Have you ever fallen out of love with an artist for moral reasons?

[Miles Archer]

31. On some levels, Neil Young.

On one hand, he's a musical genius, a founding member of FarmAid, politically active in many areas.

On the other hand, if you read his authorized bio, Shakey, you find out he's two (or more) people.

I put "authorized" in bold and underlined it because the book isn't "fake news," tabloid fodder, gossip, innuendo. It's an authorized biography.

Author Jimmy McDonough was given full access to Young's "inner circle.: His private live is just that...private...and the people who know him best are fiercely protective of his image. Guys like Crazy Horse guitarist Frank Sampedro would just as soon punch you in the mouth as say anything negative about Neil. But he interviewed scores of insiders, wrote the first draft, sent it to Neil, and...Neil abruptly cut off all access.

That's why the book flows beautifully and then stops on a dime. Because Neil stopped it on a dime.

Neil has a problem with relationships...primarily women, but relationships in general. The accounting of his time with the late Nicolette Larson amounts to him kicking her to the curb when he was no longer amused. He made an album with Stephen Stills and went out on tour to promote it. A few dates in, Stills found a note from Neil, who had left unannounced. "Stephen, funny how things that start spontaneously sometimes end that way. Eat a peach, Neil." So Stills had to honor the contract and finish those dates himself. He doesn't handle relationships like an adult. At the slightest sign of discomfort, he disconnects, and bolts for the door.

It's a matter of whether you need to admire an artist in order to enjoy their work.

He also has a high level of contempt for his audiences. That's all in the book. Ringo Starr once said that when you go to a Bob Dylan concert, you get the Bob that he's in the mood to show you that night. Young is the same way. I don't think artists should be forced into a life of being a "greatest hits machine." But take Neil's "Greendale" tour as an example. It's the fans' own fault if they expected a night of "Cinnamon Girl" and "Down By The River" and "Heart of Gold" and the rest. He played the Greendale album. That was it. There was the whole Geffen records debacle...a 25 minute album of Neil crooning half-baked rockabilly? It was intended as a raised middle finger to his record label, who wanted "music that sounded like Neil Young," and it was something that amused him greatly, and screw the audience if they don't get the joke.

Then there were the "Tonight's The Night" shows, where Neil's voice was shot from too much tequila, too many drugs, too much of everything. People paid for tickets and in return they were entertained by a drunk.

Strictly speaking in terms of music, Frank Zappa was the same way. He never thought of commerce, he followed the muse, and whoever didn't get it, well...it was their problem, not his.

Neil appears to be a bit of a bastard. That's what comes through after reading "Shakey."