Neil Young, with his distinctive falsetto and deeply emotive tone, is one of the most recognisable and revered musicians in the world. Often hailed as the ‘Godfather of Grunge’, Young’s signature style has left an indelible mark on the music landscape, inspiring countless individuals to pick up a guitar and embark on their own songwriting journeys. His pioneering work in the 1960s and ’70s laid the foundation for alternative rock, influencing a generation of artists who emerged in the 1980s and ’90s. If you trace the lineage of alt-rock back to its roots, you’ll find Young, the quintessential Canadian troubadour, at its very heart.
Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, and even Noel Gallagher have all discussed their love and respect for Neil Young at different points. Whether it be his work with Crazy Horse or solo material, Young’s introspective lyrics and gritty guitar sound became two key elements that would inform indie and alternative moving forward.
Listening to Neil Young’s work on albums like Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969) and Zuma (1975), it’s clear how far ahead of his time he was. While much of the rock scene was drowning in excess, with overblown solos and ego-driven theatrics, Young focused on what truly mattered. Instead of indulging in the caped mysticism and fantastical themes that were popular at the time, he turned inward, addressing real, tangible subjects that resonated on a deeper level. This introspective approach set him apart, making his music timeless and profoundly impactful.
In short, he proves that one way to acquire artistic timelessness is to do something so fresh that it irrevocably inspires what follows. However, in order to do this, Young has always had an eye on his peers, hailing their work and subconsciously weaving it into his own. One person who he always felt has pushed the boundary of experimentalism while appealing to the masses is Paul McCartney, and because of that, Young believes he has crafted a timeless legacy.
The feeling is mutual, too. In 1979, McCartney sent Young a telegram which read: “Neil, Linda and I have been listening to Live Rust over and over, side four kicks ass. Lotta Love, Paul”. To receive this kind of praise from a Beatle was a massive moment for Young, as he, like everyone with any musical taste from his generation, adored the Fab Four.
In March 1999, Young had the chance to return the admiration he had long held for McCartney. He was selected to induct McCartney into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—a recognition that some might find surprising hadn’t come sooner, given McCartney’s monumental career. By that point, the former Beatle had already spent an astounding 361 weeks on the charts as a solo artist, solidifying his place as one of the most influential musicians in history.
Young said: “The first song I learned to play was a Beatles song – ‘Give Me Money, That’s What I Want’. Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters ever. He’ll be remembered hundreds of years from now”. That’s a statement that seems even more true now with the legacy of The Beatles growing stronger by the day and McCartney spearheading it into the future.
Young and McCartney have even since performed together on a handful of occasions and are good friends. Memorably, in October 2004, the pair reunited for the Adopt-A-Minefield benefit, which raises awareness and funds to clear minefields across the world. Performing in Los Angeles, Young played a stellar set, followed by an equally dazzling McCartney set. The ex-Wings man brought Young back onstage for ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ and ‘Hey Jude’.
During the set, McCartney told the audience: “We have a bit of fun but, as you can see, we do a lot of good along the way. That’s one of the magic things…when you’ve worked hard, and you’ve had a lot of luck, you get to a position where Neil and I are at; you can do a little bit more. It’s a magic thing”.
Hopefully, one day, Young and McCartney will reunite once again. A brilliant friendship, there’s no surprise that two of the world’s most well-respected songwriters are friends and share a close mutual bond over their genius artistry. But perhaps most pertinently, when it comes to the two stars of the 1960s, their bond is one that people will surely be musing on for years to come–tracing the impacts that they had on the unravelling world of culture.
Innovators who can make giant leaps look like small, chart-topping steps, Young and McCartney have mastered the knack of songwriting to such an extent that they can simply play around with whatever fresh way they can frame it. If that doesn’t land you a spot in the artistic history books, then nothing will.