Neil Percival Young OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and film director.Young's work is characterized by deeply personal lyrics, distinctive guitar work, and signature nasal tenor (and frequently alto) singing voice. Although he accompanies himself on several different instruments—including piano and harmonica—his style of hammer-on acoustic guitar and often idiosyncratic soloing on electric guitar are the linchpins of a sometimes ragged, sometimes polished sound. Although Young has experimented widely with differing music styles, including swing, jazz, rockabilly, blues, and electronic music throughout a varied career, his best known work usually falls into either of two distinct styles: folk-esque acoustic rock (as heard in songs such as "Heart of Gold," "Harvest Moon" and "Old Man") and electric-charged hard rock (in songs like "Cinnamon Girl", "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)"). In more recent years, Young has started to adopt elements from newer styles of music, such as industrial, alternative country and grunge, the latter of which was profoundly influenced by his own style of playing, often bringing him the title of "the godfather of grunge".Young has directed (or co-directed) a number of films using the pseudonym Bernard Shakey, including Journey Through the Past (1973), Rust Never Sleeps (1979), Human Highway (1982), and Greendale (2003).He is also an outspoken advocate for environmental issues and small farmers, having co-founded the benefit concert Farm Aid, and in 1986 helped found The Bridge School, and its annual supporting Bridge School Benefit concerts, together with his wife Pegi.Although Young sings frequently about U.S. legends and myths (Pocahontas, space stations, and the settlement of the American West), he remains a Canadian citizen and has never wanted to relinquish his Canadian citizenship. He has lived in the U.S. for "so long" and has stated, about U.S. elections, that he has "got just as much right to vote in them as anybody else."
He has two sons with cerebral palsy: Zeke Young , born by a relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress , and Ben Young (born 1978) (with Pegi Young ne Morton). He also has one daughter: Amber Jean Young , with Pegi.
Refused a million-dollar offer to appear at "Woodstock 94" on the basis of what he saw as its overemphasis on commercialism.
Has turned down every commercial endorsement he has been offered. He even wrote a song about his stance: "This Notes for You".
Some of his best known songs include "Cinnamon Girl", "Down by the River", "Heart of Gold", "After the Gold Rush", "Hey Hey, My My" and "Rockin in the Free World".
1995: In his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, he thanked Kurt Cobain for inspiring him to renew his dedication to making music. Eddie Vedder , once the target of criticism by Cobain, introduced him.
In Spin magazines list of the top 100 Alternative Albums in 1995, "Tonights the Night" came in at #14, and "Rust Never Sleeps" came in at #61.
The melody for his song "Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)" is taken from the Old English folk song "O Waly, Waly". He is known to close his concerts with this song.
Guitarist and singer for the folk rock group Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
In the mid-1960s, he played in a rock band called the Mynah Birds with future R&B artist Rick James and Bruce Palmer in Canada. James was AWOL from the United States Naval Reserves and hiding out from the authorities. Prior to the release of their debut single "Its My Time" on Motowns V.I.P. label, James was extradited and jailed. Young and James never worked together musically after this. However, Young and Palmer would go on to form Buffalo Springfield soon thereafter.
1997: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Buffalo Springfield ).
Young, a lifelong devotee of model trains, read that Lionel Trains LLC, probably the most famous model-train manufacturer in the world, was going into bankruptcy and would probably have to shut down. Not wanting to see that happen, he invested his own money in the company, in which he is now a part-owner, and today the company is financially sound and thriving.
His songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama" were attacks on racism in the Southern United States. The songs were "answered" by Lynyrd Skynyrd with their song "Sweet Home Alabama" (which in turn was "answered" by Warren Zevon s song "Play It All Night Long"). Some have interpreted Youngs "Walk On" as an answer on his turn, although others think its more likely the lyrics in "Walk On" refer to Crosby Stills Nash & Young. After Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in a plane crash , Young performed a rare live version of "Alabama" at Bicentennial Park, Miami, Florida, on November 12, 1977, for Childrens Hospital Charity with the Gone With the Wind Orchestra and he changed the lyric chorus from "Alabama" to "Sweet Home Alabama".
Left Buffalo Springfield prior to their appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1967. He was replaced for that gig, as well as their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival, by his future bandmate in Crosby Stills Nash & Young , David Crosby.
Raised in Omemee, Ontario. Scott Young Public School in Omemee is named after his father.
He was voted the 34th Greatest Artist of all time in Rock n Roll by Rolling Stone.
Called Carrie Snodgress after he had seen her in the movie Diary of a Mad Housewife . In "A Man Needs a Maid", he sings: "I fell in love with the actress / She was playing a part I could understand". The relationship lasted until 1975.
April 2005: Hospitalized to remove a brain aneurysm.
1970: Wrote the song "Ohio" shortly after the infamous Kent State shootings.
Wrote an infamous dark trilogy "Time Fades Away", "On the Beach" and "Tonights the Night" after the death of friends of Danny Whitten and Bruce Berrett, although he has said that "On the Beach" has a positive message.
His favorite albums of his own are "Trans", "Everybodys Rockin" and "Tonights the Night", in that order.
In the 1960s, prior to Buffalo Springfield , Young played in an R&B act called the Mynah Birds. The singer was Rick James.
While he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Buffalo Springfield and as a solo artist, he was not inducted with Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
Despite having lived in the United States since the 1960s, he has never applied for United States citizenship and has no plans to do so.
Lives on a 1500 acre ranch in La Honda, California; he also has homes in Florida and Hawaii.
Parents are Scott Alexander and Edna Blow "Rassy" Young.
David Bowie was a great admirer of his work and could even do an impression of his singing voice.
Live music is better.
My my, hey hey. Rock and roll is here to stay.
As soon as you start talking about mystique, you have none.
The songs the [Crazy] Horse likes to consume are always heartfelt and do,not need to have anything fancy associated with them. The Horse is very,suspicious of tricks.
[operating his train set] I am the Wizard of Oz in here. I can make,anything happen because I know how it all works. Music is math.
The straighter I am, the more alert I am, the less I know myself and the,harder it is to recognize myself. I need a little grounding in,something and I am looking for it everywhere.
[on composing some of his best songs while stoned, in bed] I had a,guitar case near the bed - probably too near the bed in the opinion of,most of the women I had relationships with.
I vow to speak up and to do what I can to protect "Earth".
Rock and Roll can never die.
Piracy is the new radio.
One new feature or fresh take can change everything. .
