Neil Young News: The Charitable Mr. Neil Young

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Charitable Mr. Neil Young

REPORT - 1-30-2010: UPDATES: Neil Young Honored As MusiCares Person Of The Year

Neil Young
MusiCares Person of the Year

Rarely -- if ever -- has a single artist supported so many causes, for such a sustained period, raising considerable funds and awareness while reaching out to millions and millions around the world.

This Friday, Neil Young will be honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year in Los Angeles, two days before the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. An impressive roster of musicians has been lined up which includes Booker T. Jones, Jack Black, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Everest, Patty Griffin, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, k.d. lang, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leon Russell, James Taylor, Wilco, and Lucinda Williams.

Recently, we started to update a list of benefit concerts that Neil Young has played over the years that we posted on the Rust list back in 1994. And the diversity of causes is particularly striking. Of course, the two primary beneficiaries of Neil's generosity have been the Bridge School Benefit Concerts and Farm AID. The Bridge School concerts began in 1987 and are to benefit the school for children with severe speech and physical impairments. The Farm Aid concerts began in 1985 and benefit the small American family farm.

Neil has performed annually at both the Bridge and Farm AID shows and has raised considerable sums for these causes. The performances at these two annual benefits are well documented.

The Farm Aid 4
Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Neil Young

But what about the other benefits and causes of the charitable Mr. Young?

Here's what we've found from perusing the indispensable Ghosts On The Road - Neil Young In Concert by Pete Long.

Operation Challenge/ACLU Kent State Project, Cleveland, OH 11/14/70

Prisoners Welfare Fund Benefit Concert, San Francisco, CA, 3/26/72

Red Wind Foundation Benefit Concert, San Luis Obispo, CA 3/16/74

Bob Dylan, Rick Danko & Neil Young

S.N.A.C.K. Benefit, Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA w/ Bob Dylan & The Band, 3/23/75

Mike Bloomfield Benefit, The Ritz, NYC, NY, 3/82

Tears Are Not Enough - Canadian Artists Band AID video, benefit African famine victims 2/85

Live AID w/CSNY - Philadelphia, PA, 7/13/85

Greenpeace Benefit - Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara, CA w/ CSNY, 2/6/86

Vietnam Vets Benefit Forum, Los Angeles, CA w/ G. Nash, 2/24/86

Greenpeace Benefit - Auckland, New Zealand, 4/5/86

Neil Young at 2006 Farm Aid Press Conference
Photo by Kim Buchheit

Get Tough on Toxics Benefit, Long Beach Arena, CA, 6/28/86

Greenpeace Benefit Concert, Santa Barbara, CA 2/6/87

Shakin' All Over - Winnipeg Band Reunion - benefited the Variety Club of Manitoba - charity for handicapped children, 6/28/87

Saragaso Tornado Benefit, Manor Downs, Austin, TX, 8/16/87

Hungerthon - Palace Theater, Los Angeles, CA w/ CSNY, 11/12/88

Nordoff Robins Music Therapy Benefit Concert - NYC, NY, 11/17/88

paul-neil-bridge2004

Paul McCartney and Neil Young
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Bridge School Benefit Concert - October 23, 2004
Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA
Photo by Kim Komenich of San Francisco Chronicle

Friends of Parents Helping Parents - Santa Clara, CA, 12/88

Earthquake Aid - Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, 11/26/89

Dallas Taylor Benefit - Santa Monica, CA benefit former CSNY drummer, 3/31/90

California Environment Benefit Concert, Santa Monica, CA, 4/1/90

Nelson Mandella Benefit, Wembley Stadium, London, 4/16/90

Bill Graham Tribute w/ CSNY, San Francisco, CA, 11/1/91

Walden Woods Benefit - Los Angeles, CA, 4/1/92

Children's Health Benefit, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA, CA w/ Simon & Garfunkel, 3/1/93

Save Old Growth Forests - Portland, OR, 4/1/93

solvang0903

photo by Buzz Person

Native American Scholarship Fund Concert - Verde Valley School, Sedona, AZ, - 10/22/93

Voters For Choice Benefit, January 14 & 15, 1995

Walden Woods Benefit concert - NYC, NY, 10/1/95

Multiple Schlerosis Benefit concert - NYC, NY, 10/29/96

BAMA Works Benefit concert - Charlottesville, VA, 4/21/01

Neil Young Performs "Imagine" on 9/11 Tribute

"America: A Tribute to Heroes" 9/11 Telethon, 9/2001

Clean Air Benefit, Vancouver Island Clean-air Benefit, Canada, 9/2004

bruce-neil-vfc-stpaul-2004-9

St. Paul, MN - October 5, 2004
photo by Muriël Kleisterlee and Jos Westenberg

Vote for Change Concert Tour, 10/2004

Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit, Los Angeles w/ Paul McCartney, 10/2004

react-now-neil-young-emmylou-harris-old-guitar1-091005.jpg

Hurricane Katrina Telethon: React Now - 9/2005

Neil Young and Fisk University Jubilee Choir

Hurricane Katrina Benefit: "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast", 9/2005

Neil Young, Buckcherry's Josh Todd & Gordon Lightfoot

Live 8 - End Global Poverty, 9/2005

Benefit For Museum Of Natural History in New York City on 16 November, 2005.

photo by Evan Agostini

AIDS Foundation's fifth annual benefit at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Elton John and Neil Young performed together at the October 3, 2006

Cinnamon Girl Benefit: Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Breast Cancer, 2008

Sarah McLachlan Foundation Benefit, Vancouver, Canada, 9/2009

Dave Matthews and Neil Young
Covering Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken”
Hope For Haiti Telethon
Screen Grab by Patricia

Hope For Haiti Telethon, 1/2010

Certainly this is only a partial listing as there are surely many undocumented causes and performances that Neil has supported over the years. But you get the idea. He's got a heart of gold.

Pegi & Neil Young at Bridge 2005 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya

PRE-AWARD UPDATES: See bottom of page : 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year.

REPORT - 1-30-2010: UPDATES: Neil Young Honored As MusiCares Person Of The Year

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55 Comments:

At 1/27/2010 11:12:00 AM, Anonymous said...: so who thinks neil won't show?

me. that's who.
At 1/27/2010 11:15:00 AM, Anonymous said...: That's a pretty impressive list.

Thank you Mr. Young

JJ
At 1/27/2010 11:26:00 AM, Anonymous said...: A very impressive list indeed - Mr. Young is an inspiration to all - and VERY deserving of the Musicares regognition. However, I don't think I would have included the Vote for Change event in 2004. Though the tour and the organization were officially non-partisan, many of the performers urged people to vote against George W. Bush and for John Kerry, so, while I agree with that sentiment completely, this event isn't in the same altruistic vein as the others... an impressive list nevertheless..
- Keep 'em hoppin' (and rockin')
- Jim in DC
At 1/27/2010 11:51:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Looking forward to seeing Neil perform Rockin in the Free World at the Music Cares show
At 1/27/2010 12:56:00 PM, Anonymous said...: These are some of the MANY reasons why I love Neil Young.

Rancho Relaxo
At 1/27/2010 01:08:00 PM, Anonymous said...: He's the best! That's the absolute bottom line on Neil Young. Is there an award for simply being the best? (He's also won my personal "if you were trapped on a deserted island, what person would you want to be there with you?" award but that doesn't count for much.) Carol in Michigan
At 1/27/2010 01:15:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Neil is truly a class act ... I bet there are as many acts of kindness and charity he's done that none of us have ever heard of. These benefits are high profile events but that's how the money's raised which, I bet, is why Neil allows himself to get publicity for doing good .. I remember reading a quote from him saying that in looking back from the song 'Ohio' he never would have profited from it in hindsiight but it just happened so fast and they were all young and not thinking that way ... i assume he donated the proceeds of his 9/11 song(s) to charity ... even his activist art ( LWW, Greendale, FITR) is a testament to how focused he is on doing the right thing.
At 1/27/2010 01:27:00 PM, Anonymous said...: a heart of gold indeed.

luv u mr neil!

Joanie
At 1/27/2010 02:42:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Why do you think he won't show?

He showed up for 2 broadcasts on Fri immediately after LA died.

If he were to no-show before basically the entire music industry at this point, he would effectively end his career.

just mho

XO
At 1/27/2010 03:32:00 PM, Michael said...: Does anyone know if this will be on tv???
At 1/27/2010 03:54:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Not trying to stir anything up, but I don't think Dylan comes close in this category.

Sioux City
At 1/27/2010 04:06:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Frankly, if 1% of Americans did a tenth of what Neil has done to make things better, they'd probably be in better shape.

Texting some $$$'s to Haiti is nice and all but sometime you have to get off you're arse and do something.

Get off that couch, as the man said
At 1/28/2010 01:00:00 AM, expecting2fly said...: As a Neil Young fan for many decades I can tell you I was aware at the time of most of these events and even attended many of them. But seeing all of these benefits listed like this makes me just bow my head in awe of the dedication Neil Young has made to worthy causes. Thanks for making the world better, Neil.

Mike
At 1/28/2010 08:15:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Thrasher...I heard some of this show may be streamed LIVE on interent...have you heard that..any info..etc..URL's to go to?

thanks..Jeffry from IBM
At 1/28/2010 11:12:00 AM, Anonymous said...: 2 rumours for you folks...:

Neil Young & Crazy Horse in Europe 2010?

Italy?:

http://corrieredelveneto.corriere.it/veneto/notizie/cultura_e_tempolibero/2010/4-gennaio-2010/da-bob-dylan-lady-gaga-ecco-grandi-live-2010-1602241525840.shtml

Greece?:

http://stopthatsound.blogspot.com/2010/01/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-live-in.html

They are just rumours, after all, but 2 different rumours is better than 1, right?

:-)

Davie in Scotland
At 1/28/2010 11:53:00 AM, Anonymous said...: "Looking forward to seeing Neil perform Rockin in the Free World at the Music Cares show"

-Neil won't be performing at this event. It is in his honor....not a gig.

"so who thinks neil won't show? "

-Of course he will be there!!

Some of you commenters are.....well....just morons.
Try thinking before you type.
At 1/28/2010 12:10:00 PM, Thrasher said...: To Jim in DC:

I hear what you're saying. But I'm defining "charitable" work as in Neil performs without charge, gratis.

Thanks for the comment.
At 1/28/2010 01:29:00 PM, Anonymous said...: anyone who knows anything about neil young will tell you that he won't be there tomorrow night.

just ask stills. remember buffalo springfield's induction into the rock and roll hall of fame? you think neil gives two shits about the fucking grammies? no, and good for him. fuck the grammies.

some of you anonymous commentators are, well, just morons.
At 1/28/2010 01:46:00 PM, Thrasher said...: 1/28/2010 01:29:00 PM:

Dude. Chill.

You're harshing our mellow here.

This is a real time to celebrate the man & his music.

You''re obviously a troll who I should delete.

Anyone who knows anything about this knows it's not a Grammy award.

Why don't you check what this is really all about. OK?

He will be there.

peace
At 1/28/2010 01:56:00 PM, Anonymous said...: uh, when i click on the music cares link it takes me to....grammy.com. now, i'm no big city lawyer, but i think that the award is linked to the grammies, no? to paraphrase the great mr. briggs, the more you link, the more you stink.

i'm all for neil being honoured. i really am. but i just don't think he'll be there. wasn't there a recent interview where he said as much?

ya gotta admit, it would be a CLASSIC shakey move not to show. you really think he wants to sit in the audience and hear covers of his songs while people fawn over him?
At 1/28/2010 01:58:00 PM, Anonymous said...: is neil officially confirmed for this event?
At 1/28/2010 02:15:00 PM, Thrasher said...: Look folks. Think about it.

Like someone said above, if Neil fails to show, he's toast in the music biz.

Yeah, he'll be uncomforatbale.

But I don't think this thing would've been put together if he wasn't onboard.
At 1/28/2010 02:39:00 PM, Anonymous said...: ok, drop the official. is neil confirmed for the event? y'know, like jack black, lucinda williams, csn...all confirmed for the event. neil, not so much.

but time will tell. we'll see who is right and who is wrong. and in the end it won't matter one whit. whether he's there or not won't stop josh groban from massacring whatever song he chooses to warble. those who say that neil will be done in the music biz are freakin' idiots. please. neil does what neil does, and everybody is (or ought to be) used to that by now.

PEACE
At 1/28/2010 03:06:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I can't believe that you, Thrasher of all people actually believe that not showing at this event would be the end of Neil's career. I personally think he will show, but i wouldn't blame him if he didn't.

nick
At 1/28/2010 03:55:00 PM, Thrasher said...: OK, ok.

Not that I understand whatsoever the music biz, but being a no-show is not good.

Agree?

Sure fans will still buy his CDs & go to shows.

But look, folks still hold it against Neil for diss'g the r-n-r hof.

Can we agree to move on?

He'll be there and it will be good.
At 1/28/2010 04:43:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Just got 2 tickets to Neil & Crazy Horse is Greece July 9th.
Roll another # people.... Neil and the Horse !
At 1/28/2010 04:49:00 PM, designschicago said...: This event eventually finds it's way to PBS.

It did with the tribute to James Taylor, Brian Wilson, so will it in time for/with Neil.

Congrats to Neil.
At 1/28/2010 04:52:00 PM, Marc C said...: thrasher, no offence, but your trying to defend the fact that neil'll show up is coming across as Linus trying to convince his friends the Great Pumpkin will show on Halloween night.

if neil shows,he'll show.

if he doesn't,he won't.

who cares? the show will go on either way

i remember reading shakey, and McDonough asked neil why he was doing the mtv unplugged thing and all the interviews that coincided with Harvest Moon. neil's response to that was that he hated doing all of it, but that it came with the whole Harvest Moon package. Harvest Moon was commercial and accessible,which he felt he himself needed to be in order to support it.

neil hasn't really got any role to play in this. his career and influence is the essence people are celebrating,not necessarily the man himself.

the art is all that matters. public relations have nothing to do with it.

you Thrasher, of all people, should realise Neil's motivations for anything has never been based on how the public percieves it.

i personally think he will be there. wether he performs or not is debatable. i couldn't be happier for him getting this honor

i can't wait to see what the Chili Peppers will whip out!! i remember seeing a video somewhere on youtube a while back of Flea performing The Needle And The Damage Done alone with his bass.

real funky!!

Thrasher,no hard feelings! just saying you don't need to cling on to hope for something that is irrelevent! ;)

-Marc C
At 1/28/2010 05:17:00 PM, Thrasher said...: Jeffry:

From Variety
http://ow.ly/16rBYT

As in the recent past, the event will be recorded on high-definition video, primarily for archival purposes. Two of these Person of the Year galas have made their way onto DVD: the 2006 event honoring James Taylor, which was also a PBS pledge-drive program, and the 2005 Brian Wilson concert. DVD releases of the Franklin evening and the 2007 Don Henley show are being negotiated.

"In terms of production values, we don't spend too much time or money on anything other than creating a great show for those in the room," Portnow says. "Once you talk broadcast or webcast or DVD/CD, it injects an element of concern and attention. That being said, this is such a special event that we know we have to record it.

Neil can see it on the other side and decide."
At 1/28/2010 05:29:00 PM, Thrasher said...: Marc:
Thanks for the comment.

I mean, I'm finding this all very strange. Are folks thinking Neil won't be there because of his grief for LA?

Sorry, not trying to be a jerk here, but I can't fathom your perspective apparently anymore than you can mine.

I'm not expert on Musicares at all.

But the honorees don't perform.

Absolutely, this isn't his scene. This probably took years to get him onboard.

Anyway. This is his day and he'll be there.

Chicago: Thanks. See updated link on the taping/broadcast.
At 1/28/2010 07:46:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I can't see why Neil would show up for this. Neil doesn't want to watch a bunch of hacks stroke his ego. "Neil will be toast in the music biz" HAHAHAHAHA, Neil don't give a flyin frogs fat ass about the music biz.
Dug
At 1/28/2010 08:49:00 PM, Thrasher said...: Dug,
Hacks?

Hmm.

Booker T. Jones, Jack Black, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Everest, Patty Griffin, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, k.d. lang, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leon Russell, James Taylor, Wilco, and Lucinda Williams.

Why don't you find somewhere else where you might feel more comfortable.

peace
At 1/28/2010 10:00:00 PM, Babbo said...: Anybody else notice the comment above from the guy who claims to have gotten tickets for Neil and the Horse in Greece? If true, is that possibly more interesting than this rather tedious, pointless debate?

Babs
At 1/28/2010 11:38:00 PM, Anonymous said...: New dates, but no details on Neil's tour page!
At 1/29/2010 04:53:00 AM, Anonymous said...: YEAH GUYS!!!

Why have you just ignored the rumours I posted!

SPREAD 'EM LIKE THEY'RE TRUTH!!! :-D
At 1/29/2010 09:23:00 AM, SONY said...: Neil Young cares about the music.
Musicares about Neil Young.

the rest of it...........?

Next
At 1/29/2010 09:59:00 AM, Archives Guy said...: We will all be there at MusicCares tonight....me, Neil...all the big dogs and cats. It's dinner and a show for us.

You may now go back to having something like a real discussion rather than a bunch of name calling and off the mark speculation.

Better yet...lead with your heart and consider making a donation to the Bridge School in memory of our dear friend Larry Johnson.

-your friendly neighborhood Archives Guy
At 1/29/2010 10:07:00 AM, Thrasher said...: Archives Guy,

Have a great evening.

Raise a toast to the man.

We know L.A. will be watching in the TV Sky above.

This notes for you, LA.

peace
At 1/29/2010 10:25:00 AM, Daniel said...: Check out these pictures from the rehearsals of the Musicares show!

http://wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?ipp=120&igi=413560&s=2010%20MusiCares%20Person%20Of%20The%20Year%20Tribute%20To%20Neil%20Young%20-%20Rehearsals&sfld=C&vwmd=e

Should be so good!
At 1/29/2010 10:57:00 AM, SONY said...: Vicious lies and rumors be damned!

AG - it's all illusion anyway. Thanks for the confirmation
At 1/29/2010 11:16:00 AM, Thrasher said...: Musicares Rehearsal photos
At 1/29/2010 11:21:00 AM, Anonymous said...: alright thrasher, alright archives guy, i'm eating crow and it's damn tasty. have fun at the show tonight mr neil young, and congrats!
At 1/29/2010 11:55:00 AM, SONY said...: I like the photos.......this thing is building.........similar to a capital records 'thang' in 1992.......a definate.........NEILFEST!

"This one's for you Neil.
Thanks for having Neilfest"

just wish I could 'pirate radio' it off a PPV box like I did the the Bobfest. Still the best recording of that show I've heard.
At 1/29/2010 12:06:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Does anyone know if there will be any LIVE streaming of the event tonight on the Web?

Johnny Rocket!
At 1/29/2010 12:11:00 PM, designschicago said...: AG & Thrasher,

The shows I saw on PBS had the honoree perform on a song or 2 as well. Those moments are unique and as special as the collaboration at Bridge School benefit.

I hope it comes to pass. I personally would love to see Neil sing with Lucinda, Tweedy, & Sir Elton!

Have a blast, AG, Neil & crew. You deserve it!
At 1/29/2010 12:20:00 PM, Skillit said...: Anthony Keidis performed at his last year.
At 1/29/2010 03:17:00 PM, Simpson said...: Hey thrash and everyone, just came across this on youtube. Neil leading the allstar band on All Along The Watchtower when he inducted the Jimi Hendrix Experience into the Rock Hall of fame in 1992.

Thought you might find this of interest. Wish there was a way to view MusiCares tonight...

http://www.youtube.com/user/rockhall#p/u/5/GOKWekt-ni4
At 1/29/2010 04:04:00 PM, Not Rotten Johnny said...: tonight's the night
....
tonight's the ni-i-i-ight..
....
tonight's the night
....
tonight's the ni-i-i-ight..
At 1/29/2010 09:13:00 PM, Anonymous said...: And have you seen that Moon tonight!? Here in Michigan we've got subzero temperatures, but the sky is burning with the white heat of the strangest, brightest Moon I've ever seen. That Moon's for you, Neil! Even the heavens wish you all the best on this great occasion. Carol in Michigan
At 1/29/2010 10:23:00 PM, Anonymous said...: CSN - they will be playing Human Highway tonight at the event.
At 1/29/2010 10:27:00 PM, Anonymous said...: this grammy live webcast is an absolute joke. Just a bunch of talking heads talking about nothing important - shoes, cars, high heels, dresses.

what a F'in joke this is.
At 1/30/2010 04:48:00 AM, Daniel said...: This post has been removed by the author.
At 1/30/2010 07:55:00 AM, yourisaforever said...: Oh Please, Archives Guy,Thrasher,or who ever! can you please tell us for SURE if Neil/Crazy Horse are coming to Greece and/or Italy this summer???
PLEEEAAAASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 1/30/2010 10:00:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Yeahh please : The HORSE.
At 1/30/2010 09:14:00 PM, Anonymous said...: INDEED Can we decide-is it about the music-or is it about the cause?