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An unofficial news blog for Neil Young fans from Thrasher's Wheat with concert and album updates, reviews, analysis, and other Rock & Roll ramblings. Separating the wheat from the chaff since 1996.
VIDEO: Pearl Jam's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction + "Rockin' in the Free World"
Earlier this month, Pearl Jam was inducted into the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Originally, Neil Young was announced to induct Pearl Jam, however he fell ill (fortunately, "nothing major"), so David Letterman performed the induction honors instead. So although Neil Young couldn't make the ceremony, his spirit prevailed throughout the evening until the finale all-star jam of "Rockin' in the Free World.
The induction ceremony ended with an all-star jam that included Yes' Trevor Rabin, Rush's Geddy Lee and Journey's Neal Schon joined Pearl Jam onstage at Brooklyn's Barclays Center to cover Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World."
The video above is the Pearl Jam portions of the evening, including:
Induction video @ 00:00
David Letterman's induction speech @ ~08:30
Pearl Jam Acceptance speeches @ ~17:30
Pearl Jam set @ ~42:00
Finale: "Rockin' in the Free World" @ ~1:01:00
Also, see more on the long history of the musical collaborations between Pearl Jam and Neil Young.
Pearl Jam, Rush, Journey Members Cover Neil Young at Rock Hall All-Star Jam
Neil Young could not make it to last night's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony due to illness, but his spirit prevailed throughout the evening until the finale all-star jam of "Rockin' in the Free World."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony ended with a raucous, enthralling all-star jam on Friday night, as a group of musicians that included Yes' Trevor Rabin, Rush's Geddy Lee and Journey's Neal Schon joined Pearl Jam onstage at Brooklyn's Barclays Center to cover Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World."
Young, who was originally slated to induct Pearl Jam but pulled out due to illness, was absent. "The truth of it is, the poor guy can't stay up that late," David Letterman quipped before inducting Pearl Jam earlier in the night. "It's either that, or he swallowed a harmonica."
Young's absence didn't hamper the performance, which featured enough guitars to equip a small army battalion. The all-star ensemble kept solos to a minimum, choosing to focus mostly on the central riff that gives Young's track its rugged power. As all the guitarists slammed through the chugging progression again and again, "Rockin' in the Free World" began to acquire the sludgy charm of primal garage rock. It's a testament to Vedder's singing abilities that he wasn't drowned out by all the players around him.
David Letterman: Thank you. That's very kind of you. I can't even begin to tell you what an honor and a privilege it is to be out of the house. I know Neil Young was supposed to be here. People are looking at me like I had something to do with it. Why isn't Neil Young here? The truth of it is the poor guy just can't stay up this late. That's what it is. Either that or he swallowed a harmonica. I'm not sure.
...
When I came here to rehearsal and heard live music again I was reminded, oh my God what a gift live music is. I know all of these people and my band and Paul Shaffer were tremendous. Never take the opportunity for live music for granted and that's the message I can bring you folks tonight. It's a delight to be back here for this. By the way I've known Neil Young for many, many years. We met a long time ago on farmersonly.com. In 1988 is when I first met most of the people involved in Pearl Jam who were all in a band called Mother Love Bone. [Applause]
Jeff Ament: When I was 13, my uncle Pat gave me some singles, which was, the key to a well-respected man. This coincided with reading Death of a Salesman, in 7th grade class. After that I was put in a course never to be Willy Loman, which somehow correlated to a lifetime of playing bands, so if I seem a little bit nervous, blame Arthur Miller as I've never been very comfortable in a room full of seats. In 1983, I moved to Seattle, looking for my tribe. Other artists, musicians, individuals, hard workers, skateboarders. I found a lot of these folks – many are still my friends. I met Stone a month after moving to Seattle. At those first Seattle punk rock shows, I met Stone almost thirty-five years ago, which ultimately led me to our band community.
Being here with the band, who have become some of my best friends in the process, making music and art, traveling the world, supporting causes and programs together, making small differences, meeting great artists and creative minds all over the world. That's a pretty great fucking life. It's an honor in to be part of a club that includes so many of our heroes – Neil, the Clash, Zeppelin, the Stooges, Cheap Trick – but the fact is that we were affected by bands that aren't here. So many important bands that made us want to pick up our guitars and right songs. But the very best part about tonight is that my mom, who gave me the keys to the piano and my dad, who taught me about hard work and community, they're here with my family. So this is for every small town kid who has a dream. Thanks to everybody who supports us and inspires us. You're great fans. Everybody who works with us with the band. Kelly, George have been with us for 27 years, 26 years. Thank you. Love you.
Neil Young: A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer - A Look Back
Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Neil Young
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1986
Photo Lynn Goldsmith
(Click photo to enlarge)
Tonight, Neil Young was planned to induct Pearl Jam into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This would have been at least his *seventh* time as an inductor of a Hall of Famer.
So as disappointed as we all are that Neil Young won't induct Pearl Jam into the Hall of Fame tonight, the most important point is that there is no serious health situation. So we look back at Neil Young and his participation in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies over the years.
Neil Young is a 2 time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recipient as a solo artist (1995) and with the band Buffalo Springfield (1997). Young's induction of Tom Waits in 2011 marks at least his *sixth* time as an inductor of a Hall of Famer:
Tom Waits and Neil Young performed "Get Behind The Mule" at the 26th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The Waldorf-Astoria on March 14, 2011 in New York City.
Immediately after the performance, Elton John noted: “If Jackson Pollack could sing, he’d sound like Tom Waits.”
"After a 15-minute intermission Young inducted Waits. 'I didn't bring my teleprompter or my notes and I don't have any real thoughts,' Young joked. 'I will say that this next man is indescribable and I'm here to describe him. In the scope of things this man is a great singer, actor, magician, spirit guide, changeling and performer for you.'
Neil Young's Induction Speech for Tom Waits into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
In March 1999, Neil Young inducted former Beatle Paul McCartney into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. During Neil's induction speech he said:
"The first song I learned to play was a Beatles song -- "Give Me Money, That's What I Want". Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters ever. He'll be remembered hundreds of years from now."
Neil Young inducts Paul McCartney Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions 1999
After Neil handed Paul the Hall of Fame statue, Paul commented: "Thank you all. I love Neil!"
On January 12, 1995, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder inducted Neil Young into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In his induction speech, Eddie Vedder said (from Five Horizons):
"He's taught us a lot as a band about dignity and commitment and playing in the moment and when I hear, you know, the speeches and inducting Janis Joplin and Frank Zappa, I get, uh, I'm just really glad he's still here. And I'm gonna (audience applauds; Eddie rolls his eyes, smiles and clutches his hand to his heart)... yeah!!
And I think I'm gonna have to say that I don't know if there's been another artist that has been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame to commemorate a career that is still as vital as he is today. Some of his best songs were on his last record."
Neil Young being inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Eddie Vedder at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, NY on January 12, 1995 - Part 1
Part 2 - Neil Young's induction acceptance speech at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On Mar 14, 2005, the Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Neil Young. From a RollingStone.com report, Young said that he and Crazy Horse mined the Pretenders debut album for ideas in the early Eighties.
"They went through all the heartache that rock & roll is built on. They lost two key members and they never gave up."
Neil joined the Pretenders on the song "My City Was Gone".
Neil Young: "Thank You, it’s a great honor to be here. I enjoy your company every time I come here. See you people all the time. It’s great! I’m running for office.
"No, really, I’m very happy and very honored to be here to talk a little about The Pretenders, who had a great influence on myself and my band, Crazy Horse. Yeah, well, when we couldn’t figure out what to do, we’d just put on those records and listen to them, and go ‘Ok, they got a....what’s she look like? This was 1980 or something, anyway they had a huge impression on me. I obviously didn’t look at my...I don’t have any notes."
"I don’t know what to say. This is one of the greatest Rock and Roll bands that ever lived. They went through all the heartache that rock 'n' roll was built on. They lost two key members, and they never gave up, they kept going, nothing would stop them. Chrissie, she’s a rock 'n' roll woman. She’s got it in her heart. She’s gonna be rocking till she drops, and I love her. I’m very proud just to know her.
And it’s my pleasure and distinct honor to induct The Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."
Chrissie Hynde: "The things I’ll do for a handsome man. I know that The Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. And actually they are a tribute band. And we’re paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn’t be here. And on the other hand, without us, they might have been here, but that’s the way it works in rock 'n' roll."
After the ceremony, Hynde was asked: "What was it like playing with Neil?"
"Fucking great!", replied Chrissie.
Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock
August 18, 1969
On January 15, 1992, Neil Young inducted Jimi Hendrix into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In his induction speech for Jimi, Neil said:
Young: Guitar -- you can play it or transcend it. Jimi showed me that. He was at one with his instrument. I just looked at it, heard it, and felt it and wanted to do it.
Hendrix threw a Molotov cocktail onto rock & roll."
Later that night, Young would pay tribute to Hendrix's guitar legacy by performing "Purple Haze" with Keith Richards.
Led Zeppelin and Neil Young - "When The Levee's Gonna Break" @ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 13, 1995 A bit of history was made on the evening that Neil Young was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 13, 1995. After the induction ceremony, Young joined Led Zeppelin onstage for an all out guitar showdown with Jimmy Page. Performing a 10 minute "When The Levee's Gonna Break", Page and Young traded licks in what turned out to be a remarkable moment in TV rock. Even jaded guitar masters were slack jawed. Robert Plant segues into the Buffalo Springfield classic "For What It's Worth" at one point (6:35). Not to be outdone, Robert Plant picked up a guitar and began to jam with the guitar greats and seemed to be having the time of his life hopping and twirling about. Towards the end at about 7:30, after seemingly endless jamming and soloing between the two guitar legends, a clearly exhausted Jimmy Page drops his hands from his guitar as if to concede defeat by Young. At the conclusion of the song, Page and Plant hugged Young as they left the stage. Just before the camera cuts, one can see Page patting Neil's amplifier as if to say, "You've got a hell of a sound from your equipment." Later in 1995, Neil Young wrote the song "Downtown" (on the "Mirror Ball" album) about that historic night in New York City. From the lyrics "Downtown":
Jimi's playin' in the back room Led Zeppelin on stage There's a mirror ball twirlin' And a note from Page Like a water-washed diamond In a river of sin Goin' down like a whirlpool When you get sucked in Downtown Let's go downtown
In Jimmy McDonough's biography of Neil Young "Shakey", Neil said of Page's work: "I'm a hack compared to him. He can really play." No word yet on what Robert Plant and Jimmy Page thought of the night.
Led Zeppelin & Neil Young at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1995
Neil Young & Crazy Horse w Pearl Jam - "Act of Love" & Fuckin' Up - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - 1995
Everly Brothers Inducted into R&R HoF by Neil Young - 1988
Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young – "Roll Over Beethoven" - 1986
"Rust Guitar" Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, Ohio
We made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland earlier this summer and finally got to see the famous "Rust Guitar". Quite a beauty. It literally drips rust particles. Too cool.
"Rust Guitar" with Ohio License Plate
Neil Young's display contains Neil's fringed jacket and The Buffalo Springfield nameplate. Also, a telegram that he received from Paul and Linda McCartney in 1979. It read:
Neil, Linda and I have been listening to Live Rust over and over, side four kicks ass. Lotta Love, Paul
Neil Young Will Induct Pearl Jam into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Neil Young & Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder
Neil Young will induct Pearl Jam into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 7.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Jackson Browne will induct Joan Baez and Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will induct the band Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Other inductees include Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, and Tupac Shakur.
As everyone knows, Neil Young was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. So it looks like Neil is returning the favor.
Neil Young is a 2 time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recipient as a solo artist (1995) and with the band Buffalo Springfield (1997). Young has *six* time been an inductor of a Hall of Famer:
Neil Young is a 2 time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recipient as a solo artist (1995) and with the band Buffalo Springfield (1997). Young's induction of Tome Waits marks at least his *sixth* time as an inductor of a Hall of Famer:
In March 1999, Neil Young inducted former Beatle Paul McCartney into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. During Neil's induction speech he said:
"The first song I learned to play was a Beatles song -- "Give Me Money, That's What I Want". Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters ever. He'll be remembered hundreds of years from now."
Neil Young inducts Paul McCartney Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions 1999
After Neil handed Paul the Hall of Fame statue, Paul commented: "Thank you all. I love Neil!"
On January 12, 1995, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder inducted Neil Young into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In his induction speech, Eddie Vedder said (from Five Horizons):
"He's taught us a lot as a band about dignity and commitment and playing in the moment and when I hear, you know, the speeches and inducting Janis Joplin and Frank Zappa, I get, uh, I'm just really glad he's still here. And I'm gonna (audience applauds; Eddie rolls his eyes, smiles and clutches his hand to his heart)... yeah!!
And I think I'm gonna have to say that I don't know if there's been another artist that has been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame to commemorate a career that is still as vital as he is today. Some of his best songs were on his last record."
Neil Young being inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Eddie Vedder at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, NY on January 12, 1995 - Part 1
Part 2 - Neil Young's induction acceptance speech at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On Mar 14, 2005, the Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Neil Young. From a RollingStone.com report, Young said that he and Crazy Horse mined the Pretenders debut album for ideas in the early Eighties.
"They went through all the heartache that rock & roll is built on. They lost two key members and they never gave up."
Neil joined the Pretenders on the song "My City Was Gone".
Neil Young: "Thank You, it’s a great honor to be here. I enjoy your company every time I come here. See you people all the time. It’s great! I’m running for office.
"No, really, I’m very happy and very honored to be here to talk a little about The Pretenders, who had a great influence on myself and my band, Crazy Horse. Yeah, well, when we couldn’t figure out what to do, we’d just put on those records and listen to them, and go ‘Ok, they got a....what’s she look like? This was 1980 or something, anyway they had a huge impression on me. I obviously didn’t look at my...I don’t have any notes."
"I don’t know what to say. This is one of the greatest Rock and Roll bands that ever lived. They went through all the heartache that rock 'n' roll was built on. They lost two key members, and they never gave up, they kept going, nothing would stop them. Chrissie, she’s a rock 'n' roll woman. She’s got it in her heart. She’s gonna be rocking till she drops, and I love her. I’m very proud just to know her.
And it’s my pleasure and distinct honor to induct The Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."
Chrissie Hynde: "The things I’ll do for a handsome man. I know that The Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. And actually they are a tribute band. And we’re paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn’t be here. And on the other hand, without us, they might have been here, but that’s the way it works in rock 'n' roll."
After the ceremony, Hynde was asked: "What was it like playing with Neil?"
"Fucking great!", replied Chrissie.
Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock
August 18, 1969
On January 15, 1992, Neil Young inducted Jimi Hendrix into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In his induction speech for Jimi, Neil said:
Young: Guitar -- you can play it or transcend it. Jimi showed me that. He was at one with his instrument. I just looked at it, heard it, and felt it and wanted to do it.
Hendrix threw a Molotov cocktail onto rock & roll."
Neil Young inducts Jimi Hendrix Experience into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during 1992 ceremony.
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, if so, than you would know that Neil's album title "Are You Passionate?" is a tribute to Jimi.
Jimi Hendrix Experience performs at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions 1992
Later that night, Young would pay tribute to Hendrix's guitar legacy by performing "Purple Haze" with Keith Richards.
Led Zeppelin and Neil Young - "When The Levee's Gonna Break" @ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 13, 1995
A bit of history was made on the evening that Neil Young was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 13, 1995. After the induction ceremony, Young joined Led Zeppelin onstage for an all out guitar showdown with Jimmy Page. Performing a 10 minute "When The Levee's Gonna Break", Page and Young traded licks in what turned out to be a remarkable moment in TV rock. Even jaded guitar masters were slack jawed.
Robert Plant segues into the Buffalo Springfield classic "For What It's Worth" at one point (6:35). Not to be outdone, Robert Plant picked up a guitar and began to jam with the guitar greats and seemed to be having the time of his life hopping and twirling about.
Towards the end at about 7:30, after seemingly endless jamming and soloing between the two guitar legends, a clearly exhausted Jimmy Page drops his hands from his guitar as if to concede defeat by Young. At the conclusion of the song, Page and Plant hugged Young as they left the stage. Just before the camera cuts, one can see Page patting Neil's amplifier as if to say, "You've got a hell of a sound from your equipment."
Later in 1995, Neil Young wrote the song "Downtown" (on the "Mirror Ball" album) about that historic night in New York City. From the lyrics "Downtown":
Jimi's playin' in the back room
Led Zeppelin on stage
There's a mirror ball twirlin'
And a note from Page
Like a water-washed diamond
In a river of sin
Goin' down like a whirlpool
When you get sucked in
Downtown
Let's go downtown
In Jimmy McDonough's biography of Neil Young "Shakey", Neil said of Page's work: "I'm a hack compared to him. He can really play." No word yet on what Robert Plant and Jimmy Page thought of the night.
Led Zeppelin & Neil Young at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1995
Neil Young & Crazy Horse w Pearl Jam - Fuckin' Up - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - 1995
Everly Brothers Inducted into R&R HoF by Neil Young - 1988
"Rust Guitar"
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, Ohio
We made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland earlier this summer and finally got to see the famous "Rust Guitar". Quite a beauty. It literally drips rust particles. Too cool.
"Rust Guitar" with Ohio License Plate
Neil Young's display contains Neil's fringed jacket and The Buffalo Springfield nameplate. Also, a telegram that he received from Paul and Linda McCartney in 1979. It read:
Neil,
Linda and I have been listening to Live Rust over and over, side four kicks ass.
Lotta Love,
Paul
Inductee Tom Waits and Neil Young perform onstage at the 26th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The Waldorf=Astoria on March 14, 2011 in New York City
Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Tom Waits and Neil Young performed "Get Behind The Mule".
Immediately after the performance, Elton John noted: “If Jackson Pollack could sing, he’d sound like Tom Waits.”
"After a 15-minute intermission Young inducted Waits. 'I didn't bring my teleprompter or my notes and I don't have any real thoughts,' Young joked. 'I will say that this next man is indescribable and I'm here to describe him. In the scope of things this man is a great singer, actor, magician, spirit guide, changeling and performer for you.'
Neil Young's Induction Speech for Tom Waits into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Neil Young, along with Elton John, Paul Simon, Bette Midler and John Legend will be among the presenters at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 26th annual induction ceremony Monday, March 14, at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The incoming Hall of Famers include Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love, Tom Waits and Leon Russell.
Our bet? Neil Young will induct Tom Waits.
This marks at least Neil Young's fifth sixth time as an inductor of a Hall of Famer:
On January 15, 1992, Neil Young inducted Jimi Hendrix into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In his induction speech for Jimi, Neil said:
Young: Guitar -- you can play it or transcend it. Jimi showed me that. He was at one with his instrument. I just looked at it, heard it, and felt it and wanted to do it.
Hendrix threw a Molotov cocktail onto rock & roll."
Later that night, Young would pay tribute to Hendrix's guitar legacy by performing "Purple Haze" with Keith Richards.
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