need millions of people to turn out to send a strong signal to this regime that we are ready to fight for our democracy.
Be there, wherever you are.
Peace to all 🙏
@Dan: Agreed.
However. State Capitals are a bridge too far for many peeps. Transportation, Gas, Tolls, etc. In many cases hours of travel. Lodging.
I’m NOT saying not worth the effort. What I am saying is grass roots, localized protests Are how the masses assemble.
Seek out your local point of protest. If you cannot make it to your State capital.
And, if you can’t make it in person due to mobility issues or other commitments (Family, Work, etc.) Call. Write. Email. Your Representatives. Take part in online surveys, mass online email protests (Be cautiously vigilant). Get Involved.
Doing nothing is no longer an option.
We are all in this together.
Everything is on the line THIS TIME.
Like never before, In my time.
I’m guessing same for most here?
Just in case you think something should be done about your government, I recommend reading this first:
https://www.historyofsocialwork.org/1946_Alinsky/1946%20-%20Saul%20Alinsky%20-%20Reveille%20for%20Radicals.pdf
https://chisineu.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/saul-alinsky-rules-for-radicals-1989.pdf
Writing to or phoning in with your submissive representation in Congress won't do. That's how you got there in the first place.
Is there a Reader’s Digest condensed version available?
How we got here is a weak democratic party that hid the frail mental acuity of the previous administration’s leadership and offered no real alternative.
Period.
As for diagnosis read the lyrics to "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues". A Reader's Digest version of Alinsky's writings does not exist I believe or may just be circulating in the academic sociology underground. (The German short version of his writings is out of print...) But in order to exercise non violent direct and effective power one just has to analyze the system and its weaknesses. Famous example: To bring the Chicago mayor to the negotiation table Alinsky's organization threatened to block all the toilets at Chicago O'Hare thus effectively threatening to shut down this infrastructure.
In order to do something like this you have to have an "organization of organizations" , i.e. alliances across the societal spectrum. Alliance building is hard work and takes some time... It can't be done on the spot. Once you have an alliance of church groups, parents, scientists, students, trade unionists, farmers etc. identify targets and pick fights you can win. (Tesla Takedown might be something like that already) Small successes add to the momentum. With every turn of the screw the organization will build strength and confidence, gradually taking on more ambitious targets. Look at the history of your already great country. Some things started with a bus boycott.
I get your point. Hope you got mine?
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