Jimmy McDonough - Shakey: Neil Youngs Biography  

Without friend, lawyer, musician and soon-to-be author George Hedges, this book would not exist. Thanks to Christy Hedges, too.

One very big reason this book made it to print is John Kopf. John, I was an absentee friend for many years and yet you still stood by me at a particularly critical juncture. I thank you for your many ideas, not to mention your finesse at delivering a summons. Thanks as well to Joni and Loretta Alice Kopf.

Charlie Beesley has been a selfless force in many peoples livesparticularly my own. He went over the manuscript thousands of times, making countless improvements and bringing out the best of me in the process. I consider this his book as much as mine. By the way, Charliethe monkeys gone, but Darin stayed in.

Editor Bruce Tracy entered the picture at the eleventh hour (well, the first eleventh hour), and saved this project from doom, making sense of a thousand-page-plus manuscript without diluting any of its many peculiarities. Bruce stuck by Shakeyfor years. Ann Godoff, thanks for publishing this book. Diana Frost: a very heartfelt (but bland) thank you. Private joke.

Bill Bentley, senior vice president/Media Relations at Warner Bros./ Reprise Records, got me to Neil Young in the first place, and he believed in this project when everybody else laughed in my face. He is a rare entity at a record company: He loves music and the people who make it. I owe it all to you, Bill.

I would particularly like to thank three of the greatest guys in the world: the late David Briggs, the late Jack Nitzsche and Frank Poncho Sampedro.

Joel Bernstein went to absurd lengths to help this project, while at the same time remaining loyal and protective of his boss (not to mention his archives). It is regrettable that he was unable to go over the manuscript for errors before publication, but as Joe Simon once sang, It bes that way sometimes. Hopefully Joels eight-CD edit of the Neil Young Archives will someday see light of day. David Briggs certainly approved of the idea.

Bruce Van Dalsem worked through the many, many complexities of publication with the finesse of a master jeweler. I still dont know how he did it.

Thanks to the mighty Henry Gradstein and also Greg Bodell.

Agent Jeff Posternak stayed the fraught-with-obstacles course while policing every detail. Andrew Wylie guided with an iron hand. Special thanks to the extremely patient Bridget Love (wherever you are).

A long time ago I wrote a story about Gary Stewart. It evolved into an epic longer than the Bible. Kit Rachlis recognized my abilities when no one else cared and taught me plenty about how to tell a story. A writer couldnt have a better mentor.

Yuval Taylor is a great editor who initially unlocked the ideas I had within. His help came at a crucial time.

It has been my good fortune to have a once-a-week lunch with Richard Meltzer for the past few years. We were in some awful hamburger joint one smoky afternoon when Richard pointed to one of my interview transcripts and suggested an idea that completely changed the direction of my last two books. Idiots who dont know any better label Meltzer a music writer. Richards talents are way beyond that. He doesnt compromise, and he stands taller than any of his peers. One day the world will recognize him for what he is: a complete original.

My deepest thanks to Allison Brownwherever you arefor playing me A Man Needs a Maid many years ago.

So many people around Neil Young helped me and asked nothing in return. Some remain off the record; others spoke freely. Interviewees are listed in the Source Notes. In particular I would like to thank Zeke Young, Sandy Mazzeo, Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot, Ken Viola, Brian Stone and Charlie Greene. Personal to Dave McFarlin: Its all your fault. Special thanks to Leo Trombetta for all his ideas, and for keeping me laughing.

My thanks to the archivists: Pete Long was helpful with many a panicked last-minute query. His book Ghosts on the Road: Neil Young in Concert remains definitive. Also thanks to Scott Oxman, Jef Michael Piehler, Bill Wilner, Neil Skok, David Koepp, Steve Espinola, Mike Thomas, Nathan Wirth, Steve Virone, Kristopher J. Sproul and Frank Zychowitz. A particular thanks to Dave Zimmer and video archivist extraordinaire David Peck at Reelin in the Years Productions. Colleen Jean Matan for her friendship and support. NPFHs do amount to something, Colleen.

Janet Wygal (aka the Wygalator) and her copyediting crew did a superb job fine-tuning a total mess of a manuscript (special thanks to Beth Mouth Like a Sailor Thomas). My thanks as well to Daniel Rembert for the stunning cover design, and Katie Zug, who was exceptional at handling production details and ferreting out photo rights.

My brother, John McDonough, was a great help when I needed it most. My gratitude goes out to Janet, Nancy, Megan and Kate McDonough; Mary Jo, Robert, Andy, Emilee and (the future) Lee Berner; Chris and Kelly Richards. I believe I got a lot of my moxie from my father, Joe McDonough. Too bad youre not around to see this, Dad.

Thanks to those who have always been there one way or another: Elizabeth Main, Bruce Kitzmeyer, Eliza Paley, Craig Leibner, Krissy Boden, Leo Trombetta, Dale Lawrence, Sally Mayrose, Sarah Heldman, Kat Heldman, Joy Heldman, Nicki Laurin, and in particular my guardian angel, Neva Friedenn. A very special thanks to Bettina Briggs. And, as always, the incomparable Lux and Ivy.

Also thanks to: Wendy Swanson, Rudolph Grey, Kathy Kerr, Arvella Kinkaid, Dave Dunton, Jaan Uhelszki, Jonny Whiteside, Karen Schneider, Bill Rhodes, Jerry Morris, Kim Morgan, Amy Salit, Gregg Turkington, Link and Olive Wray, Jimmy Vapor, Maria Wirtanen, Gary Kincade, Barb Dehgan, Anna Hinterkopf, Isaac the waiter, Isaako Siuleo, Jill Nees, Mark Linn and Christy Canyon. In Australia: Kate, Carl, Sean and Debbie Wisdom; Bill, Eleanor and Graham Bowen; Kerry and Rita Wisdom; and movie expert supreme Sam McBride. Thanks to the Waser and Roberts families, particularly Lorraine and Ray Wasera great logger, farmer and good friend. Thanks to Stan Pachter for just about everything. Hair by Jerry Ripley, Tonsorial Parlor. Eliza Wimberly, period. In dreams.

In the early years of this project, Kent and Nancy Beyda not only put up with me but kept a roof over my head and food in mouth. I turned their lives upside down in the process, and I dont know why they put up with it, but they never gave less than everything. Their daughter, Emily, always brought a smile to my lips, even in the darker moments. Emily, your parents are true patrons of the arts.

A very special thank you to the Fabulous Lucy Fur and her favorite Shakey fan, Mike Mad Dog Merrigan.

Natalia Wisdom endured many a hippie nightmare in the past decade plus. Against all odds, she kept meand my crazy dreamsalive. Natalia, I know the many sacrifices you made so I could finally accomplish what I set out to do. Now lets make a few of your dreams come true.

Jimmy McDonough

J IMMY M C D ONOUGH

SHAKEY

Jimmy McDonough is a journalist who has contributed to such publications as Variety, Film Comment, Mojo, Spin, and Juggs. But he is perhaps best known for his intense, definitive Village Voice profiles of such artists as Jimmy Scott, Neil Young, and Hubert Selby, Jr. Jimmy is also the author of The Ghastly One: The Sex-Gore Netherworld of Filmmaker Andy Milligan. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.