Neil Young article in New York Times

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 19 Sep 2012 7:51 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magaz ... .html?_r=0

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 19 Sep 2012 9:25 am

I'm familar with about fifteen Neil Young albums, not counting his colaborations with others. I guess it's only a third of his whole output. I like each one, no matter in which direction he went.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 20 Sep 2012 6:12 am

i enjoyed reading this. loved the dino stomping thing! lol

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 20 Sep 2012 9:50 am

Thanks for the link Robert, that was a very good piece.

Having lived in the greater Bay Area most of life and grown up and working within a half hour or so of Neil's ranch, I've had a number of encounters with him, and they have mostly been pretty interesting. One thing I've always just sort of instinctively known not to do is the old "just wanted to say how much I admire you and your music means a lot to me blah, blah, blah..." For whatever reason, you know not to use that one around him.

I'm a big Neil Young guy, but I have to say that over the decades musically, in my circles, there has been no artist that is as polarized as Neil. People either love him or absolutely can't stand him. Rarely does anyone take the middle ground. Discussions of Neil and his music seem to arouse emotions in people that rival the current state of political discussion and the polarization it inspires.

Neil lover that I am, there have been plenty of albums of his that leave me scratching my head and saying "what the hell was thinking with this one?" Those CDs then rarely ever again make it off my rack and into the player.

But then there are the great songs - the ones that have practically been absorbed into my DNA.

And the bit in the article about how he just loses interest in something and then moves on to the next thing - there were the few Buffalo Springfield reunion shows in California some of us attended last year with a followup appearance at Bonnarroo in Tennessee and how there would be an extended tour to follow - and now it's looking like that may never happen. Classic Neil.

At any rate, I'm looking forward to the autobiography.

Greg Milton · Post by **Greg Milton** » 10 Oct 2012 2:58 am

Thanks Robert - I always love reading your posts and links!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 10 Oct 2012 6:32 am

I haven't started reading it yet, but I was in Costco the other day and picked up Neil's new book.

The listed retail on the inside cover was $30, and I think the Costco price was $17.29.

It's not just straight text, there are many photos spread throughout the book.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 10 Oct 2012 7:19 am

Haven't read the book yet, but in the NYT article, not a mention of Ben Keith.. $:\$

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 10 Oct 2012 10:16 am

Neil's book has a lot about Ben Keith...

One mention:

“He was such a friend, such a cohort. I could do anything if he was with me , any kind of music at all, and have a lot of fun at the same time… Ben was a wonderful man, gentle as rain.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 10 Oct 2012 10:22 am

Thanks, Pete, that's good to know.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 10 Oct 2012 1:28 pm

Well, the article was about Neil - and the guy has had a career going on 50 years with dozens of musical friends and associates, and you can't talk about all of it in a newspaper piece, so I guess that's a good reason to buy the book!

I remember after Ben passed on that Neil said something to the effect that he will never play in concert again a lot of those songs that featured Ben on pedal steel. I'd say that's pretty serious stuff. Below is an eloquent eulogy Neil wrote about Ben that was posted on the Neil news site. He mentions about Ben playing with his wife Pegi. I saw that band about a year-and-a-half before we lost Ben, they were at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in SF. No offense to Pegi, but what made me stick around for that set was Ben Keith.

BEN KEITH

On the full moon, the Thunder moon, the world lost one of the greatest musicians of all time. Ben was 73 years old the night he died on Broken Arrow Ranch in California, his happy home for the last years of his life. Ben played with Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Ian Tyson and many other music greats. A great American, the quiet giant, he moved gently through the world, with kindness and grace.

My wife Pegi was lucky to share his last performance a few weeks back in San Francisco, where Ben was playing in her band, supporting her and lending his spirit to her every word as she sang her songs for us.

Of course, in Nashville Ben Keith is legendary, one of the last of the original country greats, the man behind the song. No one will ever fill his shoes. He has countless friends and admirers. They all miss him as much as I do. I will miss him every time I look to my side, remembering him, my brother and fellow traveler.

Thankfully, Ben's masterful playing can be seen and heard in two Johnathon Demme pictures: 'Heart of Gold' and 'Trunk Show,' as well as countless great recordings over the last 50 years. We are so fortunate to have these as memories and lasting documents of his greatness and grace. He started out on a homemade steel guitar he fashioned himself from a piece of wood and left over parts. He loved his music and his life and cherished his many friends and soul mates.

He leaves behind his wonderful daughter Heidi, and his grandchildren who he loved so much, DJ, Rachel, James, Meredith, Aubrey, Fletcher and Caroline.

May he rest in Peace.

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 10 Oct 2012 5:48 pm

This is a great thread, especially the obit tribute to Ben Keith. He was one of the reasons why I wanted to learn how to play pedal steel.
OP, thanks for starting this thread.
Steve