Neil Young's 80th Birthday Today, November 12 - Happy Birthday Neil!!!

Neil Young on his 74th - November 12, 2019
via Instagram

 

In keeping with traditions, Neil Young is 80 years young today, November 12. So Happy Birthday Neil!!! Of course -- naturally - long may you run.

World celebrations and tribute concerts for Neil's  80th Birthday
image via Rusted Moon

 

2025's  “Love Earth Tour” of Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts demonstrated once again the enduring strength, stamina and grace that is the essence of the man we simply call "Neil".

 “Mr. Soul ” @ only 79 years old

w/ Rare orange "Gretsch 6120"

Cuyahoga Falls  OH - August 15, 2025

 photo by thrasher 

As noted on Neil Young's 75th birthday, his outstanding moral character can be demonstrated with his efforts for The Bridge School (USA) and Farm Aid (USA), as just two examples.

Neil Young & Bridge Kids
@ Bridge School Benefit Concert 2011
Photo Gallery by By Jay Blakesberg Photography
Farm Aid: The Music Industry’s Longest-Running Philanthropic Concert
Farm Aid executive director CAROLYN MUGAR (center), w/ DAVE MATTHEWS, JOHN MELLENCAMP, WILLIE NELSON and NEIL YOUNG (from left).
2008 - Mansfield, Mass., Photo by Mark O'Stow
We know that Neil Young is a humanitarian rebel with causes.


Neil Young
MusiCares Person Of The Year - 2010

 

In 2011, Neil Young was honored with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at Canada's Juno Awards. The award honors a Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and recognizes Young's compassionate legacy behind events such as Farm Aid, Live 8, and Bridge School Concerts.

As we have noted previously, rarely -- if ever -- has a single artist supported so many causes, for such a sustained period, raising considerable funds and awareness while reaching out to millions and millions around the world. When reviewing a listing of benefit concerts that Neil Young has played over the years, one is struck by the sheer diversity of causes he has supported over his 45+ year career.

One could contend that no other artist has made such an impact on causes involving social justice -- or a better moral character. As we documented in 2010, The Charitable Mr. Neil Young Keeps On Giving & Giving & Giving.

Neil Young
MusiCares 2010 Person of the Year

In 2010, Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year in Los Angeles, two days before the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. An impressive roster of musicians lined up to honor Young which included Booker T. Jones, Jack Black, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Everest, Patty Griffin, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, k.d. lang, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leon Russell, James Taylor, Wilco, and Lucinda Williams.

Here is just a partial list of benefit concerts that Neil Young has played over the years that we posted on the Rust list back in 1994. And the diversity of causes is particularly striking. Of course, the two primary beneficiaries of Neil's generosity have been the Bridge School Benefit Concerts and Farm AID. The Bridge School concerts began in 1987 and are to benefit the school for children with severe speech and physical impairments. The Farm Aid concerts began in 1985 and benefit the small American family farm. Farm Aid is the longest running event of its type in music history.

Neil has performed annually for decades at both the Bridge and Farm Aid shows and has raised considerable sums for these causes. The performances at these two annual benefits are well documented.


The Farm Aid 4
Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Neil Young

You get the idea. He's got a heart of gold.

Pegi & Neil Young at Bridge 2005 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya

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Neil Young Night 

 Tonight's The Night Because Every Night is Neil Night

Happy Birthday Neil Young!!! Long May You Continue To Run & Run.

"Happiness is the valuable commodity and that's what makes life good." 

~~Neil Young 
Photo by Matt Furman for The Wall Street Journal
(Click photo to enlarge)

So Happy Birthday Neil!

Long may you run. It's all just a magical ride. enjoy.

Also, check out Scotsman's 2023 posting on Neil's birthday @ Patreon.

A Neil Young Birthday Tribute
by Ian

 

A MESSAGE FROM NEIL | NYA (on his birthday in 2021) 

 

The great @Neilyoung turns 80 tomorrow.

To celebrate, we asked 80 artists including Jeff Tweedy, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard, Michael Stipe, Open Mike Eagle, Jewel, Tom Morello, Kurt Vile, Perfume Genius, and A-Trak about their favorite Neil song: https://t.co/JWycpc5YV8

— Stereogum (@stereogum) November 11, 2025

"Old Man"

Neil Young 

Charlotte, North Carolina - August 8, 2025

 photo by thrasher 

(Click photo to enlarge) 

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