Neil Young has shared some more details about his retirement plans.
The bad news, according to the 78-year-old folk-rock legend, was that he has been performing with arthritis in his hand for many years, but the good news is that he has found ‘a way around the pain with no drugs.’ In a recent note he shared on his website Neil Young Archives, he recalled the last show he played in 2019:
“The last time we played live was so amazing! I had a great time. We all did. I had been playing with arthritis in my hand for years and years and finally discovered a way around the pain with no drugs that let me play as I felt.”
He further explained why it was a special night for him:
“The last show was a lifetime experience. The guys all said as we left the stage, ‘That was a really good one!’ All the guys, even [Crazy Horse drummer] Ralph! It was a very special night!”
Young then revealed that the show was recorded, and plans are now in the works to release it as a live album:
“We captured it. Nothing new. Just my old songs and the Horse, but I felt so great, my singing was free and easy. I can’t remember a night like that in decades, if ever. Of course we will share it with you. It should come out about when we hit the road again – April. It’s double vinyl and I love the sound in all its Ragged Glory!”
When Young Hinted His Retirement Plans
Neil Young seems to be approaching what he famously referred to as his ‘Old Man’ era back in 1972. The 77-year-old musician acknowledged that he is contemplating the idea of slowing down. However, he still intends to continue touring in a more ‘sustainable’ way.
He confessed that retirement ‘doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility.’ Reflecting on this notion in an earlier interview, he said:
“That could happen. You get to a point in life where things are happening everywhere around you, and your friends are going away and not coming back. Things change.”
In the event of his return to the stage, he asserted that he plans to steer clear of venues that provide factory-farmed food to the audience. He emphasized the importance of this aspect, stating:
“This is something that’s very important to me, if I’m ever going to go out again… and I’m not sure I want to. I’m still feeling that out, but if I’m ever going to do it, I want to make sure that everything is clean.”
Though he hasn’t played a public concert since September 2019, there seem to be no immediate plans for Young to stay home and take it easy despite his comments.
