He’s very happy. He doesn’t see it like we see it. He’s living his life one day at a time, one moment at a time. Events keep happening. We keep doing things. We take him everywhere with us. His life is full, robust, got a lot of people around it. He’s been the way he is for 35 years or so. And he’s never known it another way, so he’s doing great. We’re very happy to have our spiritual guide along with us. He doesn’t say much, but he speaks volumes with his eyes and with his movements and by the feeling that comes from him. He’s just a blessing. He’s given our lives a lot of depth.

— Neil Young on his son Ben - who’s quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy

Neil Young on writing music and guitar distortion

I try not to think while I’m doing it. Hopefully, I’m completely gone somewhere and I’m just making a sound and I just like to hear the sound. So it’s all about having a good time and making a sound, but you really have to have a reason for making the sound. So that’s why I write songs and the songs have got the message. But after a while you forget about the message you just get the sound going and then the two things go together and then if you’re lucky you write another song. There has to be something to say that gives validity to what I’m playing, so that you can’t just play for the rest of time.

(“It’s My Time” by The Mynah Birds)

Did you know that Neil Young had a brief stint as a Motown artist? Now you do.

Young joined The Mynah Birds in 1966, which signed with Motown Records and was fronted by Rick James. Like most Motown acts, the band was sent to choreography school, but everyone quickly realized it wasn’t quite working. From the Fresh Air interview:

We had Ricky with us, but everyone else — we were a bunch of white guys from Canada – so we didn’t have the moves.

ridingthenightingale:

neil young <3

tomorrow: neil young.

f—-yeahbostonmusic:

Who’s with me on this? We’ll hit Irene head on with an awesome playlist. 

What books and movies are you hunkering down with this weekend, Internet?

Neil Young’s Le Noise will be released on Sept. 28, but you can stream the album here in its entirety until Oct. 5.(From NPR Music)