Neil Young Cancels 2026 European Tour

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

Neil Young has cancelled the European LOVE EARTH 2026 tour with The Chrome Hearts.

Scheduled to start on June 17 in Manchester, England and include 14 stops across France, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy.  

In a statement published today on Neil Young Archives, Neil writes:

I've decided to take a break and won't be touring Europe this time. Thank you so much to everyone who bought tickets. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but now just isn't the right time. I love playing live and being with you and Chrome Hearts.

be well,
LOVE 

Neil

Elvis Costello was scheduled to open on several dates. 

Official Cancellation from Eden Festival

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Undressing Rock & Rolls Most Famous Cover-Up: Stephen & Neil’s Shared Sweater (Serape/Poncho)

Crosby Stills Nash YoungWoodstock - 1969photo by Barry Levine

Editor: In honor of National Sweater Day, we bring you an exclusive investigation into Stephen Stills and Neil Young's late 60's "sweater phase" by our "Mild Mannered Reporter in Chicago" John Kwit.

Happy National Sweater Day!

Peace

INTRODUCTION by John Kwit: This article is written to celebrate National Sweater Day which, if you believe what you read on the internet, is either February 4 or 5. 

The prose is meant to bring a smile and peace to those who are stressed out over current events.  Chill out, we can’t even agree what day National Sweater Day falls on but that’s ok.  Enjoying this story is also cheaper than visiting a therapist so sit back, read and study the pictures.  For those in the audience who are nit-picky let’s get one thing out of the way: I refer to the garment celebrated in this article as a sweater.  There is no National Serape Day that I’m aware of.  When you create National Serape Day we’ll talk.  

My apologies to the photographers whose images are unidentified.  I was on a tight deadline for my favorite editor. 

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Undressing Rock & Rolls Most Famous Cover-Up:

Stephen & Neil’s Shared Sweater (Serape)

Stills Crosby Nash Woodstock - 1969photo by Henry Diltz

So where do we start?  

Well with CSNY the logical date is August 18, 1969.  CSNY are about to step on a stage at Woodstock before a crowd of 500,00 people to perform their third concert ever - the first two were in Chicago at the Auditorium Theater.  Interestingly, I’ve never seen documented photos from either of their 1 night/2 show Chicago gigs so if you are aware of any send them to Thrasher so he can share them with the world.  It must have been a little bit cool at Woodstock in the predawn hours as the boys ambled on stage.  For this auspicious occasion, Stephen Stills decided to wear a dark blue/white striped sweater (serape).  It looks like it is made of heavy, thick wool, enough to keep the cold winds at bay. 

Here’s where my questions begin: Did the sweater originally belong to Stephen and where did he obtain it?  Neil was more into the fringe buckskin coat style, so my guess is it was Stephens.  I can picture Stephen walking into a Laurel Canyon second-hand clothes store where the incense is burning and the red-oil lava lamps are bubbling. “Hey man how much is that serape you got hanging on the wall?  $5.75? Cool, I’ll take it.” 

It became readily apparent that this sweater must have been one of his favorite items to wear because after Woodstock I don’t think he took it off much.  Stephen is donning it the following day on the Dick Cavett TV Show.

Stephen & Joni Mitchell on the Dick Cavett show the day after Woodstock 1969

 Stephen & Joni @ Big Sur Folk Festival 1969 

photo by Jim Marshall

Jack Robinson was a New York based photographer so my best guess is that he took these promo photos of CSNY soon after the Dick Cavett show while the boys were still in town before the band headed out to play the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California.  Once again, Stephen is wearing his striped sweater!

Stephen Stills

In September 1969, Stephen has the famous sweater on for a CSNY performance on the Music Scene TV show and then in California at the Big Sur Folk Festival.

Stephen with CSNY September 1969 

The Music Scene TV show (Manager Elliot Roberts in bottom left )

At some point in time, Neil Young enters the sweater story.  He’s been watching Stephen wearing this sweater constantly for the last month.  He might not have appreciated it right away, but at some point it probably dawned on him: “Man that is one d*mn, groovy sweater.  The chicks seem to dig it.  If I could only pry it off him.  I’ve got to see if he’ll let me wear it around town some day.”  So perhaps the conversation between the two of them went something like this:

Neil: Hey, man, I’ve been meaning to tell you that that is one cool sweater you’ve been wearing almost daily for the past month.  I’d hate for it to get too grungy. Why don’t you let me take it into the dry cleaners for you?

Stephen: Wha? Hey, you’re my brother and that’s an outta sight offer.  Let me take it off for you.  In fact, before you take it to the cleaners why don’t you try it on and see if you like it.  Like David says, what’s mine is yours so yeah, go ahead and wear it around for awhile.  If you can give it back before our next gig that’d be cool ‘cus it just gives me this comforting feeling when I wear it on stage, like a security blanket.

Neil: Right on, that’s boss, brother.  Man this fits like a glove what do you think?  Far out, huh?  I’ll take good care of it, that’s for sure.  I’m just gonna’ grab some bread from the community jar on the counter in case I decide to bring it the cleaners early.  Gotta’ run. Eat a peach.  See you in a few days.

The next thing you know, Neil is sporting the sweater all over town.  It was used for a promo photo as well as a 45 rpm single sleeve if I’m not mistaken.

Neil Young

At some point, Neil either willingly or begrudgingly returned the sweater to Stephen.  That’s what brothers do.  The last photo I could locate shows Stephen wearing the sweater to promote his first ever solo tour in 1971.  His bandmates included Dallas Taylor, Paul Harris, Calvin Fuzzy Samuel and Stephen Fromholz along with the Memphis horns (Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love).  It is sad to note that all those talented individuals have passed away with the exception of Fuzzy Samuel.  If you know your CSNY-related history, the first three men went on to become part of Stephen Stills’ band Manassas and Fuzzy was CSNY’s bass player in the studio and on tour in 1970, contributing to many of their greatest moments together including recording Neil’s song Ohio and their live performances on the album Four Way Street.

Stephen & Neil

Stephen Concert poster for 1971 tour

I have the honor of knowing Fuzzy and I called him about this article to see if he remembered Stephen or Neil wearing the sweater.  He did.  He did not wear it himself, and does not recall any other member of the CSNY family wearing it. 

Now for a shameless challenge to Stephen Stills: I’m assuming the next edition of your  Light Up the Blues Concert for Autism Awareness is coming up soon in April.  How come Fuzzy isn’t on your artist invite list?  The man still has the talent and chops to play.  To have Fuzzy, you and Neil on the same stage making joyful music for a worthy cause would be an awesome sight and make for a truly memorable night.  I’d even fly out from Chicago to take it in.  Cue up the next Thrasher’s Wheat exclusive article.

The sweater disappeared from Stephen’s wardrobe for four decades or so.  My guess is he has a decent sized closet to store things in.   The last time I saw Rock and Rolls most famous sweater was when I viewed it behind plexiglass at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (HOF) in Cleveland, Ohio.  I don’t know if it is still on display there or not.  Regardless, when in Cleveland never pass on the opportunity to visit the HOF as it is simply amazing to view all of the artifacts on display.  You could spend a week there and still not take it all in.

The two people with the real story to tell behind the sweater are Stephen and Neil.  Perhaps their “people” will share this article with them.  One or both of them can write directly to Thrasher and tell their side of the sweater story.

Patti Smith & Neil YoungBookExpo America in New York City - 2012

Neil with new sweater by DHLOVELIFE

Neil Young & The Kitchenettes - 2012
Photo by Paul D

Happy National Sweater Day!

Peace

John Kwit

Mild Mannered Reporter 

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Thanks John.  We all needed this.  And Happy National Sweater Day! Who knew?! Maybe someday a National Serape or Poncho Day!?

Keep on being mild mannered in the free world!

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REVIEW: Tribute to Neil Young @ AmericanaFest Salute Concert | Lefsetz Letter

Tribute to Neil Young: AmericanaFest 

On January 31, an AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute concert was held at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA , to pay tribute to Neil Young's songs, with proceeds funding MusiCares programs for music industry professionals.

Performers included Rhiannon Giddens, Margo Price, Jesse Welles, and Molly Tuttle.  

Here is a review by Bob Lefsetz.

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On the other hand...

And then I went to the Troubadour last night.

Sitting up in the bleachers I had a long conversation with David Macias, whose Thirty Tigers is the bleeding edge of quality distribution. What I mean is...if he's involved, it's worth paying attention... All the acts the majors no longer invest in, he's the man... Like with Lucinda Williams. He's even got an Amy Grant album coming out.

And David started philosophizing, about today's music being regressive, that's the word he used. How it was looking backwards, he wanted to put out records that were something new, that pushed the envelope, and he's working on that.

But ultimately the show began.

I mean get old enough, and you start to feel removed.

But last night's show reinvigorated me, illustrated that the problem was not me, but the music being purveyed by the big time industry.

There were no hard drives. People played their instruments. The music was alive and it breathed.

And rather than dancing queens, we got endless ladies who showed how far women in music have come.

All I can say is you have to see Rhiannon Giddens to get her. The passion...she was in the moment, she melded with the music, it was riveting.

Sierra Hull performed the one song I was hoping to hear, "Look Out for My Love," which Linda Ronstadt covered so exquisitely on her "new wave" album "Mad Love." Check it out if you don't know this version, it amps up the song, gives it added gravitas.

Chris Pierce? I'd never heard of the guy, but he channeled Paul Robeson doing "Ol' Man River," only in this case it was "Southern Man," which Pierce slowed down to a dirge and bellowed...it was like watching a movie, it was more than the song, more than a performance, it was a PRESENCE!

Margo Price... Speaking of Ronstadt, Margo did "Love is a Rose" and evidenced such charisma that when she was gone you could feel the absence, she is a star.

Molly Tuttle made me like a song I never did. She took "Helpless" out of the ether with a more full-bodied version than the original. And she picked a few notes to boot. Everybody could play. Sierra Hull...

Maggie Rose belted the choruses of "Down By the River," and urged those in attendance to join along, and I don't know about everybody else, but I could not hold myself back.

Katie Pruitt I'd never heard of, but she picked the notes in "Ohio"... And even though it's over half a century old, I felt the spirit of Minneapolis in the room.

Young the Giant? I never got them, but they sang a powerful version of "Old Man" that had me reflecting on my own life, where I'd been, who I am now... That's what we want from music, to set our minds free, so they can float down the river of thought..

Jesse Welles, the man of the moment, did "After the Gold Rush" and didn't walk off immediately, so I thought he was going to break into his anti-ICE song, but alas, that did not happen.

Grace Potter evidenced more spirit, more of the rock and roll ethos than any woman I saw on the Grammy telecast. You could tell it was coming from deep inside, her soul, she was a rock chick, there was nothing calculated about her performance whatsoever.

And there was Sara Watkins and the Milk Carton Kids and even more, but all I can tell you is I started off the show at a distance, but about a third of the way in I was totally involved, I became one with the music... No, it was more than that, it was the atmosphere, the vibe, like David Byrne once sang, it was the same as it ever was.

Yet it wasn't old farts, but young 'uns. Just when I thought the formula was lost, I found that it had been channeled by a younger generation, removed from the vapid, cringe-worthy mainstream, keeping it alive and extending it. These people could play and sing and there was no dancing involved... It was about the music, pure and simple, nothing more was necessary, and it touched every single person in the place.

At dinner we were talking about how hard it is to get us out. Because we've seen all the acts, in their heyday, and the new ones...

When I left the Troubadour last night there was a bounce in my step. I felt not only did the people and the music still have it, but SO DID I! I may be closer to death, but everything that excited me, that drew me to the sound, was still there, alive and cooking.

I only wish you were there.

by Bob Lefsetz.

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More of Bob Lefsetz writings on Neil Young @

• 
  
- CONCERT REVIEW: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts @ Hollywood Bowl - September 15 | Lefsetz Letter

"He was definitely not like anybody else": Bob Lefsetz on Neil Young on Howard Stern Show

- ESSAY: Young Shakespeare by Neil Young | Bob Lefsetz

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Judy Greenberg: 1953 - 2025 - Gone, but not forgotten

Judy Greenberg: 1953 - 2025 
Gone, but definitely not forgotten, a tribute for Judy Greenberg, a Neil Young fan to the utmost core of her being.

From a tribute by Robert Broadfoot via Neil Young Archives.

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RIP Judy Greenberg

“When the light of time is on us

We will see our moment come,

And the living soul will carry on.

Light a candle in the darkness

So others might see the way,

Light a candle in the darkness, when you go."

Judy passed from us on 15th December. 

Only a few short weeks ago, she received the totally unexpected news that she had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and that there was no hope she would survive. She told only a few of her closest friends and family while she decided what plans to make - especially in view of the large Neil fan community she belonged to and which had become one of the main focuses of her life.

No one, not even Judy, expected that her passing would come so soon, and she was still making plans almost to the last. Apart from the love for her own family, Judy lived for Neil, for his music, for her work for the Neil Young Archives and of course for her Facebook groups and all the wonderful people she got to know through them. Each and every one filled her with immense joy and a sense of purpose and fulfilment. When Neil heard of her serious illness, he wrote to her and Judy glowed with love and pride as she read out his words to a small circle of friends.

I think we all know that Judy would want her work and legacy to continue at all costs so we are now looking at the best ways to make that possible. Her work for her Facebook group needs no introduction or explanation. Everyone sensed her total commitment to it and she carried out her ‘guardian’ duties with respect and understanding and above all with love for the thousands of Neil fans with whom she came into contact. Love and only love.

With many of us, she also maintained direct, personal contact behind the scenes. She and I, like many others no doubt, had many lengthy exchanges over the last few years. We didn’t always agree on everything but there was always one absolute constant, her undying love and respect for Neil. I shall certainly miss our talks greatly as I am sure everyone will. It is simple testimony to her abilities as a leader and ambassador that her Facebook group, which had slumbered for a long time until she became Administrator at the end of 2017, grew from some 20,000 members to well over 40,000 in only five years under her careful leadership.

So let us continue Judy’s work and legacy out of respect and love for who she was and what she has achieved. May her memory be a blessing and may peace and love be upon her.

Tribute by Robert Broadfoot

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Thank you for the heartfelt words Robert.  Judy will be dearly missed.  We briefly crossed paths with Judy at the Neil solo shows in Chicago back in 2018. We were both eagerly awaiting the concert to begin and trying to get to our seats. While brief, we're glad we at least had an exchange before we put the keys in our ignition and hit the road.

More on Judy and Neil memories @  Neil Young Archives | T-C.

Also, more on gone, but not forgotten, Neil Young fans:

•  A Tribute to Pete Long: The Definitive Neil Young Fan
• Rustie Lauri "Over & Over" Lieber: 1964 - 2019
• Rustie Carol "Roadeyeluv" Snyder Slips Away
• Remembering Rusties 2019: "One of These Days" by HarryO

too late, too soon. they sleep with angels...

So many fond memories and dear rustie friends. Someday, we're gonna sit down and write a long letter...

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"Ohio" Revisited: Is Song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young An Anthem For Our Times? | Rock 'n' Roll with Me

Crosby Stills Nash & Young
 (Click photo to enlarge)

The following Substack "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Revisited  |  Rock 'n' Roll with Me  by Ellen from Endwell asks the question if the song is "An anthem for our times?".  (Thanks John K.!)

Spoiler alert -- yes & no. 

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"Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Revisited 

by Ellen from Endwell 

Given the popularity of my post on the song “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)” by Buffalo Springfield, which is now close to 4,000 views and rising (available here), I have to conclude that people are desperately searching for a way to make meaning out of what’s happening around the world and in their own countries.

In particular, I suspect that people are trying to figure out some way to respond to what they feel are steps in an egregiously wrong direction—perhaps even illegal, immoral, unethical, or tyrannical—by those in charge of running things, without risking themselves, their family, friends, and communities, or their way of life in doing so.

My post on the song “Ohio” is now starting to get the same attention—a song written and put out by Crosby Stills Nash & Young in the immediate aftermath of the Kent State Massacre in 1970, which was soon thereafter followed by the Jackson State Killings.

If you’ve been around as long as I have, you’ve been feeling a strong sense of deja vu for a while now. We have been here before. We have been through something eerily similar to this. That’s why I’m sharing the “Ohio” post below, so you can see why I’m saying that.

I do believe in my heart, mind, and soul that, as Martin Luther King declared in his remarkably inspiring sermons and talks using the title of a famous gospel song as his key message, “We Shall Overcome.”

As Dr. King explained, we shall overcome not simply because we wish to do so. We shall overcome because “somehow the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” and because “truth crushed to earth will rise again.”1 If you need inspiration in these difficult times, here it is:

And here it is in the song whose title he cited, “We Shall Overcome,” sung by the glorious Joan Baez. (You can find the other two iconic versions, one by gospel legend Mahalia Jackson and the other by the famous folk singer-activist Pete Seeger, here and here.)

Herewith, without further ado, my previous post on the tragic events provoking the creation of the song “Ohio” by Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

This is a fantastic song in so many ways. Thank you, Neil Young and CSNY. 

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Full Substack article "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Revisited by Ellen from Endwell.

Also, see:

Why Neil Young’s “OHIO” has earned it’s place on the National Recording Registry 

The Truth About The Kent State Massacre

The Girl in the Photo: Kent State, Ohio - May 4, 1970

40 Years Since 4 Dead in Ohio: Kent State Massacre Remembered

4 Dead In Ohio: May 4, 1970

53 Years Later: "Ohio", Kent State & Tin Soldiers Still Marching | #MayTheFOURBeWithYou

50 Years Ago: “Four Dead In Ohio” | Decaturish

51 Years Later: "Ohio", Kent State & Tin Soldiers Still Marching | #MayThe4thBeWithYou

Ohio: Kent State 45 Years Later

Kent State, Ohio 47 Years Later: The Tin Soldiers March On & On...

Kent State University on May 4, 1970 Library of Congress Exhibit photo by Howell PosnerOriginal photo by photojournalism student John Filo 

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