The Real Story of Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane?": Celebrating the Song's 50th Anniversary

"Like A Hurricane"Neil Young - Hammersmith Odeon, March 1976
Photo by Tony Fahy

So who knows what "The Real Story of Neil Young's 1975 song 'Like A Hurricane?' " might be?  If you've ever wondered about the song's origins, here's an informative essay by Robert Broadfoot over on https://www.facebook.com/groups/ny.unreleased.nyu/

---

Neil Youngphoto courtesy of  Robert Broadfoot

LIKE A HURRICANE – THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

November 29 sees the official 50th anniversary of ‘Like A Hurricane’, one of Neil’s most iconic songs.

The story of its creation has taken on near mythical proportions, starting with a drug-fueled night out with the boys with Neil scribbling the lyrics on a handy newspaper, followed by a sleepless night bent over his Stringman synthesizer “playin’ away like Beethoven” looking like a “fuckin’ maniac”.  The backing track with Crazy Horse took shape almost accidentally and for several months it didn’t even have any vocals. And in between Neil underwent an operation on his vocal cords and couldn’t sing at all. It is certainly a fascinating story. However, in my view the ‘accepted’ dates for the writing and recording of the song are not correct. Everyone, including Neil himself, places the whole story after the throat operation in October 1975.

The evidence however suggests this is wrong.

It may not matter to many, but that whole period was such an important and wildly creative phase in Neil’s life. He emerges from the ‘ditch’, from the demands of his involvement with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the shards of his tempestuous relationship with Carrie Snodgress, to rediscover himself and his music with a reformed and reenergised Crazy Horse. The summer of 1975 was a crucial period in which he created other major songs such as ‘Cortez The Killer’ and ‘Danger Bird’ and which saw the earliest known recordings of ‘Powderfinger’ and ‘Pocahontas’ for example. It seems important to get the chronology right.

‘Like A Hurricane’ was written during work on the album Zuma. Once finished, it became the  standout anthem of the amazing series of Crazy Horse shows in 1976, when I first saw Neil and the band live. That is one reason why the song is so important to me and why I think it is important to set the record straight. In my article, The Real Story Of Like A Hurricane?, you can judge the evidence for yourself.

I hope you find it interesting. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8Oa8vWbSg1GhI8UHizmcBW6FlS9bwap/view?usp=drive_link

Robert Broadfoot

---

Thanks again Robert for all the invaluable research! Definitely helps clear up a few of the myths and legends surrounding "Like A Hurricane".  (Also, see Rare Photo: Neil Young -  Hammersmith Odeon, March 1976.)

More of Robert and NYU research on Neil Young Archives: Answer to Answers #4 by Broadfoot/NYU. 

Also, here are details on Robert's other Neil Young unreleased music research:

DOWNLOAD FILE @ 

#NYU - Neil Youngs Missing Recordings V4.0 (c) Robert Broadfoot 2021.pdf (right click to "Save As")

If you see any corrections or updates, please share a comment below.

Neil Young's Unreleased Songs:
The Unofficial Archive - UPDATE Version 7 (Abridged): 12 November 2019

Also, see Neil Young's Unreleased Songs: UNCLE EDDIE'S CUPBOARD + The Unofficial Archive - UPDATE Vers. 7 + COTM.

Also, see Neil Young's Missing Recordings | NYU.

---

And many, many eternal thanks to all the unsung researchers and their labors of love. 

... gone but NEVER forgotten ... 

---

Micah Nelson Awaits:DangerBird/StringMan Descends for "The Hurricane"August 10, 2025 - Richmond, VA
photo by thrasher (Click photo to enlarge)

---

TONIGHT: Harvest Moon Benefit Concert w/ Neil Young, Beck + More

Harvest Moon: A Gathering

Tonight, Saturday, October 25, the Harvest Moon benefit concert featuring Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Beck, and special guest Lana Del Rey will be at The Painted Turtle camp in Lake Hughes, CA. 

All proceeds benefit The Painted Turtle, a non-profit providing children living with serious medical conditions a traditional camp experience free of charge, and The Bridge School, which empowers children with extensive speech and physical disabilities to learn, connect, and thrive.

You can get more info on the official website here.  

---

---

Neil Young's Vinyl Releases & "A GREAT QUESTION"

 A GREAT QUESTIONNeil Young Archives | Letters to Editor 
 (Click photo to enlarge)

Neil Young's vinyl releases have long been -- paradoxically -- a source of great joy and frustration.

Finally, it seems that someone has gotten Neil's attention on the long running issue of vinyl quality, decisions and pricing.

Over on  Neil Young Archives | Letters to Editor , Peter in Dublin writes a thoughtful and provocative letter which NYA headlines as "A GREAT QUESTION".  Read the letter in full for all the specific details.  To summarize very briefly this complex, multi-faceted subject, the vinyl frustrations have peaked around releases with "etching sides", i.e., no music.  For example, Tuscaloosa album on 2 LPs, but on 3 sides, but now with Bonus Tracks released on NYA that could have gone on Side 4 instead of an etching of the Crazy Horse logo.

Another example given is the Toast album, totaling only 51 minutes on 2 LPs, again on only 3 sides, with Side 4 an etching of the Crazy Horse logo.

Peter in Dublin goes on to cite numerous other Neil Young's vinyl releases which fall short of fan expectations of vinyl quality and value.

Neil responds with:

"What a great refreshing letter!!!!"

Neil goes on to reply that he plans to review the letter with Engineers John Hanlon, Niko Bolas and others to "come up with answers".

Thanks to Peter in Dublin for asking the uncomfortable questions.

More on Neil Young's Vinyl Releases and the  NEIL YOUNG OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES.

 NEIL YOUNG OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES VOLUME 5 

---

---

Micah Nelson on How He Got Neil Young Back on the Road | Rolling Stone

Micah Nelson Awaits:DangerBird Descends for "The Hurricane"August 10th - Richmond, VA
photo by thrasher (Click photo to enlarge)

"Neil’s in the zone, he’s riding the wave and he wants to keep riding it. So yeah, look out for us."  ~~ Micah Nelson 

From "Micah Nelson on How He Got Neil Young Back on the Road: ‘I Reminded Him He’s Not Old’ - The guitarist breaks down his summer tour with Young’s Chrome Hearts, the likelihood of another, and his new EP"  |  Rolling Stone by Andy Greene:

RS: The Chrome Hearts formed just a few months later. What was the spark that led to that?

Micah:  I knew how bummed out Neil was. He wasn’t feeling like making music. He was really sick. He was trying to get over that, and just get his energy back. And then he was really bummed out about what happened, and how it all went down. And that just kind of drained him a lot, and doused this flame.

I was like, “Is Neil fading away? This is unacceptable.” So I’d call him a lot and check in on him and remind him how he’s not old. I was like, “Do whatever you got to do, man. Take your time. I get it. Recharge. The tank has got to fill back up, and that can take time, but whenever you want to do the thing again, just call me up and I’m ready to go.”

I kept that idea going and reminding him that he didn’t play for four years, and he felt the rust. And then it took a few years once he started again to really, really get back in the groove.

He started with the solo [Coastal] tour, which was great. I think coming out from that hiatus and doing the Crazy Horse tour, we might not have lasted as long as we did even this time. He had to rebuild his energy.

I said to him, “Cory [McCormick] and Anthony [LoGerfo] from the Real, they’re down. I’ve talked to them.” And my brother [Lukas] … when that band went on their hiatus, he had written a letter to Neil just saying, “Hey, just because I’m not playing with these guys anymore, don’t feel weird about taking them out. They’re down to play with you, and they’re ready to go. So whenever you want to do it, don’t even hesitate.”

...

RS: The Chrome Hearts tour got off to a really strong start in Europe. Fans were buzzing from the first show in Switzerland.

Micah: Yeah, the audiences really brought a lot of positive supportive energy, and it kind of took us by surprise. We were really energized by the people, and that helped. The Europe tour was challenging in a lot of ways, travel wise and routing and buses breaking down. But the shows were super energizing and the audiences … just cheering at places you’re not even expecting them to. Those kind of things, they really light the way.

RS: The set list was full of surprises. I never thought I’d hear “Be the Rain” or “Sun Green Again,” let alone “Looking Forward” and “Name of Love” from the CSNY reunion albums.

Micah: That’s the other cool thing about the Chrome Hearts that I think keeps Neil energized. He knows he can do anything. Whatever era of Neil or whatever deep cuts, we can learn stuff pretty quick and deliver something. And especially because we have Spooner, it’s like we can do the Harvest Moon stuff in a way that really feels like the albums, and we can go delicate and we can get loud and ragged and do everything in between.

...

RS: A lot of fans followed the tour around. Did you see the same faces on the rail most every night?

Micah: Oh yeah. You start to recognize all the Rusties that are at every show. Some of them were in their twenties. It wasn’t just a bunch of old dudes in flannel shirts. We love those guys, of course, they’re fantastic. But especially in Europe, you had such a mix of different types of people, different age groups, and they’d be at every show.

...

RS: Do you think Neil will play in the States again next year? Overseas?

Micah: It’s really hard to say. We’ve talked about Japan. We’ve talked about we could do Europe again, and do places that we didn’t even hit last time, all new places. Same with the States. We’ve talked about a Gulf of Mexico tour. That would be fun. We didn’t really hit that region last time. There’s a lot of fans down there.

RS: Do you think Crazy Horse is ever going to play again or is Ralph just not up for it?

Micah: It’s hard to say. I didn’t realize how unhealthy he was when we were on tour. I know that drums are probably the least forgiving instrument when you’re getting older to keep up a certain level of power behind your playing. So I don’t know how much of it was that, and how much of it was just the fact that he was not well. But he’s a tough dude. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back and was healthy and feeling like he could do it again. I can’t really say for sure. It’s really up to those guys and up to Neil.

RS: I really hope another Chrome Hearts tour happens next year. This one was really special.

Micah: My feeling is, barring disaster … Neil’s in the zone, he’s riding the wave and he wants to keep riding it. So yeah, look out for us.

 

Full interview @ "Micah Nelson on How He Got Neil Young Back on the Road: ‘I Reminded Him He’s Not Old’ - The guitarist breaks down his summer tour with Young’s Chrome Hearts, the likelihood of another, and his new EP"  |  Rolling Stone by Andy Greene.

UPDATE: Potential 2026 Gulf of Mexico Coastal Tour details?!

via Greedy Hand Store

More on Micah Nelson @ INTERVIEW: Micah Nelson | Guitar World.

Particle Kid (aka Micah Nelson)

Farm Aid 2019 Highlights - Alpine Valley, Wisconsin 

photo by thrasher

  (Click photo to enlarge)

---

---

Neil Young vs. Amazon: Neil Young To Withdraw Music from Amazon.com

Neil Young vs. Amazonimage via Rusted Moon

Neil Young has announced that he will withdraw his music catalog from Amazon Music.

Folks may recall back in 2022 when Neil Young had his music catalog removed from Spotify.

In a statement on Neil Young Archives, Neil Young announced that his music will soon no longer be available on the platform. In the message, published on October 8, 2025, he urged people to stop shopping at Amazon and its US supermarket chain Whole Foods: 

"FORGET AMAZON AND WHOLE FOODS. 

Stop buying from big corporations."

Instead, people should "buy local" and "buy direct." Consumers should support their community and visit local businesses. The goal is to "Take America Back" by doing the right thing and supporting local businesses.

Neil goes on to criticize big corporations for "selling out America" accusing corporations of crippling the US government, endangering people's incomes, undermining personal safety, and jeopardizing families' healthcare. 

Neil Young Archives,

Neil Young specifically mentions Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who supports the Trump administration. He argues that America is at the beginning of an "age of corporate control." Everyone must therefore give up something to save the country. Therefore, Neil Young concludes: 

"Soon, my music will no longer be available there."

Neil Young has had a long and tangled relationship with digital music vendors such as Amazon. Much of the struggle is detailed in the book "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker.

More on Neil Young and Amazon Music @ Neil Young Speaks On Amazon Music HD. 

Also, see more on supporting local farmers market @ Forty Days and Forty Nights and Forty Years of Farm Aid.  Also, see video of Neil Young at Farm Aid Press Conference where he calls for a "conscience tax" on billionaires (@ link below).

Forty Days and Forty Nights and Forty Years of Farm Aid

"We need a "Conscience Tax" on billionaires"

Neil Young at 2025 Farm Aid Press Conference

(see video at bottom of @ link above)

---

---