Book Description
For the first time, legendary singer, songwriter, and
guitarist Neil Young offers a kaleidoscopic view of his personal life
and musical creativity. He tells of his childhood in Ontario, where his
father instilled in him a love for the written word; his first brush
with mortality when he contracted polio at the age of five; struggling
to pay rent during his early days with the Squires; traveling the
Canadian prairies in Mort, his 1948 Buick hearse; performing in a remote
town as a polar bear prowled beneath the floorboards; leaving Canada on
a whim in 1966 to pursue his musical dreams in the pot-filled
boulevards and communal canyons of Los Angeles; the brief but
influential life of Buffalo Springfield, which formed almost immediately
after his arrival in California. He recounts their rapid rise to fame
and ultimate break-up; going solo and overcoming his fear of singing
alone; forming Crazy Horse and writing “Cinnamon Girl,” “Cowgirl in the
Sand,” and “Down by the River” in one day while sick with the flu;
joining Crosby, Stills & Nash, recording the landmark CSNY album, Déjà vu, and
writing the song, “Ohio;” life at his secluded ranch in the redwoods of
Northern California and the pot-filled jam sessions there; falling in
love with his wife, Pegi, and the birth of his three children; and
finally, finding the contemplative paradise of Hawaii. Astoundingly
candid, witty, and as uncompromising and true as his music, Waging Heavy Peace is Neil Young’s journey as only he can tell it.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Young has consistently demonstrated the unbridled passion of
an artist who understands that self-renewal is the only way to avoid
burning out. For this reason, he has remained one of the most
significant artists of the rock and roll era."
—Eddie Vedder
About the Author
Neil Young’s music and songwriting—which span forty years and
thirty-four studio albums of rock and roll, folk, and country, with
shadings of blues, techno, and other styles—are among the most enduring
and popular in modern times. From his early days with Buffalo
Springfield through his solo career and collaborations with Crosby,
Stills & Nash, Crazy Horse, and dozens of other notable musicians
and groups, Young is acclaimed for both his musical talents and his
artistic integrity. With a major hit in every decade since the sixties,
he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (as a solo
artist in 1995 and as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997). A
well-known political activist, environmentalist, and philanthropist,
Young has been involved in several causes, notably cofounding Farm Aid
and The Bridge School, which assists children with physical impairments
and communication needs.
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