Neil Young Nation: A Quest, an Obsession (and a True Story)

by Kevin Chong

Book Overview

Neil Young will turn 60 in 2005. Kevin Chong will turn 30. To celebrate these two milestones, Chong sets off on a road trip in search of his boyhood hero. Crisscrossing the continent, he visits Winnipeg, where Young formed his first band; Toronto, where Young was a Yorkville folkie; Los Angeles, where he became a star with Buffalo Springfield; and other noteworthy stops before ending up in Seattle, where he finally sees Neil Young on stage. Along...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1553651162
• ISBN13: 9781553651161
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Greystone Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

From a Rustie Wanna-Be

Chong's book is well-written and really speaks to the sort of Young fan I am myself...a long-time fan who loves many periods, but isn't of the obsessive must-have-every-bootleg variety. I enjoyed riding with Chong on his adventure and learning a little bit more about my favorite artist in the process. I even filled in some gaps in my collection after reading this book. Hey, I got Re-ac-tor and Trans when they first came out. How could I never have heard Zuma before? Thank you, Kevin!!

A survey of his findings about Neil Young, rock music, and encounters Neil had with fans and fellow

Neil Young is one of the most popular musicians of modern times and has enjoyed decades of fame in the rock world, producing consistently outstanding lyrics and sounds. NEIL YOUNG NATION is more than just a review of his life, however: author Kevin Chong set off on a road trip to research his subject, following the places which influenced Young's music: NEIL YOUNG NATION is at once an account of Chong's personal journey as well as a survey of his findings about Neil Young, rock music, and encounters Neil had with fans and fellow musicians along the way. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

a long, strange (but great) trip

Maybe it's because I'm almost 30 years old myself and, like the author, at the crossroads between my freewheeling 20's and the more domestic 30's. Maybe it's because I've thought about making trips to Ontario to see my musical hero's hometown just for fun, and never done it. Whatever it is, this book connected with me. Thankfully, the book is a lot less about Neil Young than it is about a road trip with friends and the experiences they've had along the way. I say thankfully because I've read enough biographical books on Neil, including the extensive, 700-page or whatever "Shakey," by Jimmie McDonough, which is great, by the way. While Chong does get into some history of Young's musical life during the road trip from Canada to LA, I actually found myself enjoying the parts most where it was just Chong and his buddies, Geoff, Dave and Mark, talking about random stuff in the car or while having some beers with locals at various taverns along the way. A modern, sarcastic road trip tale not too much unlike that of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," without the rambling, random lunacy of the Dean character. The book should connect especially with those in the 25-35 range, even if they're not huge Neil Young fans. A must-read for any big Neil fan, however. There's even numerous mentions of meetings with "Rusties" around the country.