View source for Neil Young

{{Short description|Canadian and American musician (born 1945)}}
{{about|the Canadian-American singer-songwriter|other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Neil Young
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|size=100%|OC|OM}}
| image              = DesertTrip2016-140 (29685063324) (cropped).jpg
| alt                = Young smiling joyously on stage, holding a guitar in each hand
| caption            = Young in 2016
| birth_name         = Neil Percival Young
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1945|11|12}}
| birth_place        = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| citizenship        = {{ubl|Canada|United States (from 2020)}}
| other_names        = Bernard Shakey<br />Joe Yankee
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician|film director|screenwriter}}
| works              = [[Neil Young discography and filmography|Full list]]
| years_active       = 1963–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Susan Acevedo|1968|1970|end=div.}}
* {{marriage|[[Pegi Young|Pegi Morton]]|1978|2014|end=div.}}
* {{marriage|[[Daryl Hannah]]|2018}}
}}
| partner            = [[Carrie Snodgress]] (1970–1975)
| children           = 3
| father             = [[Scott Young (writer)|Scott Young]]
| relatives          = [[Astrid Young]] (sister)
| website            = {{URL|neilyoungarchives.com}}
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed           = yes
| origin          = [[Winnipeg]], Manitoba, Canada
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[folk rock]]|[[country rock]]}}
| instrument      = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|harmonica|keyboards}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| label           = {{hlist|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]|[[Atco Records|Atco]]|[[Atlantic Records Group|Atlantic]]|[[Geffen Records|Geffen]]}}
| current_member_of = [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]]
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Squires]]|[[The Mynah Birds]]|[[Buffalo Springfield]]|
[[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]]|[[The Stills-Young Band]]}}
}}
}}

'''Neil Percival Young'''<ref name="gg.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13469 |title=Governor General Announces 57 New Appointments to the Order of Canada|publisher=Office of the Secretary to the Governor General |access-date=December 30, 2009 |date=December 30, 2009}}</ref><ref name="OM">{{cite web|title=Lieutenant Governor's Awards |url=http://www.lg.gov.mb.ca/awards/order/register.html |publisher=Lieutenant Governors Office of Manitoba |year=2009 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508234200/http://www.lg.gov.mb.ca/awards/order/register.html |archive-date=May 8, 2006 }}</ref> (born November 12, 1945) is a <!--Do not change..-->Canadian and American<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Cydney |title=Canadian Rocker Neil Young Is Officially a U.S. Citizen: 'I'm Proud to Be a Canarican' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/01/23/neil-young-officially-u-s-citizen-after-use-marijuana-delay/4559169002/ |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref><!--See talk page RFC.--> singer-songwriter. Son of journalist, sportswriter, and novelist [[Scott Young (writer)|Scott Young]], Neil embarked on a music career in [[Winnipeg]] in the 1960s. Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the [[folk rock]] group [[Buffalo Springfield]]. Since the beginning of his solo career, often backed by the band [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]], he released critically acclaimed albums such as ''[[Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere]]'' (1969), ''[[After the Gold Rush]]'' (1970), ''[[Harvest (Neil Young album)|Harvest]]'' (1972), ''[[On the Beach (Neil Young album)|On the Beach]]'' (1974), and ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' (1979). He was also a part-time member of [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]], with whom he recorded the chart-topping 1970 album ''[[Déjà Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album)|Déjà Vu]]''.

Young's guitar work, deeply personal lyrics<ref name="Los Angeles Daily News-1993">{{cite news|title=Neil Young's Passionate Guitar Playing Sparks Rock Arena|work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|date=September 14, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brinn|first=David|title=Disc Reviews|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=May 30, 2006|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1148482072145&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|access-date=July 28, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Surkamp|first=David|title=Internal Fire from Neil Young Lights the Stage|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |page=4D|date=September 15, 1992}}</ref> and signature high [[tenor]] singing voice<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Edward|title=The Nonsensical Truth of the Falsetto Voice: Listening to Sigur Rós|work=Popular Musicology Online|issn=1357-0951|year=2003|url=http://www.popular-musicology-online.com/issues/02/miller.html|access-date=May 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716083103/http://www.popular-musicology-online.com/issues/02/miller.html|archive-date=July 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sinclair|first=Scott|title=Neil Young – Fork in the Road|work=Popular Musicology Online|date=April 4, 2009|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/neil-young-4_0409.htm|access-date=May 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405193809/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/neil-young-4_0409.htm|archive-date=April 5, 2009}}</ref> define his long career. He also plays piano and harmonica on many albums, which frequently combine [[folk music|folk]], [[rock music|rock]], [[country music|country]] and other musical genres. His often distorted electric guitar playing, especially with Crazy Horse, earned him the nickname "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Godfather]] of [[Grunge]]"{{sfn|Echard|2005|p=43}} and led to his 1995 album ''[[Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)|Mirror Ball]]'' with [[Pearl Jam]]. More recently, he has been backed by [[Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real|Promise of the Real]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://relix.com/articles/detail/young_and_the_restless_neil_young_on_promise_of_the_real_paul_mccartney_and_telling_an_earth_story/|title=Young and the Restless: Neil Young on Promise of the Real, Paul McCartney and Telling an Earth Story|date=January 24, 2017|website=Relix Media}}</ref>

Young directed (or co-directed) films using the pseudonym "Bernard Shakey", including ''[[Journey Through the Past (film)|Journey Through the Past]]'' (1973), ''Rust Never Sleeps'' (1979), ''[[Human Highway]]'' (1982), ''Greendale'' (2003), ''[[CSNY/Déjà Vu]]'' (2008), and ''Harvest Time'' (2022). He also contributed to the soundtracks of the films  ''[[Philadelphia (film)|Philadelphia]]'' (1993) and ''[[Dead Man]]'' (1995).

Young has received multiple [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] and [[Juno Award]]s. The [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] has inducted him twice: in 1995 as a solo artist and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield.<ref>{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee-List |url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/inductee-list/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117041746/http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/inductee-list/ |archive-date=January 17, 2010 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |publisher=The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum}}</ref> In 2023, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Young No. 30 on its list of the "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 13, 2023 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=October 14, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Young is also on ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s list of [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|the 100 greatest musical artists]], and 21 of his albums and singles have been [[Certified gold|certified gold or platinum]] in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neil Young |url=https://www.riaa.com/?s=NEIL+YOUNG |website=RIAA}}</ref> Young was awarded the [[Order of Manitoba]] in 2006<ref name="OM" /> and was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]] in 2009.<ref name="gg.ca" />

==Early life (1945–1963)==
Neil Young{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=37}} was born on November 12, 1945, in Toronto.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/neil-young-mn0000379125/biography|title=Artist Biography [Neil Young]|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|publisher=[[AllMusic.com]]|access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-nz/entertainment/music/neil-youngs-net-worth-revealed-after-marrying-daryl-hannah-in-secret/ar-BBMFqUf|title=Neil Young's Net Worth Revealed After Marrying Daryl Hannah in Secret|website=Msn.com|access-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501213237/https://www.msn.com/en-nz/entertainment/music/neil-youngs-net-worth-revealed-after-marrying-daryl-hannah-in-secret/ar-BBMFqUf|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> His father, [[Scott Young (writer)|Scott Alexander Young]] (1918–2005), was a journalist and sportswriter who also wrote fiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PROV/PROV/REFD+F+1134?SESSIONSEARCH|title=Scott Young Fonds|publisher=Ao.minisisinc.com|access-date=June 2, 2012|archive-date=October 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011061430/http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PROV/PROV/REFD+F+1134?SESSIONSEARCH|url-status=dead}}</ref> His mother, Edna Blow Ragland "Rassy" Young (1918–1990) was a member of the [[Daughters of the American Revolution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/keyword/ragland/featured/3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517143610/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/keyword/ragland/featured/3|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2013|title=Featured Articles About Ragland – Page 3|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=May 9, 1990|access-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref> Although Canadian, his mother had American and French ancestry.{{sfn|Young|1997|p=16}} Young's parents married in 1940 in [[Winnipeg]], Manitoba, and moved to Toronto shortly thereafter where their first son, Robert "Bob" Young, was born in 1942.

Shortly after Young's birth in 1945, the family moved to rural [[Omemee, Ontario]], which Young later described fondly as a "sleepy little place".{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=22–42}} Young contracted [[polio]] in the late summer of 1951 during the last major outbreak of the disease in Ontario, and as a result, became partially paralyzed on his left side.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=44-46}} After the conclusion of his hospitalization, the Young family wintered in Florida because they believed its mild weather would help Neil's convalescence.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=46}} During that period, Young briefly attended Faulkner Elementary School in [[New Smyrna Beach, Florida]]. In 1952, upon returning to Canada, Young moved from Omemee to [[Pickering, Ontario|Pickering]] (1956) and then lived for a year in Winnipeg (where he would later return) before relocating to Toronto (1957–1960). While in Toronto, he briefly attended [[Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute]] as a first-year student in 1959.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goddard |first1=John |title=Neil Young's Childhood Friend Walks Down Memory Lane |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2009/05/30/neil_youngs_childhood_friend_walks_down_memory_lane.html |newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=May 30, 2009 |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> According to rumor, he was expelled for riding a motorcycle down the hall of the school.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Town Crier Staff |title=Lawrence Park to Be a Party School |url=https://streeter.ca/toronto/news/lawrence-park-to-be-a-party-school/ |website=Streeter |date=May 10, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> He also became interested in the popular music he heard on the radio.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=46–54}}

When he was 12, his father, who had had several extramarital affairs, left his mother. She asked for a divorce, which was granted in 1960.<ref>{{cite web|last=Unger|first=Andrew|url=http://ballastmag.com/2012/09/winnipeg-vs-toronto-for-neil-young/|title=Winnipeg Vs. Toronto for Neil Young|work=Ballast Magazine|date=September 24, 2012|access-date=September 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518072541/http://ballastmag.com/2012/09/winnipeg-vs-toronto-for-neil-young/|archive-date=May 18, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> She moved back to Winnipeg with Neil joining her there, while his brother, Bob, stayed with their father in Toronto.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=55–68}}

During the mid-1950s, Young listened to [[rock and roll|rock 'n roll]], [[rockabilly]], [[doo-wop]], [[rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Country music|country]], and western pop. He idolized [[Elvis Presley]] and later referred to him in a number of his songs.<ref>Ostrosser, David. "Neil Young Interview on Guitars." ''Guitare & Claviers Magazine''. Neil Young News, April 17, 1992. Web.</ref> Other early musical influences included [[Link Wray]],<ref>{{YouTube|id=_tDsDnr18PM&list=RD_tDsDnr18PM|title=Documentary Don't Be Denied 3 minutes 20 seconds}}</ref> [[Lonnie Mack]],<ref>Kent, "The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings On Rock Music, Updated Edition", Da Capo Press, 2002, {{ISBN|978-0-306-81182-1}}, p. 299 (in which Young calls Mack a "big early influence"). Also, "Neil didn't have a whole lot of records but he had the first Lonnie Mack album called The Wham of That Memphis Man! He knew every f**kin' note of that LP and you'll hear them in Neil Young soloing." Harvey Kubernick, quoting music producer Denny Bruce in {{cite news |title=The Creative Energy Behind Neil Young's "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" |work=Goldmine Magazine |date=November 12, 2020 |url=https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/the-creative-energy-behind-neil-youngs-everybody-knows-this-is-nowhere |access-date=November 16, 2021 }}</ref> [[Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs]], [[The Ventures]], [[Cliff Richard]] and [[the Shadows]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/musictv/neilyoung/ |title=Neil Young: Don't Be Denied. – Homepage |publisher=BBC |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> [[Chuck Berry]], [[Hank Marvin]], [[Little Richard]], [[Fats Domino]], [[The Chantels]], [[The Monotones]], [[Ronnie Self]], the [[The Fleetwoods|Fleetwoods]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Roy Orbison]], and [[Gogi Grant]].{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=52–53}} Young began to play music on a plastic [[ukulele]], before, as he would later relate, going on to "a better ukulele to a banjo ukulele to a baritone ukulele – everything but a guitar."{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=58–59}}

==Career==
===Early career (1963–1966)===

Young and his mother settled in the working-class area of [[Fort Rouge, Winnipeg]], where he enrolled in Earl Grey Junior High School. It was there that he formed his first band, the Jades, and met [[Ken Koblun]]. While attending [[Kelvin High School]] in Winnipeg, he played in several instrumental rock bands, eventually dropping out of school in favor of a musical career.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=103}} Young's first stable band was [[the Squires]], with Ken Koblun, Jeff Wuckert and Bill Edmondson on drums, who had a local hit called "The Sultan". Over three years, the band played hundreds of shows at community centers, dance halls, clubs and schools in Winnipeg and other parts of Manitoba. The band also played in [[Fort William, Ontario|Fort William]] (now part of the city of [[Thunder Bay]], Ontario), where they recorded a series of demos produced by a local producer, Ray Dee, whom Young called "the original Briggs", referring to his later producer David Briggs.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=105}}  While playing at The Flamingo, Young met [[Stephen Stills]], whose band [[The Company (folk rock band)|the Company]] was playing at the same venue, and they became friends.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YBB0DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT224|page=224|title=Everybody Had an Ocean: Music and Mayhem in 1960s Los Angeles|author=William McKeen|publisher=Chicago Review Press|date=April 1, 2017|isbn=9781613734940}}</ref> The Squires primarily performed in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba in towns such as [[Selkirk, Manitoba|Selkirk]], [[Neepawa, Manitoba|Neepawa]], [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]] and Giroux (near [[Steinbach, Manitoba|Steinbach]]), with a few shows in northern Ontario.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b4EXBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT50|page=50|title=Waging Heavy Peace Deluxe: A Hippie Dream|author=Neil Young|publisher=Penguin|date=November 1, 2012|isbn = 9780241966242}}</ref>

After leaving the Squires, Young worked in folk clubs in Winnipeg, where he first met [[Joni Mitchell]].{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=96}} Mitchell recalls Young as having been highly influenced by [[Bob Dylan]] at the time.<ref>''The Rolling Stone Interviews'' by Jann Werner (editor) & Joe Levy (editor). Back Bay Books (2007), {{ISBN|978-0-316-00526-5}}.</ref> Young said [[Phil Ochs]] was "a big influence on me", telling a radio station in 1969 that Ochs was "on the same level with Dylan in my eyes."{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=137}} Here he wrote some of his earliest and most enduring folk songs such as "[[Sugar Mountain (song)|Sugar Mountain]]", about lost youth. Mitchell wrote "[[The Circle Game (song)|The Circle Game]]" in response.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/jammin_more.htm#joni|title=Neil Young Collaborations|publisher=Thrasher's Wheat|access-date=May 9, 2009}}</ref> The Winnipeg band [[the Guess Who]] (with [[Randy Bachman]] as lead guitarist) had a Canadian Top 40 hit with Young's "Flying on the Ground is Wrong", which was Young's first major success as a songwriter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/neil-young-first-professional-gig/|title=The Story of Neil Young's First Professional Gig|author=Sterling Whitaker|date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

In 1965, Young toured Canada as a solo artist. In 1966, while in Toronto, he joined the [[Rick James]]-fronted [[Mynah Birds]]. The band managed to secure a record deal with the [[Motown]] label, but as their first album was being recorded, James was arrested for being [[Desertion|AWOL]] from the Navy Reserve.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=139}} After the Mynah Birds disbanded, Young and the bass player [[Bruce Palmer]] decided to pawn the group's musical equipment and buy a [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]] [[hearse]], which they used to relocate to Los Angeles.<ref name="WFP">{{cite news|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/music/one-moment-that-made-music-history-375979631.html|title=One Moment That Made Music History|author=John Einarson|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=April 16, 2017|access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> Young admitted in a 1975 interview that he was in the United States illegally until he received a "green card" ([[Permanent residence (United States)|permanent residency permit]]) in 1970.<ref name=interview/>

===Buffalo Springfield (1966–1968)===
{{Main|Buffalo Springfield}}
Once they reached Los Angeles, Young and Palmer met up with [[Stephen Stills]] and [[Richie Furay]] after a chance encounter in traffic on [[Sunset Boulevard]].<ref name="WFP" /> Along with [[Dewey Martin (musician)|Dewey Martin]], they formed [[Buffalo Springfield]]. A mixture of folk, country, [[psychedelia]], and rock, lent a hard edge by the twin lead guitars of Stills and Young, made Buffalo Springfield a critical success, and their first record, ''[[Buffalo Springfield (album)|Buffalo Springfield]]'' (1966), sold well after Stills' topical song "[[For What It's Worth]]" became a hit, aided by Young's melodic harmonics played on electric guitar. According to ''Rolling Stone'', the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other sources, Buffalo Springfield helped create the genres of folk rock and country rock.<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/buffalo-springfield|title=Buffalo Springfield|magazine=[[Rollingstone.com]]|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Unterberger">{{cite book|last = Unterberger |first=Richie|date=2003 |title=Eight Miles High: Folk-Rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury To Woodstock |location=San Francisco |publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=0-87930-743-9}}</ref>

Distrust of their management, as well as the arrest and deportation of Palmer, worsened the already strained relations among the group members and led to Buffalo Springfield's demise. A second album, ''[[Buffalo Springfield Again]]'', was released in late 1967, but two of Young's three contributions were solo tracks recorded apart from the rest of the group. From that album, "[[Mr. Soul]]" was the only Young song of the three that all five members of the group performed together.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neilyoungarchives.com/info-card?search=true&track=t1967_0404_01|website = Neil Young Archives|title=Mr. Soul (Stereo)|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

In May 1968, the band split up for good, but to fulfill a contractual obligation, a final studio album, ''[[Last Time Around]]'', was released. Young contributed the songs "On the Way Home" and "I Am a Child", singing lead on the latter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neilyoungarchives.com/info-card?track=t1968_0205_01|website = Neil Young Archives|title=I Am A Child|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

In 1997, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Young did not appear at the ceremony, writing in a letter to the Hall that their presentation, which was aired on [[VH1]], "has nothing to do with the spirit of Rock and Roll. It has everything to do with making money."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/41sp8k/neil-young-slams-rock-vh1-hall-of-fame-ceremony|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229221018/https://www.mtv.com/news/41sp8k/neil-young-slams-rock-vh1-hall-of-fame-ceremony|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2023|title=Neil Young Slams Rock 'VH1 Hall Of Fame' Ceremony|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=May 1997}}</ref>

Young played as a studio session guitarist for some 1968 recordings by [[The Monkees]] which appeared on the ''[[Head (The Monkees album)|Head]]'' and ''[[Instant Replay (The Monkees album)|Instant Replay]]'' albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artist-news/time-neil-young-cut-loose-monkees/29926|title=That Time Neil Young Let Loose with The Monkees |work=Guitar World |publisher=[[Guitar World]]|date=October 2016}}</ref>

===Going solo, Crazy Horse (1968–1969)===
{{main|Crazy Horse (band)}}
After the breakup of Buffalo Springfield, Young signed a solo deal with [[Reprise Records]], home of his colleague and friend [[Joni Mitchell]], with whom he shared a manager, [[Elliot Roberts]]. Roberts managed Young until Roberts' death in 2019. Young and Roberts immediately began work on Young's first solo record, ''[[Neil Young (album)|Neil Young]]'' (January 22, 1969),<ref>The Village Voice (February 6, 1969) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1299&dat=19690206&id=xscpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9IsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6132,1163188 "Reprise Ad – Tea Fan Seeks Mate"]. News.google.com. Retrieved January 26, 2016.</ref> which received mixed reviews. In a 1970 interview,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiancontent.net/people/music/Neil-Young.html|title=Neil Young – MiniBio|publisher=Canadian Content|year=2008|access-date=January 26, 2010}}</ref> Young deprecated the album as being "overdubbed rather than played".

For his next album, Young recruited three musicians from a band called the Rockets: [[Danny Whitten]] on guitar, [[Billy Talbot]] on bass guitar, and [[Ralph Molina]] on drums. These three took the name [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]] (after [[Crazy Horse|the historical figure of the same name]]), and ''[[Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere]]'' (May 1969) is credited to "Neil Young with Crazy Horse". Recorded in just two weeks, the album includes "[[Cinnamon Girl]]", "[[Cowgirl in the Sand]]", and "[[Down by the River (Neil Young song)|Down by the River]]". Young reportedly wrote all three songs in bed on the same day while nursing a high fever of {{convert|39|°C|°F|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rogan|first=Johnny|title=Neil Young, Zero to Sixty: A Critical Biography|publisher=Music Sales Distributed|year=2000|page=187|isbn=978-0-9529540-4-0}}</ref>

===Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (1969–1970)===
{{main|Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young}}
Shortly after the release of ''Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,'' Young reunited with Stephen Stills by joining [[Crosby, Stills & Nash]], who had already released one album, ''[[Crosby, Stills & Nash (album)|Crosby, Stills & Nash]]'', as a trio in May 1969. Young was originally offered a position as a sideman but agreed to join only if he received full membership, and the group – winners of the 1969 [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist Grammy Award]] – was renamed [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]].{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=313}} The quartet debuted in Chicago on August 16, 1969, and later performed at the famous [[Woodstock Festival]], during which Young skipped the majority of the acoustic set and refused to be filmed during the electric set, even telling the cameramen: "One of you fuckin' guys comes near me and I'm gonna fuckin' hit you with my guitar".{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=318–320}} During the making of their first album, ''[[Déjà Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album)|Déjà Vu]]'' (March 11, 1970), the musicians frequently argued, particularly Young and Stills, who both fought for control. Stills continued throughout their lifelong relationship to criticize Young, saying that he "wanted to play folk music in a rock band".{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=324}}

Young wrote "[[Ohio (CSNY song)|Ohio]]" following the [[Kent State massacre]] on May 4, 1970. The song was quickly recorded by CSNY and immediately released as a single, even though CSNY's "Teach Your Children" was still climbing the singles charts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-the-song-ohio-by-crosby-stills-nash-and-young/|website=American Songwriter|title=Behind the Meaning of the Song: "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young|date=June 7, 2022 |access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

===''After the Gold Rush'', acoustic tour and ''Harvest'' (1970–1972)===
Later in the year, Young released his third solo album, ''[[After the Gold Rush]]'' (August 31, 1970), which featured, among others, [[Nils Lofgren]], [[Stephen Stills]], and CSNY bassist [[Greg Reeves]]. Young also recorded some tracks with Crazy Horse, but dismissed them early in the sessions. The eventual recording was less amplified than ''Everybody Knows This is Nowhere'', with a wider range of sounds. Young's newfound fame with CSNY made the album his commercial breakthrough as a solo artist, and it contains some of his best-known work, including "[[Tell Me Why (Neil Young song)|Tell Me Why]]" and "[[Don't Let It Bring You Down]]"; the singles "[[Only Love Can Break Your Heart]]" and "[[When You Dance I Can Really Love]]"; and the title track, "[[After the Gold Rush (song)|After the Gold Rush]]", played on piano, with dreamlike lyrics that ran a gamut of subjects from drugs and interpersonal relationships to [[environmentalism|environmental concerns]]. Young's bitter condemnation of racism in the heavy blues-rock song "[[Southern Man (song)|Southern Man]]" (along with a later song entitled "Alabama") was also controversial with southerners in an era of desegregation, prompting [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]] to decry Young by name in the lyrics to their hit "[[Sweet Home Alabama (song)|Sweet Home Alabama]]". However, Young said he was a fan of Skynyrd's music, and the band's front man [[Ronnie Van Zant]] was later photographed wearing a ''[[Tonight's the Night (Neil Young album)|Tonight's the Night]]'' T-shirt on the cover of [[Street Survivors|an album]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2010/02/ronnie-and-neil-laying-to-rest-feud.html|title=Ronnie and Neil: Laying to Rest the "Feud Myth" Once and for All|website=Thrasher's Wheat|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Neil Young-early promo.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Young in the 1970s|left]]
In the autumn of 1970, Young began a solo acoustic tour of North America, during which he played a variety of his Buffalo Springfield and CSNY songs on guitar and piano, along with material from his solo albums and several new songs. Some songs premiered by Young on the tour, like "Journey through the Past", would never find a home on a studio album, while other songs, like "See the Sky About to Rain", would only be released in coming years. Many gigs were sold out, including concerts at [[Carnegie Hall]] and a pair of acclaimed hometown shows at Toronto's [[Massey Hall]], which were taped for a planned live album. The shows became legendary among Young fans, with ''[[Live at Massey Hall 1971]]'' being released in 2007, and other shows as official bootlegs in 2021 and 2022, as a part of Young's [[Neil Young Archives|Archive]] series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2023/04/neil-youngs-original-bootleg-series.html|title=Neil Young's Original Bootleg Series Releases: 'Somewhere Under The Rainbow" & 'High Flyin'|website=Thrasher's Wheat|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

Near the end of his tour, Young performed one of the new acoustic songs on the ''[[The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)|Johnny Cash]]'' TV show. "[[The Needle and the Damage Done]]", a somber lament on the pain caused by [[heroin addiction]], had been inspired in part by Crazy Horse member [[Danny Whitten]], who eventually died while battling his drug problems.{{sfn|Williamson|2002|p=42}}{{sfn|Taylor|2006|p=279}} While in Nashville for the Cash taping, Young accepted the invitation of [[Quadrafonic Sound Studios]] owner [[Elliot Mazer]] to record tracks there with a group of country-music session musicians who were pulled together at the last minute. Making a connection with them, he christened them [[The Stray Gators]], and began playing with them. Befitting the immediacy of the project, [[Linda Ronstadt]] and [[James Taylor]] were brought in from the Cash taping to do background vocals. Against the advice of his producer [[David Briggs (producer)|David Briggs]], he scrapped plans for the imminent release<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bad-news-beat.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1889 |title=Neil Comments on Massey Hall Release |date=January 17, 2007 |website=Bad-news-beat.org |access-date=July 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010740/http://www.bad-news-beat.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1889 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> of the live acoustic recording in favor of a studio album consisting of the Nashville sessions, electric-guitar oriented sessions recorded later in his barn, and two recordings made with the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] at Barking (credited as Barking Town Hall and now the [[The Broadway (theatre)|Broadway Theatre]]) during March 1971.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.longlivevinyl.net/classic-album-neil-young-harvest/ |title=Classic Album: Neil Young – Harvest|date=June 2, 2017 |work=Long Live Vinyl |access-date=October 10, 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The result was Young's fourth album, ''[[Harvest (Neil Young album)|Harvest]]'' (February 14, 1972), which was also the best selling album of 1972 in the US.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1972/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Billboard Year End 1972|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref>

After his success with CSNY, Young purchased a ranch in the rural hills above Woodside and Redwood City in Northern California ("Broken Arrow Ranch", where he lived until his divorce in 2014).<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/inside-neil-youngs-nature-themed-opus-20160705 | title=Inside Neil Young's Nature-Themed Opus | first=Patrick | last=Doyle | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=July 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706154812/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/inside-neil-youngs-nature-themed-opus-20160705 | archive-date=July 6, 2016 | access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref> He wrote the song "[[Old Man (song)|Old Man]]" in honor of the land's longtime caretaker, Louis Avila. The song "[[A Man Needs a Maid (song)|A Man Needs a Maid]]" was inspired by his relationship with actress [[Carrie Snodgress]]. "[[Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)|Heart of Gold]]" was released as the first single from ''Harvest'', the only No.&nbsp;1 hit in his career.<ref name="whitburn Top40">{{cite book|last = Whitburn |first=Joel|date=2010 |title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Revised and Expanded Ninth Edition |location=New York |publisher=Billboard Books |page=722 |isbn=978-0-8230-8554-5}}</ref> "Old Man" was also popular, reaching No. 31 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, marking Young's third and final appearance in the chart's Top 40 as a solo artist.<ref name="whitburn Top40" />

The album's recording had been almost accidental. Its mainstream success caught Young off guard, and his first instinct was to back away from stardom. In the ''[[Decade (Neil Young album)|Decade]]'' (1977) compilation, Young chose to include his greatest hits from the period, but his handwritten liner notes famously described "Heart of Gold" as the song that "put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore, so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there."<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Decade |chapter=Heart of Gold |title-link=Decade (Neil Young album) |first=Neil |last=Young |author-link=Neil Young |date=1977 |type=liner notes |publisher=Warner Bros.}}</ref>

===The "Ditch" Trilogy and personal struggles (1972–1974)===
Although a new tour with The Stray Gators (now augmented by Danny Whitten) had been planned to follow up on the success of ''Harvest'', it became apparent during rehearsals that Whitten could not function due to drug abuse. On November 18, 1972, shortly after he was fired from the tour preparations, Whitten was found dead of an apparent alcohol/[[diazepam]] overdose. Young described the incident to ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s [[Cameron Crowe]] in 1975: "[We] were rehearsing with him and he just couldn't cut it. He couldn't remember anything. He was too out of it. Too far gone. I had to tell him to go back to L.A. 'It's not happening, man. You're not together enough.' He just said, 'I've got nowhere else to go, man. How am I gonna tell my friends?' And he split. That night the coroner called me from L.A. and told me he'd OD'd. That blew my mind. I loved Danny. I felt responsible. And from there, I had to go right out on this huge tour of huge arenas. I was very nervous and ... insecure."<ref name="interview">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9102786/neil_young_the_rs_interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409205354/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9102786/neil_young_the_rs_interview|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 9, 2006|title=Neil Young: The RS Interview|magazine=Rollingstone.com|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

On the tour, Young struggled with his voice and the performance of drummer [[Kenny Buttrey]], a noted Nashville session musician who was unaccustomed to performing in the [[hard rock]] milieu; Buttrey was eventually replaced by former CSNY drummer [[Johnny Barbata]], while [[David Crosby]] and [[Graham Nash]] contributed rhythm guitar and backing vocals to the final dates of the tour. Young has often said the album assembled in the aftermath, ''[[Time Fades Away]]'' (October 15, 1973), was his least favorite. It was not officially released on CD until 2017 (as part of Young's [[Neil Young Archives#Official Release Series 05:|Official Release Series]]). Nevertheless, Young and his band tried several new musical approaches in this period. ''Time Fades Away'' was recorded live, although it was an album of new material, an approach Young would repeat with more success later on. ''Time'' was the first of three consecutive commercial failures which became known collectively to fans as the "Ditch Trilogy", as contrasted with the more middle-of-the-road pop of ''Harvest''.<ref name="UnCut">{{cite news|last=Pinnock|first=Tom|title=Neil Young's 'Time Fades Away': 'Harvest's Unlikely Follow-Up|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/neil-young/neil-young-s-time-fades-away-harvests-unlikely-follow-up-feature|access-date=January 3, 2014|newspaper=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|date=May 2010|issue=156|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130112/http://www.uncut.co.uk/neil-young/neil-young-s-time-fades-away-harvests-unlikely-follow-up-feature|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Neil Young in Austin, 1976.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Young in [[Austin, Texas]], on November 9, 1976]]

In the second half of 1973, Young formed The Santa Monica Flyers, with Crazy Horse's rhythm section augmented by [[Nils Lofgren]] on guitar and piano and ''Harvest''/''Time Fades Away'' veteran [[Ben Keith]] on pedal steel guitar. Deeply affected by the drug-induced deaths of Whitten and [[roadie]] [[Bruce Berry (roadie)|Bruce Berry]], Young recorded an album specifically inspired by the incidents, ''[[Tonight's the Night (Neil Young album)|Tonight's the Night]]'' (June 20, 1975). The album's dark tone and rawness led Reprise to delay its release and Young had to pressure them for two years before they would do so.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=430}} While his record company was stalling, Young recorded another album, ''[[On the Beach (Neil Young album)|On the Beach]]'' (July 16, 1974), which presented a more melodic, acoustic sound at times, including a recording of the older song "See the Sky About to Rain", but dealt with similarly dark themes such as the collapse of 1960s folk ideals, the downside of success and the underbelly of the Californian lifestyle. Like ''Time Fades Away'', it sold poorly but eventually became a critical favorite, presenting some of Young's most original work. A review of the 2003 re-release on CD of ''On the Beach'' described the music as "mesmerizing, harrowing, lucid, and bleary".<ref name="sven">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.com/a&e/soundfury904.htm |title=Neil Young – On the Beach (Reprise) |newspaper=The Santa Barbara Independent |date=March 18, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040421143346/http://www.independent.com/a%26e/soundfury904.htm |archive-date=April 21, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After completing ''On the Beach'', Young reunited with ''Harvest'' producer Elliot Mazer to record another acoustic album, ''[[Homegrown (Neil Young album)|Homegrown]]''. Most of the songs were written after Young's breakup with Carrie Snodgress, and thus the tone of the album was somewhat dark. Though ''Homegrown'' was reportedly entirely complete, Young decided, not for the first or last time in his career, to drop it and release something else instead, in this case, ''Tonight's the Night'', at the suggestion of [[The Band|Band]] bassist [[Rick Danko]].{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=469}} Young further explained his move by saying: "It was a little too personal ... it scared me".{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=469}} Most of the songs from ''Homegrown'' were later incorporated into other Young albums while the original album was not released until 2020. ''Tonight's the Night,'' when finally released in 1975, sold poorly, as had the previous albums of the "ditch" trilogy, and received mixed reviews at the time, but is now regarded as a landmark album. In Young's own opinion, it was the closest he ever came to art.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=433}}

===Reunions, retrospectives and ''Rust Never Sleeps'' (1974–1979)===
Young reunited with [[Crosby, Stills, and Nash]] after a four-year hiatus in the summer of 1974 for a concert tour that was partially recorded; highlights were ultimately released in 2014 as ''[[CSNY 1974]]''. It was one of the first ever stadium tours and the largest tour in which Young has participated to date.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=452}}

In 1975, Young reformed Crazy Horse with [[Frank Sampedro]] on guitar as his backup band for his eighth album, ''[[Zuma (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|Zuma]]'' (November 10, 1975). Many of the songs dealt with the theme of failed relationships; "[[Cortez the Killer]]", a retelling of the [[Spanish conquest]] of Mexico from the viewpoint of the [[Aztec]]s, may also be heard as an allegory of love lost. ''Zuma''{{'}}s closing track, "Through My Sails", was the only released fragment from aborted sessions with Crosby, Stills and Nash for another group album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://songsfromsodeep.wordpress.com/tag/csny/|title=David Crosby RIP|website=Songs from So Deep|date=January 20, 2023 |access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

In 1976, Young reunited with Stephen Stills for the album ''[[Long May You Run]]'' (September 20, 1976), credited to [[The Stills-Young Band]]; the follow-up tour was ended midway through by Young, who sent Stills a [[telegram]] that read: "Funny how some things that start spontaneously end that way. Eat a peach, Neil."{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=502}}

[[File:The Last Waltz.jpg|thumb|''The Last Waltz'', Young (center on left microphone) performing with Bob Dylan and [[The Band]], among others in 1976|left]]

In 1976, Young performed with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and numerous other rock musicians in the high-profile all-star concert ''[[The Last Waltz]]'', the final performance by [[The Band]]. The release of [[Martin Scorsese]]'s movie of the concert was delayed while Scorsese unwillingly re-edited it to obscure the lump of cocaine that was clearly visible hanging from Young's nose during his performance of "[[Helpless (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)|Helpless]]".<ref name="Exclaim">{{cite magazine|last=Schneider|first=Jason|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1741|title=Neil Young – Searching for a Heart of Gold|date=August 4, 2003|magazine=Exclaim!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030901150951/http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1741|archive-date=September 1, 2003}}</ref> ''[[American Stars 'n Bars]]'' (June 13, 1977) contained two songs originally recorded for the ''Homegrown'' album, "Homegrown" and "Star of Bethlehem", as well as newer material, including the future concert staple "[[Like a Hurricane (Neil Young song)|Like a Hurricane]]". Performers on the record included [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Emmylou Harris]] and Young protégé [[Nicolette Larson]] along with Crazy Horse. In 1977, Young also released the compilation ''[[Decade (Neil Young album)|Decade]]'', a personally selected set of songs spanning every aspect of his work, including a handful of previously unreleased songs. The record included less commercial album tracks alongside radio hits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/decade-mw0000195368|title=Decade-Neil Young|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

In June 1977 Young joined with Jeff Blackburn, Bob Mosley and John Craviotto (who later founded [[Craviotto drums]]) to form a band called The Ducks. Over seven-week the band performed 22 shows in Santa Cruz CA but were not allowed to appear beyond city limits due to Young's Crazy Horse contract. In April 2023 Young officially released a double album of songs culled from the band's performances at multiple venues as well as from sessions at a local recording studio. The double album was part of the Neil Young Archives project positioned within the Official Bootleg Series, titled High Flyin'.

''[[Comes a Time]]'' (October 2, 1978), Young's first entirely new solo recording since the mid-1970s, marked a return to the commercially accessible, Nashville-inspired sound of ''Harvest'' while also featuring contributions from Larson and Crazy Horse. The album also marked a return to his folk roots, as exemplified by a cover of [[Ian Tyson]]'s "[[Four Strong Winds]]", a song Young associated with his childhood in Canada. Another of the album's songs, "[[Lotta Love]]", was also recorded by Larson, with her version reaching No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in February 1979. In 1978, much of the filming was done for Young's film ''[[Human Highway]]'', which took its name from a song featured on ''Comes a Time''. Over four years, Young would spend US$3,000,000 of his own money on production (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|3000000|1978}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}). This also marked the beginning of his brief collaboration with the [[art punk]] band [[Devo]], whose members appeared in the film.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=575–577}}

Young set out in 1978 on the lengthy ''Rust Never Sleeps'' tour, in which he played a wealth of new material. Each concert was divided into a solo acoustic set and an electric set with Crazy Horse. The electric sets, featuring an abrasive style of playing, were influenced by the [[punk rock]] [[zeitgeist]] of the late 1970s and provided a stark contrast from ''Comes a Time''.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=529–537}} Two new songs, the acoustic "[[My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)]]" and electric "[[Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)]]" were the centerpiece of the new material. During the filming of ''Human Highway'', Young had collaborated with Devo on a cacophonous version of "Hey Hey, My My" at the [[Different Fur]] studio in San Francisco and would later introduce the song to Crazy Horse.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=531–532}} The lyric "It's better to burn out than to fade away" was widely quoted by his peers and critics.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=531–532}} The album has also widely been considered a precursor of [[grunge]] music with the bands [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Pearl Jam]] having cited Young's heavily distorted and abrasive guitar style on the B side to this album as an inspiration. Young also compared the rise of [[Johnny Rotten]] with that of the recently deceased "King" [[Elvis Presley]], who himself had once been disparaged as a dangerous influence only to later become an [[Pop icon|icon]]. Rotten returned the favor by playing one of Young's songs, "Revolution Blues" from ''[[On the Beach (Neil Young album)|On the Beach]]'', on a London radio show, an early sign of Young's eventual embrace by several punk-influenced alternative musicians.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schneider|first1=Martin|title=DJ Johnny Rotten Plays Music from His Own Record Collection on the Radio, 1977|url=http://dangerousminds.net/comments/dj_johnny_rotten_plays_music_from_his_own_record_collection_on_the_radio_19|website=Dangerousminds.net|date=June 16, 2016|access-date=April 15, 2017}}</ref>

Young's two accompanying albums ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' (July 2, 1979; new material culled from live recordings, but featuring studio overdubs) and ''[[Live Rust]]'' (November 19, 1979; a genuine concert recording featuring old and new material) captured the two sides of the concerts, with solo acoustic songs on side A, and fierce, uptempo, electric songs on side B. A movie version of the concerts, also called ''Rust Never Sleeps'' (1979), was directed by Young under the pseudonym "Bernard Shakey". Young worked with rock artist [[Jim Evans (artist)|Jim Evans]] to create the poster art for the film, using the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[Jawas]] as a theme. Young's work since ''Harvest'' had alternated between being rejected by mass audiences and being seen as backward-looking by critics, sometimes both at once, and now he was suddenly viewed as relevant by a new generation, who began to discover his earlier work. Readers and critics of ''Rolling Stone'' voted him Artist of the Year for 1979 (along with [[The Who]]), selected ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' as Album of the Year, and voted him Male Vocalist of the Year as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm#1979 |title=Albums Of The Year And End Of Year Critic Lists |publisher=Rocklist.net |access-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628073126/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm#1979 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> ''[[The Village Voice]]'' named ''Rust Never Sleeps'' as the year's second best album in the [[Pazz & Jop]] Poll,<ref>{{Cite news |title=The 1979 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |work=[[Robert Christgau]] |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres79.php |access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref> a survey of nationwide critics, and honored Young as the Artist of the Decade.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fentress |first=Calvin |date=January 2, 1990 |title=1980-1989: The Big Sleep |work=[[The Village Voice]] |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/1980-1989-rockism-faces-the-world/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202231643/https://www.villagevoice.com/1980-1989-rockism-faces-the-world/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref>

===Experimental years (1980–1988)===
After providing the incidental music to the 1980 film ''[[Where the Buffalo Roam]]'', Young released ''[[Hawks & Doves]]'' (November 3, 1980), a short record pieced together from sessions going back to 1974.<ref name="Hawks & Doves Review">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r22517|pure_url=yes}}|title=Hawks & Doves Review|website=allmusic|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref>

''[[Re·ac·tor]]'' (1981), an electric album recorded with Crazy Horse, also included material from the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r22518|pure_url=yes}}|title=Reactor Review|website=allmusic|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> Young did not tour in support of either album; in total, he played only one show, a set at the 1980 Bread and Roses Festival in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sugarmtn.org/years/80nysets.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822045439/http://www.sugarmtn.org/years/80nysets.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 22, 2008|title=Neil Young Setlists: 1980|publisher=Sugar Mountain|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> between the end of his 1978 tour with Crazy Horse and the start of his tour with the Trans Band in mid-1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sugarmtn.org/sm_show.php?show=198010030|title=1980-10-03: Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California, USA: Bread And Roses Festival|website=Sugar Mountain.org|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote=The 80s were really good. The 80s were like, artistically, very strong for me, because I knew no boundaries and was experimenting with everything that I could come across, sometimes with great success, sometimes with terrible results, but nonetheless I was able to do this, and I was able to realize that I wasn't in a box, and I wanted to establish that.|source= — Neil Young<ref>Young, Neil. Neil Young: Don't Be Denied. BBC Four.</ref>}}

The 1982 album ''[[Trans (album)|Trans]]'', which incorporated [[vocoder]]s, synthesizers, and electronic beats, was Young's first for the new label [[Geffen Records]] (distributed at the time by [[Warner Bros. Records]], whose parent [[Warner Music Group]] owns most of Young's solo and band catalog) and represented a distinct stylistic departure. Young later revealed that an inspiration for the album was the theme of technology and communication with his son, who could not speak.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r22519|pure_url=yes}}|website=allmusic|title=Trans Review|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> An extensive tour preceded the release of the album and was documented by the video ''[[Neil Young in Berlin]]'', which saw release in 1986.

[[File:Para Rael99 (que nos quiten lo bailao).jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Young playing in [[Barcelona]], Spain, 1984]]

Young's next album, 1983's ''[[Everybody's Rockin']]'', included several [[rockabilly]] covers and clocked in at less than 25 minutes in length. Young was backed by the Shocking Pinks for the supporting US tour. ''Trans'' (1982) had already drawn the ire of label head [[David Geffen]] for its lack of commercial appeal, and with ''Everybody's Rockin''{{'}} following seven months later, Geffen Records sued Young for making music "unrepresentative" of himself.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Fiction of the Past: The Sixties in American History|last=Cavallo|first=Dominick|year=1999|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|location=New York|isbn=978-0-312-21930-7|oclc=39981636|url=https://archive.org/details/fictionofpastsix00cava}}</ref> The album was also notable as the first for which Young made commercial music videos – [[Tim Pope]] directed the videos for "Wonderin'" and "Cry, Cry, Cry". Also premiered in 1983, though little seen, was the long-gestating ''Human Highway''. Co-directed and co-written by Young, the eclectic comedy starred Young, [[Dean Stockwell]], [[Russ Tamblyn]], [[Dennis Hopper]], [[David Blue (musician)|David Blue]], [[Sally Kirkland]], [[Charlotte Stewart]] and members of Devo.

Young did not release an album in 1984, his first unproductive year since beginning his career with Buffalo Springfield in 1966. Young's lack of productivity was largely due to the ongoing legal battle with Geffen, although he was also frustrated that the label had rejected his 1983 country album ''[[Old Ways]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r22521|pure_url=yes}}|title=Old Ways Album Review|website=allmusic|access-date=April 7, 2009}}</ref> It was also the year when Young's third child was born, a girl named Amber Jean, who was later diagnosed with inherited [[epilepsy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.977theriver.com/2019/01/03/neil-youngs-ex-wife-pegi-dies-at-66/|title=Neil Young's Ex-Wife, Pegi, Dies At 66|website=www.977theriver.com|date=January 3, 2019|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref>

Young spent most of 1984 and all of 1985 touring for ''Old Ways'' (August 12, 1985) with his country band, the International Harvesters. The album was finally released in an altered form midway through 1985. Young also appeared at that year's [[Live Aid]] concert in [[Philadelphia]], collaborating with Crosby, Stills and Nash for the quartet's first performance for a paying audience in over ten years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-disaster-of-csny-1974-doom-tour/|website=Far Out Magazine|title=Chronicling the Disaster of CSNY's 1974 'Doom Tour'|date=November 8, 2021 |access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

Young's last two albums for Geffen were more conventional in the genre, although they incorporated production techniques like synthesizers and echoing drums that were previously uncommon in Young's music. Young recorded 1986's ''[[Landing on Water]]'' without Crazy Horse but reunited with the band for the subsequent year-long tour and final Geffen album, ''[[Life (1987 album)|Life]]'', which emerged in 1987. Young's album sales dwindled steadily throughout the eighties; today ''Life'' remains his all-time-least successful studio album, with an estimated four hundred thousand sales worldwide.<ref>As of June 2008 {{cite web|title=Neil Young Worldwide Album Sales Estimates|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?showtopic=6523&gopid=969589&#entry969589|date=June 14, 2008|access-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref>

Switching back to his old label Reprise Records, Young continued to tour relentlessly, assembling a new blues band called The Bluenotes in mid-1987 (a legal dispute with musician [[Harold Melvin]] forced the eventual rechristening of the band as Ten Men Working midway through the tour). The addition of a [[brass section]] provided a new [[jazz]]ier sound, and the title track of 1988's ''[[This Note's For You]]'' became Young's first hit single of the decade. Accompanied by a video that parodied corporate rock, the pretensions of advertising, and [[Michael Jackson]], the song was initially unofficially banned by MTV for mentioning the brand names of some of their sponsors. Young wrote an open letter, "What does the M in MTV stand for: music or money?" Despite this, the video was eventually named [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Video of the Year|best video of the year]] by the network in 1989.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=24–32}}

Young reunited with Crosby, Stills, and Nash to record the 1988 album ''[[American Dream (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album)|American Dream]]'' and play two benefit concerts late in the year, but the group did not embark upon a full tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aroundandaroundcom.wordpress.com/american-dream/|title=American Dream|website=Word Press|date=June 21, 2021 |access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

Young attracted criticism from liberals in the music industry when he supported [[President Ronald Reagan]] and said he was "tired of people constantly apologizing for being Americans".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stevenson|first=Campbell|date=April 29, 2006|title=Neil Young: The Conscience of America|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/30/popandrock.neilyoung|access-date=February 8, 2022|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref> In a 1985 interview with ''[[Melody Maker]]'', he said about the [[AIDS pandemic]]: "You go to a supermarket and you see a faggot behind the fuckin' cash register, you don't want him to handle your potatoes."<ref name="Rolling Stone-2013">{{Cite magazine|date=March 20, 2013|title=Michelle Shocked: Not the First Artist to Betray Her Fanbase|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/michelle-shocked-not-the-first-artist-to-betray-her-fanbase-87622/|access-date=February 8, 2022|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US}}</ref> In the same interview, Young also complained about [[Social programs in the United States|welfare]] beneficiaries, saying: "Stop being supported by the government and get out and work. You have to make the weak stand up on one leg, or half a leg, whatever they've got."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Xan |date=September 17, 2003 |title=The Good, The Bad and the Shakey |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/sep/17/popandrock.neilyoung |access-date=February 8, 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote in 2013 that Young "almost certainly regrets that horrific statement" and that he "quickly moved away from right-wing politics".<ref name="Rolling Stone-2013" />

Young took a turn at acting in 1988 by appearing in the Steven Kovacs film ''[['68 (film)|'68]]''. He played the character Westy, a cranky owner of a motorcycle shop and a fan of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

===Return to prominence (1989–1999)===
[[File:Neil Young 1996.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Young performing in 1996 in [[Turku]], Finland|left]]

Young's 1989 single "[[Rockin' in the Free World]]", which hit No.&nbsp;2 on the US mainstream-rock charts, and accompanied the album, ''[[Freedom (1989 album)|Freedom]]'', returned Young to the popular consciousness after a decade of sometimes-difficult genre experiments. The album's lyrics were often overtly political; "Rockin' in the Free World" deals with homelessness, terrorism, and environmental degradation, implicitly criticizing the government policies of President [[George H. W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Neil Young Lyrics Analysis: Rockin' in the Free World|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/fot/ritfw.htm|website=Thrasherswheat.org|access-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref>

The use of heavy [[feedback]] and distortion on several ''Freedom'' tracks was reminiscent of the ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' (1979) album and foreshadowed the imminent rise of grunge. The rising stars of the subgenre, including [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]'s [[Kurt Cobain]] and [[Pearl Jam]]'s [[Eddie Vedder]], frequently cited Young as a major influence, contributing to his popular revival. A tribute album called ''[[The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young]]'' was released in 1989, featuring covers by a range of alternative and grunge acts, including [[Sonic Youth]], [[Nick Cave]], [[Soul Asylum]], [[Dinosaur Jr]], and the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Tribute-Young-Various-Artists/dp/B000000HRF|title=Bridge: Tribute Neil Young|website=Amazon|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

Young's 1990 album ''[[Ragged Glory]]'', recorded with Crazy Horse in a barn on his Northern California ranch, continued this distortion-heavy aesthetic. Young toured for the album with Orange County, California country-punk band [[Social Distortion]] and Sonic Youth as support, much to the consternation of many of his old fans.<ref name="sonic">{{cite web|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/sonic_youth.htm|title=Sonic Youth and Neil Young|publisher=Thrasher's Wheat – A Neil Young Archives|access-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Weld (album)|Weld]]'', a two-disc live album documenting the tour, was released in 1991.<ref name="sonic" /> Sonic Youth's influence was evident on ''[[Arc (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|Arc]]'', a 35-minute collage of feedback and distortion spliced together at the suggestion of [[Thurston Moore]] and originally packaged with some versions of ''Weld''.<ref name="sonic" />

1992's ''[[Harvest Moon (album)|Harvest Moon]]'' marked an abrupt return (prompted by Young's [[hyperacusis]] in the aftermath of the ''Weld'' tour) to the country and folk-rock stylings of ''Harvest'' and reunited him with some of the musicians from that album, including the core members of the Stray Gators and singers [[Linda Ronstadt]] and [[James Taylor]]. The title track was a minor hit, and the record was well received by critics, winning the [[Juno Award for Album of the Year]] in 1994. Young also contributed to lifelong friend [[Randy Bachman]]'s nostalgic 1992 tune "Prairie Town", and garnered a 1993 [[Academy Award for Best Song|Academy Award]] nomination for his song "Philadelphia", from the soundtrack of the [[Jonathan Demme]] movie [[Philadelphia (movie)|of the same name]]. An ''[[Unplugged (Neil Young album)|MTV Unplugged]]'' performance and album emerged in 1993. Later that year, Young collaborated with [[Booker T. and the M.G.s]] for a summer tour of Europe and North America, with [[Blues Traveler]], [[Soundgarden]], and [[Pearl Jam]] also on the bill. Some European shows ended with a rendition of "Rockin' in the Free World" played with [[Pearl Jam]], foreshadowing their eventual full-scale collaboration two years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sugarmtn.org/sm_show.php?show=199307110|title=1993-07-11: Finsbury Park, London, England (W/ Booker T. & The MGs)|website=Sugarmtn.org|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Neil Young, Heart of Gold.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Young on stage in [[Barcelona]]]]
In 1994, Young again collaborated with Crazy Horse on ''[[Sleeps with Angels]]'', a record whose dark, somber mood was influenced by [[Kurt Cobain]]'s death earlier that year: the title track in particular dealt with Cobain's life and death without mentioning him by name. Cobain had quoted Young's lyric "It's better to burn out than fade away" (a line from "[[My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)|My My, Hey Hey]]") in [[Death of Kurt Cobain#Suicide note|his suicide note]]. Young had reportedly made repeated attempts to contact Cobain before his death.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/10/1021002387905.html|title=Neil Young: The Quiet Achiever|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=January 26, 2010|date=May 11, 2002}}</ref> Young and Pearl Jam performed "Act of Love" at an abortion rights benefit along with Crazy Horse, and were present at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dinner, sparking interest in a collaboration between the two.<ref>{{cite news|last=Strauss|first=Neil|date=July 2, 1995 |title=The Predictably Unpredictable Neil Young|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/02/arts/the-predictably-unpredictable-neil-young.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> Still enamored with the grunge scene, Young reconnected with Pearl Jam in 1995 for the live-in-the-studio album ''[[Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)|Mirror Ball]]'' and a tour of Europe with the band and producer [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]] backing Young. 1995 also marked Young's induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], where he was inducted by Eddie Vedder.<ref name="rockhall.com" />

{{blockquote|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.|[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] website.<ref name="rockhall.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/neil-young|title=Neil Young: Inducted in 1995|publisher=The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name="R&R Hall of Fame1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/neil-young/bio/|title=Neil Young Biography|year=2013|work=Neil Young biography at the Rock and roll Hall of Fame|publisher=The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc.|access-date=August 12, 2013}}</ref>}}

In 1995, Young and his manager [[Elliot Roberts]] founded a record label, Vapor Records.<ref name="canadianmusichalloffame">{{cite web|url=http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/this-week-in-music-history-july-15-to-21/|title=This Week in Music History: July 15 to 21|work=[[Canadian Music Hall of Fame]]|first=David|last=Ball|date=July 16, 2013|access-date=February 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218063755/http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/this-week-in-music-history-july-15-to-21/|archive-date=February 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It has released recordings by [[Tegan and Sara]], [[Spoon (band)|Spoon]], [[Jonathan Richman]], [[Vic Chesnutt]], [[Everest (band)|Everest]], [[Pegi Young]], [[Jets Overhead]], and Young himself, among others.<ref name="canadianmusichalloffame" />

Young's next collaborative partner was the filmmaker [[Jim Jarmusch]], who asked Young to compose [[Dead Man (soundtrack)|a soundtrack]] to his 1995 black-and-white western film ''[[Dead Man]]''. Young's instrumental soundtrack was improvised while he watched the film alone in a studio. The death of longtime mentor, friend, and producer [[David Briggs (producer)|David Briggs]] in late 1995 prompted Young to reconnect with Crazy Horse the next year for the album and tour ''[[Broken Arrow (album)|Broken Arrow]]''. A Jarmusch-directed concert film and live album of the tour, ''[[Year of the Horse]]'', emerged in 1997. From 1996 to 1997, Young and Crazy Horse toured extensively throughout Europe and North America, including a stint as part of the [[H.O.R.D.E.]] Festival's sixth annual tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sugarmtn.org/sm_getshows.php?tour_key=153|title=Neil Young Set Lists: 1997 HORDE Tour with Crazy Horse|website=Sugarmtn.org|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

In 1998, Young renewed his collaboration with the rock band [[Phish]], sharing the stage at the annual [[Farm Aid]] concert and then at Young's Bridge School Benefit, where he joined headliners Phish for renditions of "[[Helpless (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)|Helpless]]" and "[[I Shall Be Released]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hyperrust.org/Bridge/Bridge12.html|title=Bridge Benefit XII|publisher=Hyperrust|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Phish declined Young's later invitation to be his backing band on his 1999 North American tour.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-phish-down-by-the-river-1006145/|title=Flashback: Neil Young and Phish Play an Epic, Weed-Fueled "Down by the River"|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

The decade ended with the release in late 1999 of ''[[Looking Forward]]'', another reunion with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. The subsequent tour of the United States and Canada with the reformed quartet earned $42.1&nbsp;million, making it the eighth largest grossing tour of 2000.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Waddell|first= Ray|date=December 28, 2002|title=Billboard: THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSWEEKLY OF MUSIC, VIDEO, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT|magazine= Billboard |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2002/BB-2002-12-28.pdf|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

===Health condition and new material (2000s)===
[[File:Csny-8-20-06.jpg|thumb|[[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]] perform at the [[PNC Bank Arts Center]] in 2006. (From L&nbsp;to&nbsp;R: Nash, Stills, Young, and Crosby)|left]]
Young continued to release new material at a rapid pace through the first decade of the new millennium. The studio album ''[[Silver & Gold (Neil Young album)|Silver & Gold]]'' and live album ''[[Road Rock Vol. 1]]'' were released in 2000 and were both accompanied by live concert films. His 2001 single "Let's Roll" was a tribute to the victims of the [[September 11 attacks]], and the [[Let's Roll|effective action taken by the passengers and crew]] on [[United Airlines flight 93|Flight 93]] in particular.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20011216song1216lnp5.asp|title=Flight 93's Beamer Inspires Song by Neil Young|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=December 16, 2001|access-date=April 4, 2009|first=Linton|last=Weeks}}</ref>

In 2003, Young released ''[[Greendale (album)|Greendale]]'', a [[concept album]] recorded with Crazy Horse members Billy Talbot and [[Ralph Molina]]. The songs loosely revolved around the murder of a police officer in a small California town and its effects on the town's inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicbox-online.com/ny-green.html|title=Greendale Review|publisher=The Music Box|date=November 2003|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609153924/http://www.musicbox-online.com/ny-green.html|archive-date=June 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under the pseudonym "Bernard Shakey", Young directed an accompanying film of the same name, featuring actors lip-synching to the music from the album. He toured extensively with the ''Greendale'' material throughout 2003 and 2004, first with a solo, acoustic version in Europe, then with a full-cast stage show in North America, Japan, and Australia. Young began using [[biodiesel]] on the 2004 Greendale tour, powering his trucks and tour buses with the fuel. "Our Greendale tour is now ozone friendly", he said. "I plan to continue to use this government approved and regulated fuel exclusively from now on to prove that it is possible to deliver the goods anywhere in North America without using foreign oil, while being environmentally responsible."<ref name="biodiesel">{{cite web|url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2004/02/hollywood-stars-shine-spotlight-on-green-power-10616|title=Hollywood Stars Shine Spotlight on Green Power &#124; Renewable Energy News Article|publisher=Renewableenergyworld.com|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Stephen Stills and Neil Young 2006.jpg|thumb|Stills and Young performing together on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 2006 tour]]

====2005 health issues====
In March 2005, while working on the ''[[Prairie Wind]]'' album in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]],<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1110988,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210222145/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1110988,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 10, 2005 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |title=Resurrection of Neil Young, Continued |date=September 28, 2005 |access-date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> Young was diagnosed with a brain [[aneurysm]]. He was treated successfully with a minimally invasive [[Neuroradiology|neuroradiological]] procedure and performed in a New York hospital on March 29,<ref>{{cite news|title=Neil Young Treated for 'Dangerous' Aneurysm|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/01/neil.young/|work=CNN|date=April 1, 2005|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> but passed out two days later on a New York street from bleeding from the [[femoral artery]], which radiologists had used to access the aneurysm.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Resurrection of Neil Young|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1109363,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130091826/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1109363,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2005|magazine=Time|date=September 26, 2005|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> The complication forced Young to cancel his scheduled appearance at the [[Juno Awards]] telecast in Winnipeg, but within months he was back on stage, appearing at the close of the [[Live 8]] concert in [[Barrie, Ontario]], on July 2. During the performance, he debuted a new song, a soft hymn called "When God Made Me". Young's brush with death influenced ''Prairie Wind''{{'}}s themes of retrospection and mortality.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Prairie Wind Music Review|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/albums/album/7637213/review/7645148/prairie_wind|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002044614/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/albums/album/7637213/review/7645148/prairie_wind|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2007|magazine=Rollingtone|date=October 6, 2005|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref>

====Jonathan Demme concert film====
A Jonathan Demme concert film from a 2007 concert at the [[Tower Theater (Pennsylvania)|Tower Theater]] in [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania]], called the ''[[Neil Young Trunk Show]]'' premiered on March 21, 2009, at the [[South by Southwest]] (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], Texas. It was featured at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2009, and was released in the US on March 19, 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1236244/releaseinfo|title=Neil Young Trunk Show (2009) |website=IMDb.com}}</ref> to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neil Young Trunk Show. At the New York Times.|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/movies/19young.html|work=The New York Times|first=Mike|last=Hale|access-date=May 20, 2010|date=March 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stephen|first=John|url=http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/movies/reviews-movies/2010/03/neil-young-trunk-show-review/|title=Neil Young Trunk Show Review (Blast Magazine, 9 March 2010)|website=Blastmagazine.com|date=March 9, 2010|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=John Stephen Dwyer|url=http://www.bostonlowbrow.com/2010/03/jonathan-demme-receives-coolidge-award-premiers-neil-young-trunk-show/|title=Demme Receives Coolidge Award, Premiers Trunk Show|publisher=Bostonlowbrow.com|access-date=November 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102200005/http://www.bostonlowbrow.com/2010/03/jonathan-demme-receives-coolidge-award-premiers-neil-young-trunk-show/|archive-date=November 2, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Glastonbury, Isle of Wight====
In 2009, Young headlined the [[New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival]], and [[Glastonbury Festival]] in [[Pilton, Somerset|Pilton, England]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eg8g9r|title=Neil Young Keep on Rocking in the Free World|publisher=bbc Glastonbury online|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref> at [[Hard Rock Calling]] in London (where he was joined onstage by [[Paul McCartney]] for a rendition of "[[A Day in the Life]]") and, after years of unsuccessful booking attempts, the [[Isle of Wight Festival 2009|Isle of Wight Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/neil-young-to-play-isle-of-wight-festival-1.792917?ref=rss|title=Neil Young Announced as Final Isle of Wight Festival Headliner|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|access-date=March 5, 2009|date=March 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510093609/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/neil-young-to-play-isle-of-wight-festival-1.792917?ref=rss|archive-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref>

===Increased environmental activism and Promise of the Real (2010s)===
[[File:Neil Young - Per Ole Hagen.jpg|thumb|Young performing in [[Oslo]], Norway, in 2009]]
In May 2010, it was revealed Young had begun working on a new studio album produced by [[Daniel Lanois]]. This was announced by David Crosby, who said that the album "will be a very heartfelt record. I expect it will be a very special record."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/neil-young/50941|title=Neil Young Working on New Album with Bob Dylan and U2 Producer|publisher=Nme.com|date=May 4, 2010|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> On May 18, 2010, Young embarked upon a North American solo tour to promote his then upcoming album, ''[[Le Noise]]'', playing a mix of older songs and new material. Although billed as a solo acoustic tour, Young also played some songs on electric guitars, including Old Black.<ref name="americansong">{{cite magazine|last=Inman|first=Davis|title=Neil Young's Twisted Road Tour Begins|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/05/neil-youngs-twisted-road-tour-begins/|magazine=American Songwriter|access-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref>

In September 2011, Jonathan Demme's third documentary film on the singer-songwriter, ''[[Neil Young Journeys]]'', premiered at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|author=TIFF|url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/neilyoungjourneys|title=2011 Films – Neil Young Journeys|publisher=[[tiff.net]]|access-date=April 30, 2012}}</ref>

Young and Crazy Horse released the album ''[[Americana (Neil Young Crazy Horse album)|Americana]]'' on June 5, 2012. It was Young's first collaboration with Crazy Horse since the ''Greendale'' album and tour in 2003 and 2004. The record is a tribute to unofficial national anthems that jump from an uncensored version of "[[This Land Is Your Land]]" to "[[Oh My Darling, Clementine|Clementine]]" and includes a version of "[[God Save the Queen]]", which Young grew up singing every day in school in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rcrdlbl.com/2012/05/29/album_stream_neil_young_crazy_horse_americana|title=ALBUM STREAM: Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Americana|publisher=Rcrd Lbl|date=May 29, 2012|access-date=June 2, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602020529/http://rcrdlbl.com/2012/05/29/album_stream_neil_young_crazy_horse_americana|archive-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref>

''Americana'' is Young's first album entirely of cover songs. It debuted at number four on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], making it Young's highest-charting album in the US since ''Harvest''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/neil-young/chart-history/tlp/|title=Neil Young Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> On June 5, 2012, ''[[American Songwriter]]'' reported that Young and Crazy Horse would be launching their first tour in eight years in support of the album.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Schlansky|first=Evan|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/06/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-to-launch-first-tour-in-eight-years/|title=Neil Young And Crazy Horse To Launch First Tour in Eight Years|magazine=American Songwriter|date=June 5, 2012|access-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref>

On September 25, 2012, Young's autobiography ''[[Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream]]'' was released to critical and commercial acclaim.<ref>{{cite book|title=Waging Heavy Peace [Hardcover]|isbn=978-0399159466|last1=Young|first1=Neil|year=2012|publisher=Penguin }}</ref> Reviewing the book for the ''[[New York Times]]'', [[Janet Maslin]] reported that Young chose to write his memoirs in 2012 for two reasons: he needed to take a break from stage performances for health reasons but continue to generate income; and he feared the onset of [[dementia]], considering his father's medical history and his own present condition. Maslin praised the book, describing it as frank but quirky and without pathos.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|author-link=Janet Maslin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/books/neil-youngs-memoir-waging-heavy-peace.html|title=While He Can Still Remember|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 28, 2012|access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref>

In November 2013, Young performed at the annual fundraiser for the [[Silverlake Conservatory of Music]]. Following the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], he played an acoustic set to a crowd who had paid a minimum of $2,000 a seat to attend the benefit in the famous [[Paramour Mansion]] overlooking downtown Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Randy|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-silverlake-conservatory-red-hot-chili-peppers-20131101,0,3626187.story#axzz2jyHi7Ahl|title=Neil Young Sets Tone at Benefit for Children's Education|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 1, 2013|access-date=November 8, 2013}}</ref>

Young released the album ''[[A Letter Home]]'' on April 19, 2014, through [[Jack White]]'s record label, and his second memoir, ''Special Deluxe'', which was released on October 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/neil-young/special-deluxe/|title=Special Deluxe a Memoir of Life & Cars|website=[[Kirkus Reviews]]|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref> He appeared with White on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'' on May 12, 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5930484/neil-youngs-agenda-jack-white-project-second-book-full-blown-orchestra-album|title=Neil Young's Agenda: Jack White Project, Second Book, 'Full-Blown Orchestra' Album|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref>

Young released his 35th studio album, ''[[Storytone]],'' on November 4, 2014. The first song released from the album, "Who's Gonna Stand Up?", was released in three different versions on September 25, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/09/25/neil-young-storeytone-whos-gonna-stand-up/|title=Neil Young's New Album Shares Orchestral New Single|first=Mike|last=Ayers|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=September 25, 2014|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref>

''Storytone'' was followed in 2015 by his [[concept album]] ''[[The Monsanto Years]]''.<ref name="avclub">{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/neil-young-protesting-gmos-anti-monsanto-album-218299|title=Neil Young Is Protesting GMOs with an Anti-Monsanto Album|last=Barsanti|first=Sam|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> ''The Monsanto Years'' is an album themed both in support of [[sustainable farming]] and to protest the biotechnology company [[Monsanto]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://spiritualityhealth.com/reviews/music-review-monsanto-years|title=Review: The Monsanto Years|author=Orion, Damon|journal=[[Spirituality & Health Magazine]]|date=September–October 2015}}</ref> Young achieves this protest in a series of lyrical sentiments against [[genetically modified food]] production. He created this album in collaboration with [[Willie Nelson]]'s sons, [[Lukas and Micah]], and is also backed by Lukas's fellow band members from [[Promise of the Real]].<ref>Parker, Lyndsey. "Exclusive Premiere: Watch Neil Young & Promise of the Real's Full 'The Monsanto Years' Film."  Yahoo Music. July 6, 2015. Web.</ref> Additionally, Young released a film in tandem with the album, also called ''The Monsanto Years'', that documents the album's recording, and can be streamed online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Monsanto-Years-CD-DVD/dp/B00XO12REY|title=The Monsanto Years|website=Amazon.com|date=January 28, 2024 }}</ref> In August 2019, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that Monsanto was spying on Young and other environmental activists.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levin|first=Sam|date=August 8, 2019 |title=Revealed: How Monsanto's 'Intelligence Center' Targeted Journalists and Activists|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/07/monsanto-fusion-center-journalists-roundup-neil-young|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref>

In summer 2015, Young undertook a North American tour titled the Rebel Content Tour. It began on July 5, at the Summerfest in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], and ended on July 24, at the [[Wayhome Festival]] in [[Oro-Medonte]], Ontario. [[Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real]] were special guests for the tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neil-young.concerttournewshub.com/|title=Neil Young 2015 Rebel Content Tour Schedule With Promise of the Real|date=April 21, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001214911/http://neil-young.concerttournewshub.com/|archive-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-readies-new-album-tour-with-willie-nelsons-sons-20150420|title=Neil Young Readies New Album, Tour With Willie Nelson's Sons|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=April 20, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref>

In October 2016, Young performed at [[Desert Trip]] in [[Indio, California]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-coachella-mega-rock-concert-20160415-story.html|title=Coachella Promoters Look to Book Dylan, Stones, McCartney and Young for Mega-Concert|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 16, 2016|access-date=May 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2016/05/09/desert-trip-adds-second-weekend-to-line-up/|title=Desert Trip Adds Second Weekend: Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney to Return|website=Radio.com|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904210357/http://radio.com/2016/05/09/desert-trip-adds-second-weekend-to-line-up/|archive-date=September 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and announced his 37th studio album, ''[[Peace Trail (album)|Peace Trail]]'', recorded with drummer [[Jim Keltner]] and bass guitarist Paul Bushnell,<ref name="PitchforkNews">{{cite web|last=Sodomsky|first=Sam|title=Neil Young Announces New Album ''Peace Trail'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/69309-neil-young-announces-new-album-peace-trail/|website=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]|access-date=November 4, 2016|date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> which was released that December.

On September 8, 2017, Young released ''[[Hitchhiker (Neil Young album)|Hitchhiker]]'', a studio LP recorded on August 11, 1976, at Indigo Studios in [[Malibu, California|Malibu]]. The album features ten songs that Young recorded accompanied by acoustic guitar or piano.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/10/neil-young-hitchhiker-lost-album-1976-review|title=Neil Young: Hitchhiker CD Review – Intimate Return to a Lost Night in 1976|last=Mardles|first=Paul |date=September 10, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=September 10, 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> While different versions of most of the songs have been previously released, the album includes two never-before-released songs: "Hawaii" and "Give Me Strength", which Young has occasionally performed live.<ref name="rollingstone.com Neil Young Hitchhiker 2017">{{cite magazine |first=Elias|last=Leight|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-details-lost-acoustic-album-hitchhiker-w487731 |title=Neil Young Details Lost Acoustic Album 'Hitchhiker' (Young Collects Results of 1976 Session in Malibu, Including Two Previously Unreleased Songs, On New Album) |date=August 4, 2017 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref>

On July 4, 2017, Young released the song "Children of Destiny", which appeared on his next album. On November 3, 2017, he released "Already Great", a song from ''[[The Visitor (Neil Young & Promise of the Real album)|The Visitor]]'', an album he recorded with Promise of the Real and released on December 1, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neil Young Announces New Album ''The Visitor'', Shares "Already Great": Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/neil-young-announces-new-album-the-visitor-shares-already-great-listen/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=November 4, 2017 |date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>

On [[Record Store Day]], April 21, 2018, Warner Records released a two-vinyl LP special edition of ''[[Roxy: Tonight's the Night Live]]'', a double live album of a show that Young performed in September 1973 at [[Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)|the Roxy in West Hollywood]], with the Santa Monica Flyers. The album is labeled "Volume 05" in Young's ''Performance Series.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Arcand|first=Rob|date=February 24, 2018|title=Neil Young Announces New Tonight's The Night Live Album Coming This Record Store Day|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/02/neil-young-tonights-the-night-live-album-announcement-record-store-day/|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=[[Spin.com]]}}</ref>

On October 19, 2018, Young released a live version of his song "Campaigner", an excerpt from a forthcoming archival live album, ''Songs for Judy'', which features solo performances recorded during a November 1976 tour with Crazy Horse. It was the first release from his new label Shakey Pictures Records.<ref name="rollingstone.com Songs for Judy">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-songs-for-judy-album-1976-live-744282/ |title=Neil Young to Release 1976 Live Album 'Songs for Judy' by Simon Vozick-Levinson |date= October 19, 2018 |website=Rollingstone.com |access-date= October 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org Songs for Judy">{{cite web |url=http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2018/10/songs-for-judy-tracklist-next-neil.html |title=Neil Young News |date= October 18, 2018 |website=Neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org |access-date= October 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="goseelivemusic.co Songs for Judy">{{cite web |url=http://www.goseelivemusic.co/index.php/2018/10/19/neil-young-announces-live-1976-album-songs-for-judy/ |title=Neil Young Announces Live 1976 Album 'Songs For Judy |date= October 2018 |website=Goseelivemusic.co |access-date= October 23, 2018}}</ref>

In December 2018, Young criticized the promoters of a London show for selecting [[Barclays Bank]] as a sponsor. He objected to the bank's association with [[fossil fuel]]s. Young said he was trying to rectify the situation by finding a different sponsor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/10/neil-young-bob-dylan-london-show-barclays-fossils-fuel-funding|title=Neil Young Criticises Festival Sponsor Barclays over 'Fossil Fuel Funding'|last=Snapes|first=Laura|date=December 10, 2018|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=December 10, 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On August 19, 2019, Young and Crazy Horse announced the release later that month of the song "Rainbow of Colors", the first single from the album ''[[Colorado (Neil Young album)|Colorado]]'', Young's first new record with the band since 2012's ''[[Psychedelic Pill]]''. Young, multi-instrumentalist [[Nils Lofgren]], bassist Billy Talbot and drummer Ralph Molina recorded the album with Young's co-producer, John Hanlon, in spring 2019. ''Colorado'' was released on October 25, 2019,<ref name="www.nme.com Rainbow of Colors">{{cite web |last1=Gwee |first1=Karen |title=Neil Young and Crazy Horse Announce New Song, 'Rainbow of Colors', Out Later This Month |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/neil-young-crazy-horse-announce-new-song-rainbow-colors-colorado-album-2539415 |website=Nme.com |access-date=August 19, 2019 |date=August 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name="www.jambase.com Rainbow of Colors">{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=Scott |title=Neil Young Announces New Crazy Horse Album 'Colorado' |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/neil-young-crazy-horse-colorado |website=Jambase.com |access-date=August 19, 2019 |date=August 19, 2019}}</ref> on Reprise Records. On August 30, 2019, Young unveiled "Milky Way", the first song from ''Colorado'', a love ballad he had performed several times at concerts – both solo acoustic and with Promise of the Real.<ref name="rollingstone.com Neil Young Milky Way">{{cite magazine|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Hear Neil Young and Crazy Horse's New Song 'Milky Way' (Love Ballad Comes from Their Upcoming Album Colorado, Due out in October)|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-crazy-horse-milky-way-878412/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=September 1, 2019|date=August 30, 2019}}</ref>

===Continued work with Crazy Horse and forming the Chrome Hearts (2020s)===
In February 2020, Young wrote an open letter to President Trump, calling him a "disgrace to my country".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-letter-trump-954835/|title=Neil Young Pens Open Letter to Donald Trump: 'You Are a Disgrace to My Country'|first=Andy|last=Greene|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|location=United States|date=February 19, 2020|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/neil-young-pens-open-letter-to-president-trump-our-first-black-president-was-a-better-man-than-you-are/|title=Neil Young Pens Open Letter to President Trump: "Our First Black President Was a Better Man Than You Are"|first=Caitlin|last=O'Kane|work=[[CBS News]]|location=New York City|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref> On August 4, 2020, Young filed a [[copyright infringement]] lawsuit against [[Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020|Trump's reelection campaign]] for the use of his music at campaign rallies.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|date=August 4, 2020|title=Neil Young Sues Donald Trump Campaign for Copyright Infringement|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/neil-young-sues-donald-trump-campaign-copyright-infringement-1305863|access-date=August 4, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en}}</ref>

In April 2020, Young announced that he was working on a new archival album, ''Road of Plenty'', comprising music made with Crazy Horse in 1986 and rehearsals for his 1989 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' appearance.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|date=April 24, 2020|title=Neil Young Announces New 1980s Archival LP 'Road of Plenty'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-announces-1980s-archival-lp-road-of-plenty-989683/|access-date=January 29, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> On June 19, Young released a "lost" album, ''[[Homegrown (Neil Young album)|Homegrown]].'' He recorded it in the mid-1970s following his breakup with [[Carrie Snodgress]], but opted not to release it at the time, feeling it was too personal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 18, 2020|title=Neil Young: Homegrown Review – His Great Lost Album, Finally Unearthed|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/18/neil-young-homegrown-review-warner-lost-album|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In September, Young released a live EP, ''[[The Times (EP)|The Times]]''. Young shared the news via his video for his new song "Lookin' for a Leader", stating: "I invite the President to play this song at his next rally.  A song about the feelings many of us have about America today."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Michael |last=Roffmanon |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Neil Young Announces New The Times EP (The Veteran Bard Quietly Shared the News via His Video for "Lookin' For A Leader") |url=https://consequence.net/2020/08/neil-young-the-times-ep/ |access-date=August 18, 2020 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |language=en}}</ref>

Young and Crazy Horse released a new album, ''[[Barn (album)|Barn]]'', on December 10, 2021. The first single, "Song of the Seasons", was released on October 15, followed by "Welcome Back" on December 3, along with a music video. A stand-alone will be released on [[Blu-ray]] and will be directed by [[Daryl Hannah]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://neilyoung.warnerrecords.com/barn/barn-lp-1.html |title=Barn LP |website=neilyoung.warnerrecords.com |access-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028071414/https://neilyoung.warnerrecords.com/barn/barn-lp-1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Young also confirmed that he had completed his third book, ''Canary'', his first work of fiction.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 7, 2021|title=Neil Young Confirms New Crazy Horse Album Is On The Way|url=http://thisisdig-com.nds.acquia-psi.com/neil-young-new-crazy-horse-album/|access-date=October 6, 2021|website=Dig!|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006004424/http://thisisdig-com.nds.acquia-psi.com/neil-young-new-crazy-horse-album/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 24, 2022, Young posted an open letter threatening to remove his music from the audio streaming service [[Spotify]] if it did not remove the ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience|Joe Rogan Experience]]'' podcast. Young accused the podcast of spreading [[COVID-19 misinformation]] on December 31, writing, "Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform".<ref name="Yang-2022">{{Cite web|last=Yang|first=Maya|date=January 26, 2022|title=Spotify Removes Neil Young Music in Feud over Joe Rogan's False Covid Claims|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/26/spotify-neil-young-joe-rogan-covid-misinformation|access-date=January 27, 2022|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref> On January 26, Young's music was removed from Spotify. A Spotify spokesperson said that Spotify wanted "all the world's music and audio content to be available to Spotify users" and that it had a "great responsibility in balancing both safety for listeners and freedom for creators".<ref name="Yang-2022"/> In solidarity, artists including [[Joni Mitchell]] and the members of Crosby, Stills, and Nash also removed their music from Spotify.<ref name="Guardian2022-01-29a">{{Cite web|last=Sherwood|first=Harriet|date=January 29, 2022|title=Joni Mitchell Joins Neil Young's Spotify Protest over Anti-Vax Content|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/29/joni-mitchell-joins-neil-young-in-demanding-spotify-remove-her-music|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name="ABC-AU2022-01-29a">{{cite news |date=January 29, 2022 |title=Joni Mitchell to Remove Songs from Spotify in Solidarity with Neil Young's Stance Against Joe Rogan's COVID 'Misinformation' |website=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-29/joni-mitchell-take-songs-off-spotify-solidarity-with-neil-young/100790200 |access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills Ask to Pull Their Content from Spotify |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/02/02/1077653424/crosby-stills-nash-young-spotify |access-date=June 10, 2022}}</ref> The [[Director-General of the World Health Organization]], [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]], praised Young.<ref name="ABC-AU2022-01-29a" /> In March 2024, Young returned his music to Spotify, as the end of [[Joe Rogan]]'s contract meant Rogan could add ''The Joe Rogan Experience'' to other streaming platforms, such as [[Apple Music]] and [[Amazon Music]]. Young said he could not sustain his opposition on each of the platforms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Neil Young to Return Music to Spotify as He Attacks 'Disinformation' Across Streaming Services |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/13/neil-young-to-return-music-to-spotify-as-he-attacks-disinformation-across-streaming-services |access-date=March 13, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In 2023, Young criticized [[Ticketmaster]]'s practice of raising ticket prices and adding fees. He said he had been sent letters from fans blaming him for $3,000 tickets for a [[benefit concert]] he was performing, and that "artists have to worry about  ripped off fans blaming them for Ticketmaster add-ons and [[scalper]]s".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/neil-young-declares-touring-is-broken-due-to-ticketmaster-controversy/ |title=Neil Young Declares 'Touring Is Broken' Due to Ticketmaster Controversy |last=Bloom |first=Madison |website=Pitchfork |date=March 24, 2023 |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref>

In April and May 2024, Young returned to touring with Crazy Horse for the first time in ten years (for their Love Earth Tour), and unveiled a "lost" verse from "[[Cortez the Killer]]" that had been unknown for years. [[Micah Nelson]], son of [[Willie Nelson]], joined Crazy Horse for the tour, as Nils Lofgren was busy touring with [[Bruce Springsteen]] as a member of the [[E Street Band]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/news/04-24/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-kick-off-first-proper-tour-in-10-years-5bd6a77c | title=Neil Young & Crazy Horse Kick off First Proper Tour in 10 Years | website=setlist.fm }}</ref> In May, two members of the group became ill, and Young announced that the remainder of their tour (including dates in July and festivals in September) would be canceled indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/06/26/neil-young-crazy-horse-2024-tour-canceled/74227028007/ | title=Neil Young and Crazy Horse cancel remaining 2024 tour dates due to illness | website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref>

In late 2024, Young began playing with a new backing band, the Chrome Hearts. The band consists of [[Promise of the Real]] members Micah Nelson (guitar), Corey McCormick (bass), and Anthony Logerfo (drums), and organist [[Spooner Oldham]]. They released their debut single, "big change", in January 2025, with producer [[John Hanlon (record producer)|John Hanlon]] calling the song "in your face loud irreverent rock’n’roll paint splatter on the canvas in the vein of a [[Jackson Pollack]] [sic] painting."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/neil-young-and-the-chrome-hearts-share-new-song-big-change-listen/ | title=Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts Share New Song "Big Change": Listen | website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] | date=January 17, 2025 }}</ref> The song was featured on the album ''[[Talkin to the Trees]]'', released several months later on June 13, 2025 as his debut album with the Chrome Hearts. The album's second single, "Let's Roll Again", was released on May 2, 2025 and takes a direct shot at [[Elon Musk]] and [[Tesla, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/neil-young-music-video-flames-elon-musk-heil-tesla/?via=FB_Page&utm_source=facebook_owned_tdb&utm_campaign=owned_social&source=TDB&utm_medium=socialflow&fbclid=IwY2xjawKCIwtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFaT3A5SnVyY0JidDBZd0h6AR7ufH6k5TLeTrtaSu4Z1Pfwy4jezn9SrfX7F2G974cATlxzGNUZIrMuXx8-Dw_aem_HlxWmfAOli4IYb2tgoLdEA|title='Heil Tesla': Neil Young Music Video Flames Elon Musk|website=The Daily Beast|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>

Young provides guest vocals on the song “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow (Au Revoir)” from [[The Beach Boys]]' [[Al Jardine]]'s 2025 EP, ''Islands in the Sun''. [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] bass guitarist [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] also performs trumpet on the song.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2310040/the-beach-boys-al-jardine-shares-previously-unreleased-collab-with-neil-young-flea/music/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKsKalleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFrM2ZmY2UwU0doRFRzVENkAR6dIlr08MzC99jw-_g1y-IYzGEcVo0ilGhekpm_IO_S67y7h7r8Juy--uX5fQ_aem_ztjMTqxfkqbtCU0Tr_g24w|title=The Beach Boys' Al Jardine Shares Previously Unreleased Collab With Neil Young & Flea|publisher=[[Stereogum]]|date=May 30, 2025|access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref>

On June 28, 2025, Young headlined at the [[Glastonbury Festival 2025|Glastonbury Festival]], with the set being broadcast live by the [[BBC]], after an initial embargo placed by Young.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/neil-youngs-glastonbury-set-will-livestream-on-the-bbc-after-all-51483/ |title=Neil Young's Glastonbury set will livestream on the BBC after all|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=June 28, 2025|website=Rolling Stone UK}}</ref> [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' said of the band, "They may well be the best backing band Young has assembled since Crazy Horse, their sound simultaneously tumultuous and lumbering and heavily distorted."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/29/neil-young-at-glastonbury-review-ragged-glory-from-a-noisemaker-who-never-treads-the-easy-path|title=Neil Young at Glastonbury review – ragged glory from a noisemaker who never treads the easy path|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|work=The Guardian |date=June 29, 2025}}</ref>

Neil Young’s "Big Crime" premiered with the Chrome Hearts on August 27, 2025, at Chicago’s [[Huntington Bank Pavilion]], directly targeting [[Donald Trump]]’s deployment of [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard]] troops and federal agents in [[Washington, D.C.]] With lyrics proclaiming “There’s big crime in D.C. at the White House,” “Don’t want soldiers on our streets,” and “Got to get the fascists out, got to clean the White House out,” the song combines Young’s signature protest rock style with explicit criticism of government overreach and the political climate, continuing his long legacy of using music as a platform for social and political commentary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Viewpoint – Big Crime at Chicago Soundcheck |website=Neil Young Archives |url=https://neilyoungarchives.com/news/1/article?id=Viewpoint%20-%20%20%20BIG%20CRIME%20AT%20CHICAGO%20SOUNDCHECK |access-date=2025-09-01 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Sisario B |title=Neil Young Has a New Protest Song Seemingly Aimed at Donald Trump |website=The New York Times |date=August 28, 2025 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/us/politics/neil-young-big-crime-trump.html |access-date=September 1, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |vauthors= Scott K|title=Neil Young goes after Trump in new protest song, 'Big Crime' |website=Global News |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11355889/neil-young-trump-song-big-crime/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Greene A |title=Neil Young responds to Donald Trump's takeover of DC with vicious new protest song 'Big Crime' |website=Rolling Stone |date=2025-08-29 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-donald-trump-big-crime-1235417359/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |language=en}}</ref>

On October 8, 2025, Young announced on his website his decision to remove his music catalog from Amazon Music in protest of Amazon and its founder, [[Jeff Bezos]], whom he accused of supporting a U.S. government that neglects public welfare and contributes to issues like [[government shutdowns]]. Young urged fans to boycott [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] and support local businesses instead, framing the move as resistance to corporate control.<ref>{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Thania | title=Neil Young to Remove His Music From Amazon: ‘Buy Local’ Because ‘Bezos Supports This Government’ | website=Variety | date=2025-10-10 | url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/neil-young-remove-music-amazon-bezos-supports-government-1236545962/ | access-date=2025-10-13}}</ref>

==Archives project==
{{main|Neil Young Archives}}
Since 2006, Young has been maintaining the Neil Young Archives, a project which encompasses the release of live albums, starting in 2006 with ''[[Live at the Fillmore East (Neil Young album)|Live at the Fillmore East]]'', box sets of live and studio material, starting in 2009 with ''[[The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972]]'', as well as video releases. {{as of|2019}}, the project has evolved into a subscription website and application where all of his music is available to stream in high-resolution audio. Neil Young Archives also includes his newspaper, ''The Times-Contrarian'', The Hearse Theater, and photographs and memorabilia from throughout his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/09/neil-young-just-released-a-new-album-you-can-stream-it-and-his-massive-music-archive-for-20.html|title=Neil Young Just Released a New Album. You Can Stream It – and His Massive Music Archive – for $20|first=Daniel|last=Bukszpan|date=June 9, 2019|website=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>

==Activism, philanthropy, and humanitarian efforts==
Young has been a lifelong committed environmentalist<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/photos/neil-young-environmentalist-1.1716733 |title=Neil Young, Environmentalist |work=CBC News}}</ref> and outspoken advocate for the welfare of small farmers, having co-founded in 1985 the [[benefit concert]] [[Farm Aid]].

===Farm Aid===
Young remains on the board of directors of [[Farm Aid]], an organization he co-founded with [[Willie Nelson]] and [[John Mellencamp]] in 1985. According to its website, it is the longest-running concert benefit series in the US and has raised $43&nbsp;million since its first benefit concert in 1985. Each year, Young co-hosts and performs with well-known guest performers including [[Dave Matthews]] and producers including Evelyn Shriver and Mark Rothbaum, at the Farm Aid annual benefit concerts to raise funds and provide grants to family farms and prevent [[foreclosure]]s, provide a crisis hotline, and create and promote homegrown farm food in the United States.<ref name="Young and Farm Aid1">{{cite web|url=http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723677/k.961B/Board_and_Staff.htm|title=Farm Aid's Hardworking Board and Staff|year=2010|work=Farm Aid information about the board, staff, and concerts|publisher=Farm Aid|access-date=August 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805233850/http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723677/k.961B/Board_and_Staff.htm|archive-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref>

===Bridge School===
In 1986, Young helped found the Bridge School,<ref>{{cite web|last=Casella|first=Vicki|title=The Bridge School|url=http://www.bridgeschool.org/|access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref> an educational organization for children with severe verbal and physical disabilities, and its annual supporting [[Bridge School Benefit]] concerts, together with his then-wife Pegi Young.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tsFwDQAAQBAJ&q=Bridge+School+Benefit++neil+young&pg=PT89|title=Pearl Jam FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Seattle's Most Enduring Band|last1=Corbett|first1=Bernard M.|last2=Harkins|first2=Thomas Edward|date=April 1, 2016|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-1-61713-660-3}}</ref>

===Songwriting activism===
Young had never been a stranger to eco-friendly lyrics, but themes of environmentalist spirituality and activism became increasingly prominent in his work throughout the 1990s and 2000s, especially on ''[[Greendale (album)|Greendale]]'' (2003)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Neil Young Goes Green on the Road|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jonathanrichman/articles/story/5937268/neil_young_goes_green|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110201915/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jonathanrichman/articles/story/5937268/neil_young_goes_green|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2007|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 27, 2004|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> and ''[[Living with War]]'' (2006).<ref>"[http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Reprise-692104.html New Neil Young Video 'After The Garden' Visits 'An Inconvenient Truth']", ''Marketwire'' (July 21, 2006).</ref> The trend continued on 2007's ''[[Chrome Dreams II]]'', with lyrics exploring Young's personal eco-spirituality.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neil Young: Chrome Dreams II|url=http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.3779923/k.1891/Neil_Young_iChrome_Dreams_IIi.htm|publisher=[[United Methodist Church]]|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref>

Young's renewed activism manifested itself in the 2006 album ''[[Living with War]]'', which like the much earlier song "[[Ohio (CSNY song)|Ohio]]", was recorded and released in less than a month as a direct result of current events.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r837350|pure_url=yes}}|title=Living With War Review|website=allmusic|date=May 9, 2006|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> Most of the album's songs rebuked the Bush administration's policy of war by examining its human costs to soldiers, their loved ones, and civilians, but Young also included a few songs on other themes and an outright protest song, "[[Let's Impeach the President]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Living With War Review|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/10149965/review/10191400/livingwithwar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314014602/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/10149965/review/10191400/livingwithwar|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 14, 2008|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 1, 2006|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> in which he asserted that Bush had lied to lead the country into war.

===LincVolt hybrid electric car===

In 2008, Young revealed the production of a [[Hybrid vehicle|hybrid-engine]] 1959 [[Lincoln (automobile)|Lincoln]] called [[LincVolt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/07/17/1/a-conversation-with-neil-young|title=A Conversation with Neil Young|access-date=November 11, 2008|publisher=Charlie Rose Inc|date=July 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013164110/http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/07/17/1/a-conversation-with-neil-young|archive-date=October 13, 2008}}</ref> A new album loosely based on the Lincvolt project, ''[[Fork in the Road]]'', was released on April 7, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Album: Neil Young, Fork in the Road|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-neil-young-fork-in-the-road-reprise-1655058.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-neil-young-fork-in-the-road-reprise-1655058.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=March 27, 2009|access-date=March 31, 2009|location=London|first=Andy|last=Gill}}</ref>

===Indigenous rights, Fossil Fuel, and Old Growth logging activism===
[[File:Neil_Young_for_Fairy_Creek.jpg|thumb|Neil Young performing "Heart of Gold" in support of [[Fairy Creek old-growth logging protests|Fairy Creek]] Old Growth activists, at the legislature, Victoria, BC, Feb 24, 2023]]
Young has been a vocal opponent of the proposed [[Keystone XL]] oil pipeline, which would run from Alberta to Texas. When discussing the environmental impact on the oilsands of [[Fort McMurray]], Alberta, Young asserted that the area now resembles the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the aftermath of the atomic bomb attack of World War II.<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news|title=Neil Young: Pipelines Are 'Scabs on Our Lives,' Doesn't Care If Activism Hurts Record Sales|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/10/neil-young-pipelines-oilsands_n_6131170.html|first=Camille|last=Bains|publisher=thehuffingtonpost.com|date=October 11, 2014|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref>

Young has referred to issues surrounding the proposed use of oil pipelines as "scabs on our lives".<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/> In an effort to become more involved, Young has worked directly with the [[Chipewyan|Athabasca Chipewyan]] First Nation to draw attention to this issue, performing benefit concerts and speaking publicly on the subject. In 2014, he played four shows in Canada dedicated to the Honor the Treaties<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/neil-young-set-to-kick-off-honour-the-treaties-tour-1.2491818 |title=Neil Young Set to Kick off Honour the Treaties Tour |author=Angela Sterritt |date=January 10, 2014 |publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada |access-date=August 2, 2018}}</ref> movement, raising money for the Athabasca Chipewyan legal defense fund.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/culture/arts-entertainment/neil-young-plays-honor-the-treaties-anti-tar-sands-benefit-tonight/ |title=Neil Young Plays 'Honor the Treaties' Anti-Tar Sands Benefit Tonight |author=ICMN Staff |date=January 12, 2014 |website=Indiancountrymedianetwork.com |access-date=July 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912152545/https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/culture/arts-entertainment/neil-young-plays-honor-the-treaties-anti-tar-sands-benefit-tonight/ |archive-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, he and [[Willie Nelson]] held a festival in Neligh, Nebraska, called ''Harvest the Hope'', raising awareness of the impact of oilsands and oil pipelines on Native Americans and family farmers. Both received honors from leaders of the [[Rosebud Indian Reservation|Rosebud Sioux]], [[Oglala Lakota]], [[Ponca]] and [[Omaha (tribe)|Omaha]] nations, and were invested with sacred [[buffalo robe]]s.<ref>[http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/gallery/photo/willie-nelson-and-neil-young-rock-against-keystone-xl-harvest-hope-157114 Willie Nelson and Neil Young Rock Against Keystone XL at 'Harvest the Hope'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035252/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/gallery/photo/willie-nelson-and-neil-young-rock-against-keystone-xl-harvest-hope-157114 |date=March 8, 2016 }}. ''Indian Country Today'', September 30, 2014.</ref>

Young participated in the Blue Dot Tour, which was organized and fronted by environmental activist [[David Suzuki]], and toured all 10 Canadian provinces alongside other Canadian artists, including the [[Barenaked Ladies]], [[Feist (singer)|Feist]], and [[Robert Bateman (painter)|Robert Bateman]]. The intent of Young's participation in this tour was to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by the exploitation of oilsands. Young has argued that the amount of {{CO2}} released as a byproduct of oil and oil extraction is equivalent to the amount released by the total number of cars in Canada each day.<ref name="straight1">{{cite news|title=Neil Young Featured in Vancouver on David Suzuki's Blue Dot Tour|url=https://www.straight.com/news/691966/neil-young-featured-vancouver-david-suzukis-blue-dot-tour|first=Charlie|last=Smith|publisher=straight.com|date=July 23, 2014|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref>

Young has faced criticism from representatives from within the Canadian petroleum industry, who have claimed that his statements are irresponsible.<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/> Young's opposition to the construction of oil pipelines has influenced his music as well. His song, "Who's Going to Stand Up?" was written to protest this issue, and features the lyric "Ban fossil fuel and draw the line / Before we build one more pipeline".<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/>

In addition to directly criticizing members of the oil industry, Young has also focused blame on the actions of the Canadian government for ignoring the environmental impacts of climate change. He referred to Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] as "an embarrassment to many Canadians&nbsp;... [and] a very poor imitation of the George Bush administration in the United States".<ref name="straight1"/> Young was also critical of Barack Obama's government for failing to uphold the promises made regarding environmental policies during his election campaign.<ref name="straight1"/>

===Anti-logging of Old Growth protests===
In 2023, Young and Daryl Hannah travelled by train to Victoria on short notice to offer their support to 1,200 Old Growth activists who had been arrested unlawfully at the [[Fairy Creek old-growth logging protests]]. Young played a short set to draw attention to the issue and hearten the activists, some of whom had been pepper-sprayed and assaulted by RCMP officers, trying to protect the last at-risk intact watershed of Old Growth in southern BC.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

Young recorded "[[A Rock Star Bucks a Coffee Shop]]" in response to [[Starbucks]]' possible involvement with [[Monsanto]] and use of [[genetically-modified food|genetically modified food]].<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/01/neil-young-starbucks-song_n_7481736.html Neil Young Releases Anti-Starbucks, Anti-GMO Anthem 'A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop'] ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' by Ed Mazza, January 6, 2015</ref><ref>WTTV TV [http://cbs4indy.com/2015/06/20/neil-youngs-new-album-blasts-walmart-monsanto-and-more/ Neil Young's new album blasts Walmart, Monsanto and more JUNE 20, 2015, By CNN Wire]</ref> The song was included on his 2015 concept album ''[[The Monsanto Years]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1803633/neil-young-rock-starbucks/mp3s/|title=Neil Young – "A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop"|date=May 22, 2015|website=Stereogum.com|access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref>

Young is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artistsagainstracism.org/artists/|title=Artists – Artists Against Racism|website=Artistsagainstracism.org}}</ref>

==Artistry==
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of [[AllMusic]] said that the styles Young explored throughout his career span "everything from [[Noise rock|noise-rock]] and [[Synth-pop|synth pop]] to [[blues]] and [[rockabilly]]". He also noted the "[[Electro (music)|electro]] experiments" on ''[[Trans (Neil Young album)|Trans]]'' and "[[Noise in music|noisy]] guitar [[Jam (music)|jams]]" ''on [[Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neil Young Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/neil-young-mn0000379125#biography |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>

==Instruments==
===Guitars===
[[File:NeilYgretsch.jpg|thumb|250px|Young playing a [[Gretsch White Falcon]] in Cologne, June 19, 2009]]

In 2003, ''Rolling Stone'' listed Young as eighty-third in its ranking of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" (although in a more recent version of the list, he has been moved up to seventeenth place), describing him as a "restless experimenter&nbsp;... who transform[s] the most obvious music into something revelatory".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time – Neil Young|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231/neil-young-19691231|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 18, 2015|access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> Young is a collector of second-hand guitars, but in recording and performing, he uses frequently just a few instruments, as is explained by his longtime guitar technician Larry Cragg in the film ''[[Neil Young: Heart of Gold]]''. They include:
* a 1953 [[Gibson Les Paul]] named "[[Old Black]]" acquired in early 1968 in a trade with then [[Buffalo Springfield]] bassist, arranger, and engineer [[Jim Messina (musician)|Jim Messina]]. It began as a Goldtop that has been customized extensively over the years. Aside from replacing the (non-standard as of 1953) stop-tailpiece with a [[Bigsby vibrato tailpiece|Bigsby B-3 vibrato tailpiece]], by 1969 the guitar had changed little from what Messina handed him. It was featured prominently on a host of Springfield demos and was the sole electric guitar used on Young's first solo LP. According to personal hands-on testimony, acquired during the Crazy Horse gig at the Troubadour on April 22, 1969, (w/ sit-in by Stephen Stills) the guitar sported a Rowe-De Armond M5-A bridge coil, Bigsby B-3 vibrato tailpiece, a (shaved, non-standard) [[Tune-o-matic|ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge]], chromed brass pickguard, truss rod cover plate and aluminum cover on the neck P-90 coil, Grover C-102 'Roto-matic tuners, an added 1/8" ebony headstock facia with thin crème binding, pearl inlays of the Gibson logo, the 335 'wheat-stack' and a lustrous black lacquer over-spray on the entire neck and body.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The story of Neil Young's "Old Black" |url=https://guitar.com/features/opinion-analysis/story-of-neil-young-old-black/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Guitar.com {{!}} All Things Guitar |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Rod Brakes |date=2021-11-12 |title=Listen to the Exemplary Firebird Pickup Tones of Neil Young's 'Old Black' Gibson Les Paul |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/listen-to-the-exemplary-firebird-pickup-tones-of-neil-youngs-old-black-gibson-les-paul |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=GuitarPlayer |language=en}}</ref>
* a late 1950s [[Gretsch White Falcon]] purchased by Young near the end of the [[Buffalo Springfield]] era. In 1969, he bought a version of the same vintage guitar from Stephen Stills, and this instrument is featured prominently during Young's early 1970s period, and can be heard on tracks like "[[Ohio (CSNY song)|Ohio]]", "[[Southern Man (song)|Southern Man]]", "Alabama", "Words (Between the Lines of Age)", and "L.A.". It was Young's primary electric guitar during the ''[[Harvest (Neil Young album)|Harvest]]'' (1972) era, since Young's deteriorating back condition (eventually fixed with surgery) made playing the much heavier Les Paul (a favorite of his named [[Old Black]]) difficult.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Simons|title=Recording Harvest: The Making of Neil Young's Classic 1972 Album|magazine=Acoustic Guitar|issue=103|date=July 2001|pages=38–40}}</ref>
[[File:Neil_Young_in_Nottingham_2009_(k).jpg|thumb|250px|Neil playing Old Black in Nottingham, 2009]]

===Reed organ===
Young owns a restored [[Estey Organ|Estey]] [[reed organ]], serial number 167272, dating from 1885, which he frequently plays in concert.<ref>''The Reed Society Quarterly'' (30.1: 6ff)</ref>

===Crystallophone===
Young owns a [[glass harmonica]], which he played in the recording of "I Do" on his 2019 album ''[[Colorado (Neil Young album)|Colorado]]''.<ref>Mountaintop Sessions</ref>

===Amplification===
Young uses various vintage [[Fender Tweed Deluxe]] [[amplifier]]s. His preferred amplifier for electric guitar is the Fender Deluxe, specifically a Tweed-era model from 1959. He purchased his first vintage Deluxe in 1967 for US$50 (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|50|1967|r=-1}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) from Sol Betnun Music on Larchmont in Hollywood and has since acquired nearly 450 different examples, all from the same era, but he maintains that it is the original model that sounds superior and is crucial to his trademark sound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/ptma/equip.htm|title=Neil Young's Equipment|publisher=Thrasherswheat.org|date=August 31, 1996|access-date=November 8, 2013}}</ref>

A notable and unique accessory to Young's Deluxe is the Whizzer, a device created specifically for Young by Rick Davis, which physically changes the amplifier's settings to pre-set combinations. This device is connected to footswitches operable by Young onstage in the manner of an [[effects pedal]]. Tom Wheeler's book ''The Soul of Tone'' highlights the device on pages 182–183.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/musictv/neilyoung/video/randybachman/|title=BBC Documentary Neil Young: Don't Be Denied – Randy Bachmann Interviews|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Young's family was from [[Manitoba]], where both his parents were born and married. Young himself was born in Toronto, Ontario, and lived there at various times in his early life (1945, 1957, 1959–1960, 1966–1967), as well as Omemee (1945–1952) and [[Pickering, Ontario]] (1956) before settling with his mother in Winnipeg, Manitoba (1958, 1960–1966), where his music career began and which he considers his "hometown".<ref>{{cite book|title="It's a Dream"|publisher=Prairie Wind|date=2005|author=Neil Young}}</ref> After becoming successful, he bought properties in California.  Young had a home in Malibu, California, that burned to the ground in the 2018 [[Woolsey Fire]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Niraj |last=Chokshi|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/us/celebrities-lost-homes-california-fires.html|title=Neil Young and Miley Cyrus Among Celebrities Who Lost Homes in California Wildfires|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 13, 2018}}</ref> He had lived outside Canada since 1967, before returning in 2020.

Young owned Broken Arrow Ranch, a property of about {{convert|1,000|acres}}<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite news|first=David|last=Carr|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/neil-young-comes-clean.html|title=Neil Young Comes Clean|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> near [[La Honda, California]], which he purchased in 1970 for $350,000 (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|350000|1970|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars);{{inflation-fn|US}} the property was subsequently expanded to thousands of acres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jambase.com/Articles/14655/Neil-Young-Chaos-Is-Good |title=Neil Young: Chaos Is Good |website=JamBase |date=July 31, 2008 |access-date=July 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Young |first=Neil |title=Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream |year=2011 |publisher=Plume Publishing |location=New York City}}</ref> He moved out and gave Pegi Young the ranch after their divorce in 2014. Young's son Ben lives there.<ref name="rollingstone.com" />

===Citizenship===
Young announced in 2019 that his application for United States citizenship had been held up because of his use of [[marijuana]]. In 2020, the issue was resolved and he became a United States citizen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wzlx.iheart.com/featured/chuck-nowlin/content/2020-01-23-neil-young-is-now-a-us-citizen/|title=Neil Young Is Now A U.S. Citizen!|website=wzlx.iheart.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Angie|last=Martoccio |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/54-years-after-moving-to-america-neil-young-is-now-a-u-s-citizen-942035/ |title=Neil Young Is Now a U.S. Citizen |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name="usatoday1">{{cite news|first=Cydney|last=Henderson|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/01/23/neil-young-officially-u-s-citizen-after-use-marijuana-delay/4559169002/ |title=Neil Young Is Officially a U.S. Citizen After 'Use of Marijuana' Delay |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=January 23, 2020|access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/celebrities-who-became-us-citizens/|title=Foreign-Born Celebrities Who Became U.S. Citizens|website=Peoplemag.com}}</ref> Almost immediately upon gaining US citizenship, Young returned to living in Canada for the first time in over half a century, as he and [[Daryl Hannah]] moved to a [[cottage]] near [[Omemee, Ontario|Omemee]], the town where he lived from shortly after his birth until the age of 7.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/neil_young_is_back_living_in_ontario | title=Neil Young is Back Living in Ontario &#124; Exclaim! }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news/have-you-seen-neil-young-around-town/article_ae644a92-743a-5172-98d6-9fa33e68756c.html | title=Have you seen Neil Young around town? | date=April 29, 2021 }}</ref>

===Marriages and relationships===
Young married his first wife, restaurant owner Susan Acevedo, in December 1968. They were together until October 1970, when she filed for divorce.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|pp=289, 349}}

From late 1970 to 1975, Young was in a relationship with the actress [[Carrie Snodgress]]. The song "A Man Needs a Maid" from ''Harvest'' is inspired by his seeing her in the film ''[[Diary of a Mad Housewife]]''. They met soon afterward, and she moved in with him on his ranch in northern California. They have a son, Zeke who was born on September 8, 1972 and has been diagnosed with [[cerebral palsy]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Plummer |first=William |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20086004,00.html |title='Mad Housewife' Carrie Snodgress Sues Rocker Neil Young for Support of Their Handicapped Son |journal=People |date=September 26, 1983 |volume=20 |issue=13 |access-date=April 11, 2015 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422134058/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20086004,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Biography.com" />

Young met his next wife, [[Pegi Young]] ({{née}} Morton), in 1974, when she was working as a waitress at a diner near his ranch, a story he tells in the 1992 song "[[Unknown Legend]]". They married in August 1978<ref name="chicagotribune2014">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/la-et-mg-neil-young-divorce-split-pegi-young-20140827-story.html |title=Neil Young Files for Divorce from Pegi Young After 36-Year Marriage |first=Christie |last= D'Zurilla |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=August 27, 2014 |access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref> and had two children together, Ben and Amber. Ben has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy<ref name="Biography.com">{{cite web |title=Neil Young: Singer, Guitarist, Songwriter, Engineer, Philanthropist, Environmental Activist (1945–) |url=https://www.biography.com/people/neil-young-9539612 |website=[[Biography.com]] |publisher=[[A&E Networks]] |access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref> and Amber with [[epilepsy]].<ref name="Biography.com" /> The couple were musical collaborators and co-founders of the [[Bridge School (California)|Bridge School]], in 1986.<ref name="rollingstoneaug2014">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-files-for-divorce-from-pegi-young-wife-of-36-years-20140826 |title=Neil Young Files for Divorce From Pegi Young, Wife of 36 Years |date=August 26, 2014 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827034848/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-files-for-divorce-from-pegi-young-wife-of-36-years-20140826 |archive-date=August 27, 2014 |access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name="guardianaug2014">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/27/neil-young-divorce-pegi |title=Neil Young Files for Divorce from Pegi, His Wife of 36 Years |date=August 27, 2014 |work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London, England |access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> They divorced in 2014 after 36 years of marriage.<ref name="rollingstone.com"/> Pegi died on January 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard |title=Pegi Young, 66, Musician Who Started a School for Disabled, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/obituaries/pegi-young-dead.html |access-date=January 5, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 4, 2019}}</ref>

In 2014, Young began dating actress [[Daryl Hannah]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Lyndsey Parker |date=March 16, 2018 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/neil-young-daryl-hannah-talk-new-paradox-film-lucky-found-174341754.html |title=Neil Young, Daryl Hannah Talk 'Paradox' Film: 'We're Very Lucky to Have Found Each Other' |website=Yahoo Entertainment}}</ref> The couple wed on August 25, 2018, in [[Atascadero, California]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/29/neil-young-daryl-hannah-marry-california-wedding |title=Neil Young and Daryl Hannah Reportedly Marry in California |first=Laura |last=Snapes |date=August 29, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1=Evan|last1=Minsker|first2=Sam|last2=Sodomsky|title=Neil Young Confirms Marriage to Daryl Hannah |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/neil-young-confirms-marriage-to-daryl-hannah |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=October 31, 2018}}</ref>

Young has been widely reported to be the [[godparent|godfather]] of actress [[Amber Tamblyn]];<ref>{{IMDb name |id=0848560 |section=bio |name=Russ Tamblyn}}. Retrieved April 3, 2012.</ref> in a 2009 interview with ''[[Parade Magazine|Parade]]'', Tamblyn explained that "godfather" was "just a loose term" for Young, [[Dennis Hopper]], and [[Dean Stockwell]], three famous friends of her father, [[Russ Tamblyn]], who were important influences on her life.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Tamblyn |first=Amber |author-link=Amber Tamblyn|title=Amber Tamblyn: Confessions of a Child Star |url=http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2009/08/amber-tamblyn-confessions.html |date=August 30, 2009 |magazine=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]] |access-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>

Young has always been close with his half sister and fellow musician [[Astrid Young]], buying her first amplifier and collaborating over the past decades.<ref name="y045">{{cite book | last1=Durchholz | first1=D. | last2=Graff | first2=G. | title=Neil Young: Long May You Run: The Illustrated History, Updated Edition | publisher=Voyageur Press | year=2012 | isbn=978-0-7603-4411-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqmeyhtE1FYC&pg=PA105 | access-date=2024-12-31 | page=105}}</ref>

==Business ventures==
Young was part owner of [[Lionel, LLC]], a company that makes toy trains and model railroad accessories.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Brick|title=Clanging New York Subways, Screeches Intact, Go Miniature|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/nyregion/21train.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 21, 2006|access-date=November 10, 2008}}</ref> In 2008 Lionel emerged from bankruptcy and his shares of the company were wiped out. He was instrumental in the design of the Lionel Legacy control system for model trains,<ref name="NYT" /> and remains on the board of directors of Lionel.<ref name="NYT12">{{cite news|title=Neil Young Comes Clean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/neil-young-comes-clean.html|author=Carr, David|date=September 19, 2012|access-date=September 20, 2012|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He has been named as co-inventor on seven US patents related to model trains.<ref>{{Cite patent|country=US|number=7264208}}, {{Cite patent|country=US|number=7211976}}, {{Cite patent|country=US|number=6765356}}, {{Cite patent|country=US|number=5749547}}, {{Cite patent|country=US|number=5555815}}, {{Cite patent|country=US|number=5441223}}, {{Cite patent|country=US|number=5251856}}</ref>

===PonoMusic===
Young has long held that the digital audio formats in which most people download music are deeply flawed, and do not provide the rich, warm sound of analog recordings. He claims to be acutely aware of the difference, and compares it with taking a shower in tiny ice cubes versus ordinary water.{{sfn|McDonough|2002|p=568|ps=. "It hurts. Did you ever go in a shower and turn it on and have it come out tiny little ice cubes? That's the difference between CDs and the real thing – water and ice. It's like gettin' ''hit'' with somethin' instead of havin' it flow over ya. It's almost taking music and making a weapon out of it – do physical damage to people without touching them. If you wanted to make a weapon that could destroy people, digital could do it, okay?" Neil Young}} Young and his company [[PonoMusic]] developed [[Pono (digital music service)|Pono]], a music download service and dedicated music player focusing on "high-quality" [[FLAC|uncompressed digital audio]].<ref name="arthur">{{cite web|last=Arthur|first=Charles|title=Pono: Only a Man Pays for Music Quality That He Can't Hear|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/05/pono-neil-young-24bit-192khz-review|work=The Guardian|date=April 5, 2014 |access-date=April 8, 2014|quote=Pono is the latest in a long line of attempts to give people "high-quality" recorded audio}}</ref> It was designed to compete against highly compressed [[MP3]] type formats. Pono promised to present songs "as they first sound during studio recording".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Geere|first=Duncan|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-09/30/neil-young|title=Neil Young's 'Pono' Is a Music Service and Player for Audiophiles|magazine=[[Wired UK]]|access-date=October 25, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102072811/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-09/30/neil-young|archive-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Michaels">{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Sean|title=Neil Young to Take on Apple's iTunes Music Store|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/28/neil-young-apple-itunes|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=October 25, 2012|location=London|date=September 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Boilen">{{cite web|last=Boilen|first=Bob|title=Neil Young Wants You To Truly Hear Music|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2014/03/19/291130878/neil-young-wants-you-to-truly-hear-music|work=[[NPR]]|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> The service and the sale of the player were launched in October 2014.<ref name="spin0314">{{cite web|last=Kamps|first=Garrett|title=Neil Young Pitches Pono Music Service at SXSW as Alternative to Digital 'Shit'|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/03/neil-young-pono-music-service-sxsw/|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=March 12, 2014|access-date=March 14, 2014|quote=expect to receive their brand new, music-industry-saving Pono device in...October, at which point one presumes Pono will do a launch event}}</ref><ref name="tri">{{Triangulation|199|Neil Young}}</ref>

===Back catalog sale===
In January 2021, Young sold 50% of the rights to his back catalog to the British investment company [[Hipgnosis Songs Fund]]. The value was estimated to be at least $150&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/neil-young-sells-back-catalogue-for-150m-b2p0s2f2q|title=Neil Young Sells Back Catalogue for $150m|first=David |last=Sanderson|work=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Yadrissa|last=Shabong|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/world/after-the-gold-rush-neil-young-sells-50pc-stake-in-music-back-catalogue-39940560.html|title=After the Gold Rush: Neil Young Sells 50pc Stake in Music Back Catalogue|work=[[The Independent]]|date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>

==Legacy and influence==
Young's political outspokenness and social awareness influenced artists such as [[Blind Melon]], [[Phish]], [[Pearl Jam]], and [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]. Young is referred to as the "godfather of grunge" for his influence on [[Kurt Cobain]] and [[Eddie Vedder]] and the [[grunge]] movement. Vedder inducted Young into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neil Young |url=https://rockhall.com/inductees/neil-young/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Johnny Marr]] has cited Young as one of the main influences on his trademark jangly guitarwork.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gore |first=Joe |date=October 17, 2023 |title="People like Yngwie Malmsteen should be forgotten as soon as possible. It's got very little to do with music..." A classic and very frank interview with Johnny Marr |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/johnny-marr-interview-1990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228182227/https://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/johnny-marr-interview-1990 |archive-date=December 28, 2024 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=[[Guitar Player]] |quote=Actually, a lot of it [Marr's jangly guitarwork] comes from Neil Young and Danny Whitten of Crazy Horse, but as if they were in a pop group.}}</ref> [[Thom Yorke]] of [[Radiohead]] said ''[[After the Gold Rush]]'' gave him the confidence to reveal "softness and naiveté" in vocals.<ref name="Gordon-2023">{{Cite magazine |last=Gordon |first=Jason Thomas |date=2023-09-08 |title=The songs that make Thom Yorke cry |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/thom-yorke-neil-young-bob-dylan-makes-him-cry-1234819196/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Greene-2016">{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2 August 2016 |title=Flashback: Radiohead Cover Neil Young's 'On the Beach' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-radiohead-cover-neil-youngs-on-the-beach-250240/ |access-date=20 August 2018 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He also credited Young as a lyrical influence.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 February 2013 |title=Positively Charged: Thom Yorke's 20 Biggest Influences |url=http://www.spin.com/2013/02/thom-yorke-radiohead-amok-atoms-for-peace-influences/ |access-date=26 April 2015 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> He said: "It was his attitude toward the way he laid songs down. It's always about laying down whatever is in your head at the time and staying completely true to that, no matter what it is."<ref name="Greene-2016" />

The Australian rock group [[Powderfinger]] named themselves after Young's song "[[Powderfinger (song)|Powderfinger]]" from ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' (1979). The members of the [[Constantines]] occasionally played Neil Young tribute shows under the name Horsey Craze.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jason Crock |date=October 16, 2005 |title=Interviews: The Constantines |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/31309-interview-the-constantines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105084641/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/31309-interview-the-constantines |archive-date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=June 30, 2010 |website=Pitchfork.com}}</ref> Other bands and artists who have cited Young as an influence include [[Sonic Youth]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardiner |first=Stewart |date=June 16, 2023 |title=A Certain Kind of Energy: Lee Ranaldo Interview |url=https://concreteislands.com/a-certain-kind-of-energy-lee-ranaldo-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616170518/https://concreteislands.com/a-certain-kind-of-energy-lee-ranaldo-interview/ |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=concreteislands.com |quote=You know, we were lucky enough to collaborate with a lot of different people that influenced us, like working with Neil Young for a period of time on tour or [[Yoko Ono|Yoko]] or [[Iggy Pop|Iggy]], you know, and [[Brigitte Fontaine|Brigitte]] was one of those.}}</ref> [[Dinosaur Jr.]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Jason |date=January 1997 |title=Sebadoh |url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/sebadoh.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715173320/https://www.furious.com/perfect/sebadoh.html |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=July 29, 2024 |website=Perfect Sound Forever |quote=Dinosaur was really influenced by Neil Young and [[Black Sabbath]]...}}</ref> [[Meat Puppets]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Damiani |first=Matteo |date=August 24, 2024 |title=Meat Puppets Recount How Punk Roots Led to Psychedelic Exploration |url=https://retrofuturista.com/meat-puppets-recount-how-punk-roots-led-to-psychedelic-exploration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919175622/https://retrofuturista.com/meat-puppets-recount-how-punk-roots-led-to-psychedelic-exploration/ |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=RetroFuturista |quote=A lot of our so-called 'country influence' comes from listening to Neil Young, [[The Grateful Dead]], [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]], and [[The Byrds]]—more country rock than straight country.}}</ref> [[Teenage Fanclub]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |date=January 11, 2024 |title="We never went into this band with any expectations, so we've never been disappointed… We just love making music together": Teenage Fanclub on fame, perseverance and ice cream with Nirvana |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/teenage-fanclub-nothing-lasts-forever |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213113327/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/teenage-fanclub-nothing-lasts-forever |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2025 |website=[[Guitar World]] |quote=When we did press, we were actually quite open about all of our influences, whether it was [[the Beatles]], [[the Rolling Stones]], Neil Young or whatever...}}</ref> [[Nada Surf]] frontman [[Matthew Caws]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Shawn |date=April 6, 2012 |title=Nada Surf: Caws and Effect |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/nada-surf-caws-and-effect |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618001748/https://www.premierguitar.com/nada-surf-caws-and-effect |archive-date=June 18, 2024 |access-date=October 10, 2024 |website=[[Premier Guitar]] |quote=I mean, if a part is slow and big, I tend to want to think in a Crazy Horse way. Neil Young’s "Cortez the Killer" [from 1975’s ''Zuma''] period—with those booming chords—was a huge influence.}}</ref> and [[Feeder (band)|Feeder]] singer [[Grant Nicholas]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2017 |title=The 10 songs that inspired Feeder, by Grant Nicholas |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-songs-that-inspired-feeder-by-grant-nicholas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414105718/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-songs-that-inspired-feeder-by-grant-nicholas |archive-date=April 14, 2024 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=Louder Sound |quote=Neil Young is a legend in my book and this is such a beautiful track. He still blows me away and is always an influence to me as a writer.}}</ref> [[Jason Bond]], an [[East Carolina University]] biologist, discovered a new species of trapdoor spider in 2007 and named it ''[[Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi]]'' after Young,<ref name="bond2007">{{cite journal|author=[[Jason Bond|Jason E. Bond]] & [[Norman I. Platnick]]|year=2007|url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5892/1/N3596.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5892/1/N3596.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=A Taxonomic Review of the Trapdoor Spider Genus ''Myrmekiaphila'' (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Cyrtaucheniidae)|journal=[[American Museum Novitates]]|issue=3596|pages=1–30|doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2007)3596[1:ATROTT]2.0.CO;2|s2cid=86161368 | issn = 0003-0082 }}</ref> his favorite singer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neil Young Gets New Honor – His Own Spider|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSSP19797120080511|date=May 11, 2008|work=Reuters|access-date=May 12, 2008}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Neil Young discography and filmography}}
{{see also|Crazy Horse (band)#Discography|Buffalo Springfield#Discography|Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young discography}}

{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Neil Young (album)|Neil Young]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere]]'' (1969) <small>(with [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]])</small>
* ''[[After the Gold Rush]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Harvest (Neil Young album)|Harvest]]'' (1972) <small>(with [[The Stray Gators]])</small>
* ''[[Time Fades Away]]'' (1973) <small>(with The Stray Gators)</small>
* ''[[On the Beach (Neil Young album)|On the Beach]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Tonight's the Night (Neil Young album)|Tonight's the Night]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Zuma (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|Zuma]]'' (1975) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Long May You Run]]'' (1976) <small>(credited to The Stills–Young Band)</small>
* ''[[American Stars 'n Bars]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Comes a Time]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' (1979) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Hawks & Doves]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Re·ac·tor]]'' (1981) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Trans (album)|Trans]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Everybody's Rockin']]'' (1983) <small>(with the Shocking Pinks)</small>
* ''[[Old Ways]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Landing on Water]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Life (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|Life]]'' (1987) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[This Note's for You]]'' (1988) <small>(with the Bluenotes)</small>
* ''[[Freedom (Neil Young album)|Freedom]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Ragged Glory]]'' (1990) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Harvest Moon (album)|Harvest Moon]]'' (1992) <small>(with The Stray Gators)</small>
* ''[[Sleeps with Angels]]'' (1994) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)|Mirror Ball]]'' (1995) <small>(with [[Pearl Jam]])</small>
* ''[[Broken Arrow (album)|Broken Arrow]]'' (1996) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Silver & Gold (Neil Young album)|Silver & Gold]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Are You Passionate?]]'' (2002) <small>(with [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]])</small>
* ''[[Greendale (album)|Greendale]]''  (2003) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[Prairie Wind]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Living with War]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Chrome Dreams II]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Fork in the Road]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Le Noise]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Americana (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|Americana]]'' (2012) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[Psychedelic Pill]]'' (2012) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[A Letter Home]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Storytone]]'' (2014)
* ''[[The Monsanto Years]]'' (2015) <small>(with [[Promise of the Real]])</small>
* ''[[Peace Trail (Neil Young album)|Peace Trail]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Hitchhiker (Neil Young album)|Hitchhiker]]'' (2017, recorded 1976)
* ''[[The Visitor (Neil Young & Promise of the Real album)|The Visitor]]'' (2017) <small>(with Promise of the Real)</small>
* ''[[Colorado (Neil Young album)|Colorado]]'' (2019) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[Homegrown (Neil Young album)|Homegrown]]'' (2020, recorded 1974–75)
* ''[[Barn (album)|Barn]]'' (2021) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[Toast (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|Toast]]'' (2022, recorded 2001) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[World Record (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album)|World Record]]'' (2022) <small>(with Crazy Horse)  </small>
* ''[[Chrome Dreams]]'' (2023, recorded 1974–77) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Early Daze]]'' (2024, recorded 1969) <small>(with Crazy Horse)</small>
* ''[[Oceanside Countryside]]'' (2025, recorded 1977)
* ''[[Talkin to the Trees]]'' (2025) <small>(with Chrome Hearts)</small>
{{div col end}}

==Awards==
[[File:Neil Young Star cropped.jpg|thumb|Young's star on [[Canada's Walk of Fame]]]]
As one of the founders of [[Farm Aid]] (1985–), he remains an active member of the board of directors. For one weekend each October, in [[Mountain View, California]], Young and his ex-wife hosted the [[Bridge School Benefit|Bridge School Concerts]], which drew international talent and sell-out crowds for nearly two decades. He announced in June 2017, however, that he would no longer host the concerts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgeschool.org/2017/06/no-bridge-school-benefit-concert-in-2017/|title=No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=July 9, 2017}}</ref>

''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2000, ranked Young thirty-fourth in its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/neil-young-19691231|title=100 Greatest Artists of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 31, 2010|access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> In 2000, Young was inducted into [[Canada's Walk of Fame]].<ref name="cwof">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/00_neil_young.xml.htm|title=Neil Young – 2000 Inductee|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|access-date=November 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604203513/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/00_neil_young.xml.htm|archive-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref>

In 2003, ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]] list included ''[[After the Gold Rush]]'' at number 71,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/after-the-gold-rush-neil-young-19691231 |title=After the Gold Rush Ranked No. 71 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902124015/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/after-the-gold-rush-neil-young-19691231 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Harvest (Neil Young album)|Harvest]]'' at number 78,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/harvest-neil-young-19691231 |title=Harvest Ranked No. 78 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902075649/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/harvest-neil-young-19691231 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Déjà Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album)|Déjà Vu]]'' (with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) at number 148,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/deja-vu-crosby-stills-nash-and-young-aa969aa23aa |title=Déjà Vu Ranked No. 148 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902072627/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/deja-vu-crosby-stills-nash-and-young-aa969aa23aa |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere]]'' at number 208,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/everybody-knows-the-is-nowhere-neil-young-with-crazy-horse-19691231 |title=Eeverybody Knows This Is Nowhere Ranked No. 208 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902072652/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/everybody-knows-the-is-nowhere-neil-young-with-crazy-horse-19691231 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Tonight's the Night (Neil Young album)|Tonight's the Night]]'' at number 331,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/tonights-the-night-neil-young-19691231 |title=Tonight's the Night Ranked No. 331 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902125134/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/tonights-the-night-neil-young-19691231 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''[[Rust Never Sleeps]]'' at number 350.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/rust-never-sleeps-neil-young-and-crazy-horse-19691231 |title=Rust Never Sleeps Ranked No. 350 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902035751/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/rust-never-sleeps-neil-young-and-crazy-horse-19691231 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2023 updated version of this list includes ''Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'' at 407, ''[[On the Beach (Neil Young album)|On The Beach]]'' at 311, ''Tonight's the Night'' at 302, ''Rust Never Sleeps'' at 296, ''Déjà Vu'' at 220, ''After the Gold Rush'' at 90, and ''Harvest'' at 72.<ref name="Los Angeles Daily News-1993" /> In 2004, on their [[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]] list, ''Rolling Stone'' included "[[Rockin' in the Free World]]" at number 214, "[[Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)|Heart of Gold]]" at number 297,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 201-300 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619105433/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> "[[Cortez the Killer]]" at number 321, and "[[Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)|Ohio]]" (with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) at number 385.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4 |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 301-400 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621075825/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4 |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In their updated 2021 version, Neil Young appears with "Heart of Gold" at number 259, "[[After the Gold Rush (song)|After the Gold Rush]]" at 322, and      "[[Powderfinger (song)|Powderfinger]]" at 450.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/harry-styles-as-it-was-2022-1234952641/ |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |date=February 16, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>

In 2006, when ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' magazine compiled a "Greatest Living Songwriters" list, Young was ranked second behind [[Bob Dylan]]. (While Young and Dylan have occasionally played together in concert, they have never collaborated on a song together or played on each other's records). He ranked thirty-ninth on ''[[VH1]]'s 100 Greatest Artist of Hard Rock'' that same year. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame explained that while Young has "avoided sticking to one style for very long, the unifying factors throughout Young's peripatetic musical journey have been his unmistakable voice, his raw and expressive guitar playing, and his consummate songwriting skill."<ref name="rockhall.com"/>

''[[After the Gold Rush]]'', ''[[Harvest (Neil Young album)|Harvest]]'', ''[[Déjà Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album)|Déjà Vu]]'', and "[[Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)|Ohio]]" have all been inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grammy Hall of Fame List|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/hall-of-fame|access-date=December 11, 2021|work=Grammys|date=October 18, 2010}}</ref>

In 2001, Young was awarded the Spirit of Liberty award by the civil liberties group [[People for the American Way]]. Young was honored as the [[MusiCares Person of the Year]] on January 29, 2010, two nights before the 52nd Annual [[Grammy Awards]]. He was also nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for "Fork in the Road" and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for ''[[The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972|Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963–1972)]]''. Young won the latter Grammy Award. In 2010, he was ranked No.&nbsp;26 in Gibson.com's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Top-50-Guitarists-526/|title=Top 50 Guitarists of All Time – 30 to 21|publisher=Gibson.com|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527234351/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Top-50-Guitarists-526/|archive-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref>

In 2022, Young was named by [[Carnegie Corporation of New York]] as an honoree of the [[Great Immigrants Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neil Young |url=https://www.carnegie.org/awards/honoree/neil-young/ |access-date=June 10, 2024 |website=Carnegie Corporation of New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Candid |title=Carnegie Corporation Names 2022 Cohort of Distinguished Immigrants |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/carnegie-corporation-names-2022-cohort-of-distinguished-immigrants |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Philanthropy News Digest (PND) |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Young at number 133 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=January 1, 2023|title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/neil-young-23-1234642971/|access-date=April 21, 2023|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>

Other honors include:

*[[Canadian Music Hall of Fame]], 1982
*[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: first in 1995 for his solo work and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield.
* In 2006, Artist of the Year by the [[Americana Music Association|American Music Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanamusic.org/recipient-archive|title=AMA Awards Recipient Archive|website=Americanamusic.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018055116/http://americanamusic.org/recipient-archive|archive-date=October 18, 2012|access-date=February 11, 2014}}</ref>

Albums recorded in tribute to Young by various artists include:

* 1989 – ''[[The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young]]'', Caroline
* 1994 – ''[[Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young]]'', Sony Music Canada, 2xCD acoustic and electric
* 1999 – ''This Note's for You Too!: A Tribute to Neil Young'', Inbetweens Records 2xCD
* 2000 – ''Getting' High on Neil Young: A Bluegrass Tribute'', CMH Records (same as 1998 entry)
* 2001 – ''Everybody Knows This Is Norway: A Norwegian Tribute to Neil Young'', Switch Off Records
* 2001 – ''Mirrorball Songs – A Tribute to Neil Young'', SALD, Japan
* 2006 – ''Headed for the Ditch: a Michigan Tribute to Neil Young'', Lower Peninsula Records 2xLP
* 2007 – ''[[Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute to Neil Young]]'', 2xCD acoustic and electric, Universal Music Canada 2xCD
* 2007 – ''Like A Hurricane'' (16-track tribute album provided with the December 2007 issue of [[Uncut Magazine]])
* 2008 – ''More Barn – A Tribute to Neil Young'', Slothtrop Music
* 2008 – ''Cinnamon Girl – Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity'', [[American Laundromat Records]] 2xCD
* 2012 – ''Music Is Love: A Singer-Songwriter Tribute to the Music of CSNY'' Route 66 2xCD

===Grammy Awards===
{{award table}}
|-
| 1990 || ''Freedom'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance|Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 1991 || "Rockin' in the Free World" || Best Male Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1994 || rowspan="2" | "Harvest Moon" || [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| "My Back Pages" || [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1995 || "Philadelphia" || Best Male Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| ''Sleeps with Angels'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1996 || "Peace and Love" || Best Male Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| "Downtown" || [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | ''Mirror Ball'' || Best Rock Album || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Recording Package]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 1997 || ''Broken Arrow'' || Best Rock Album || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006 || "The Painter" || [[Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance|Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance]] || {{Nominated}}
|-
|| ''Prairie Wind'' || Best Rock Album || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2007 || rowspan="2" | "Lookin' for a Leader" || Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Rock Song || {{Nominated}}
|-
| ''Living with War'' || Best Rock Album || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2009 || "No Hidden Path" || Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2010 || "Fork in the Road" || Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| ''The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package|Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package]] || {{Won}}
|-
| Neil Young || [[MusiCares Person of the Year]] || {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2011 || rowspan="2" | "Angry World" || Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance || {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Rock Song || {{Won}}
|-
| ''Le Noise'' || Best Rock Album || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2014 || ''Psychedelic Pill'' || Best Rock Album || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2015 || ''A Letter Home'' || Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package || {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2021 || ''A Band A Brotherhood A Barn'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Music Film|Best Music Film]] || {{Nominated}}
|}

===Juno Awards===
{{award table}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 2021|2021]] || [[Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year|Best Rock Album]] || ''Colorado'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Juno Awards of 2011|2011]] || Artist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year|Adult Alternative Album of the Year]] || ''[[Le Noise]]'' || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 2008|2008]] || [[Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year|Adult Alternative Album of the Year]] || ''Chrome Dreams II'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 2007|2007]] || Adult Alternative Album of the Year || ''Living With War'' || {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | [[Juno Awards of 2006|2006]] || Adult Alternative Album of the Year || ''Prairie Wind'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Jack Richardson Producer of the Year]] || "The Painter" || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year|Songwriter of the Year]] || "The Painter", "When God Made Me", "Prairie Wind" || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Juno Awards of 2001|2001]] || Best Male Artist || Neil Young || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year - Solo|Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo]] || ''Silver & Gold'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1997|1997]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Juno Awards of 1996|1996]] || Best Rock Album || ''Mirror Ball'' || {{Nominated}}
|-
| Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | [[Juno Awards of 1995|1995]] || Songwriter of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Juno Award for Entertainer of the Year|Entertainer of the Year]] || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Juno Awards of 1994|1994]] || Single of the Year || "Harvest Moon" || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] || ''Harvest Moon'' || {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Juno Awards of 1993|1993]] || Songwriter of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1991|1991]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1990|1990]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1989|1989]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1986|1986]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1982|1982]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1981|1981]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1980|1980]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1979|1979]] || Male Vocalist of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Juno Awards of 1975|1975]] || Composer of the Year || Neil Young || {{Nominated}}
|}

===MTV Video Music Awards===
{{award table}}
|-
| [[1984 MTV Video Music Awards|1984]] || "Wonderin{{' "}} || Most Experimental Video || {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[1989 MTV Video Music Awards|1989]] || rowspan="2" | "This Note's for You" || Video of the Year || {{Won}}
|-
| Viewer's Choice Award || {{Nominated}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Music|Canada}}
* {{anl|Canadian rock}}
* [[List of peace activists]]
* [[Music of Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young nation: a quest, an obsession, and a true story|last=Chong|first=Kevin|author-link=Kevin Chong|year=2005|publisher=Greystone Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hux6vcba8jkC&q=Neil%20Young%20nation%3A%20a%20quest%2C%20an%20obsession%2C%20and%20a%20true%20story&pg=PP1|location=Vancouver, Berkeley, California|isbn=978-1-55365-116-1|oclc=61261394}}
* {{cite book|title=A dreamer of pictures: Neil Young – the man and his music|last=Downing|first=David|year=1994|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wKpd7X4e2EEC&q=A%20dreamer%20of%20pictures%3A%20Neil%20Young%20%E2%80%93%20the%20man%20and%20his%20music&pg=PP1|location=London|isbn=978-0-7475-1499-2|oclc=59833966}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young|last=Dufrechou|first=Carole|year=1978|publisher=Quick Fox|location=London|isbn=978-0-8256-3917-3|oclc=4168835}}
* {{cite book|last=Echard|first=William|year=2005|title=Neil Young and the Poetics of Energy|location=Bloomington|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-21768-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young: don't be denied: the Canadian years|last=Einarson|first=John|year=1992|publisher=Quarry Press|location=Kingston, Ontario|isbn=978-1-55082-044-7|oclc=26802024}}
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young, the Rolling stone files: the ultimate compendium of interviews, articles, facts, and opinions from the files of Rolling stone|last=George-Warren|first=Holly|year=1994|publisher=Hyperion|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7868-8043-0|oclc=30074289}}
* {{cite book|title=The Faber companion to 20th-century popular music|url=https://archive.org/details/fabercompanionto0000hard|url-access=registration|last=Hardy|first=Phil|author-link=Phil Hardy (journalist)|author2=Laing, Dave|year=1990|publisher=Faber and Faber|location=London, Boston|isbn=978-0-571-13837-1|oclc=28673718}}
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young: in his own words|last=Heatley|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Heatley|year=1997|publisher=Omnibus Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CHd_o0P5fnAC&q=Neil%20Young%3A%20in%20his%20own%20words&pg=PP1|location=London, New York|isbn=978-0-7119-6161-6|oclc=38727767}}
* {{cite book|last=McDonough|first=Jimmy|author-link=Jimmy McDonough|year=2002|title=Shakey: Neil Young's Biography|publisher=Random House|location=New York City, NY|isbn=978-0-679-42772-8|oclc=47844513|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780679427728}}
* McKay, George (2009) [http://usir.salford.ac.uk/2372/1/displayFulltext.pdf "'Crippled with nerves": popular music and polio'.] ''Popular Music'' 28:3, 341–365.
* McKay, George (2013) ''Shakin' All Over: Popular Music and Disability''. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young: Zero to Sixty: A Critical Biography|last=Rogan|first=Johnny|author-link=Johnny Rogan|year=2000|publisher=Omnibus Press|location=London|isbn=978-0-9529540-4-0|oclc=47997606}}
* {{cite book|title=Neil Young: reflections in broken glass|last=Simmons|first=Sylvie|author-link=Sylvie Simmons|year=2001|publisher=Mojo|location=Edinburgh|isbn=978-1-84195-084-6|oclc=48844799}}
* {{cite book|title=The encyclopedia of country music: the ultimate guide to the music|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00coun|url-access=registration|last=Skinker|first=Chris|editor=Kingsbury, Paul|year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-19-511671-7|oclc=38106066|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00coun/page/607 607]|chapter=Neil Young}}
* {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Steve|title=A to X of Alternative Music|year=2006|publisher=Continuum|isbn=978-0-8264-8217-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPOsu8JOHO8C&q=A%20to%20X%20of%20Alternative%20Music&pg=PP1}}
* {{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|title=Journey Through the Past: The Stories Behind the Classic Songs of Neil Young|year=2002|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-87930-741-7}}
* {{cite book|title=Greendale|last=Young|first=Neil|author2=Mazzeo, James|year=2004|publisher=Sanctuary|location=London|isbn=978-1-86074-622-2|oclc=57247591|url=https://archive.org/details/greendale00youn}}
* {{cite book|title=Special Deluxe: A Memoir of Life & Cars|first=Neil|last=Young|year=2014|publisher=Blue Rider Press|isbn=978-0-399-17208-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/specialdeluxemem0000youn}}
* {{cite book|title=Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream|first=Neil|last=Young|year=2013|publisher=Plume|isbn=978-0-14-218031-0}}
* {{cite book|title=Neil and Me|last=Young|first=Scott|year=1997|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|location=Toronto|isbn=978-0-7710-9099-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=akxs4a5BoEYC&q=Neil%20and%20Me&pg=PP1|oclc=36337856}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q633|c=Category:Neil Young|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|n=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
* [http://www.neilyoungarchives.com Official archive with rare recordings]
* {{allMusic}}
* {{Discogs artist|Neil Young}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0949918|name=Neil Young}}
* [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/neil-young-emc Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca]
* [https://canadianbands.com/neil-young/ Article at canadianbands.com]

{{Neil Young|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Accolades received by Neil Young
|list =
{{Canadian Music Hall of Fame}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Song}}
{{Juno Award for Artist of the Year}}
{{Juno Award for Album of the Year (1980–1999)}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year}}
{{MusiCares Person of the Year}}
{{1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one albums}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Topics related to Neil Young
|list =
{{Buffalo Springfield}}
{{Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young}}
{{Crazy Horse (band)}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Neil}}
[[Category:Neil Young| ]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian keyboardists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian pianists]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American activists]]
[[Category:American country guitarists]]
[[Category:American country rock singers]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American folk guitarists]]
[[Category:American folk musicians]]
[[Category:American folk rock musicians]]
[[Category:American hard rock musicians]]
[[Category:American harmonica players]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male songwriters]]
[[Category:American musicians with disabilities]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock pianists]]
[[Category:American tenors]]
[[Category:Buffalo Springfield members]]
[[Category:Canadian activists]]
[[Category:Canadian anti–Iraq War activists]]
[[Category:Canadian country guitarists]]
[[Category:Canadian country rock musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate musicians in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian folk guitarists]]
[[Category:Canadian folk rock musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian hard rock musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian harmonica players]]
[[Category:Canadian lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Canadian male guitarists]]
[[Category:Canadian male pianists]]
[[Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian male songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Canadian people of American descent]]
[[Category:Canadian record producers]]
[[Category:Canadian rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Canadian rock keyboardists]]
[[Category:Canadian rock pianists]]
[[Category:Canadian rock singers]]
[[Category:Canadian tenors]]
[[Category:Countertenors]]
[[Category:Crazy Horse (band) members]]
[[Category:Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young members]]
[[Category:Film directors from Toronto]]
[[Category:Film directors from Winnipeg]]
[[Category:Geffen Records artists]]
[[Category:Governor General's Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grunge musicians]]
[[Category:Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Album of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Artist of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Manitoba]]
[[Category:Musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Musicians from Winnipeg]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:People from Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Topanga, California]]
[[Category:People with epilepsy]]
[[Category:Reprise Records artists]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Singers from Manitoba]]
[[Category:Singers from Toronto]]
[[Category:The Stray Gators members]]
[[Category:Third Man Records artists]]
[[Category:Writers from Toronto]]
[[Category:Writers from Winnipeg]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Toronto]]