Young Neil - 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.