‘It is a pill that induces psychedelia’: Highlights from Neil Young’s fan Q&A today on Twitter

Share this:

Neil Young invited fans to an online Q&A today on his newly launched Twitter account, covering a range of topics from the mundane to the musical. And, in the style of the micro-blogging site, he did so with very, very brief answers.

Asked about the significance of his new album’s title, Young said: “It is a pill that induces psychedelia.” Queried about perhaps collaborating with Dave Grohl, Young replied: “Yes, I think we will.” A follow up question about Jack White, illicited this response: “I like Jack White.”

Later, Young said Foster the People was one of the newer generation’s bands that has captured his imagination — and that Bob Dylan’s new release Tempest was in his car’s CD player right now. Asked if he liked Radiohead, Young said: “Yes.” The last album he purchased was Rockin’ With Jimmy Reed.

Young expressed his support for alternative lifestyles (“gay is good”), gave his opinion on the root of the current NHL lockout (“money money money money money money money”), and even took on a question about where he got the shirt he was wearing: “Christmas present.”

[SOMETHING ELSE! REVIEW: Neil Young’s second collaboration of 2012 with Crazy Horse is an angry push back against the comfy nostalgia that’s grown up around the 1960s.]

There were unexpected moments of hilarity, however brief: When one fan wondered why Harvest, the 1972 project that included his hits “Old Man” and “Heart of Gold,” “was the only album … that makes me cry,” Young responded, tongue firmly in cheek: “Because you’re a sad bastard.” Young, who had Axl Rose at his annual Bridge School benefit show last week, was also asked about working with Guns n’ Roses again: “Axl and I are doing a world tour together,” he responded — though without the expected winky emoticon.

A concertgoer admitted to passing out and missing the bottom half of Young’s show at Red Rocks, requesting absolution. “First,” Young said, “you must forgive yourself.” When another fan, following up on Foster the People, said: “Bono said he likes them too … it is surprising two super stars like them.” Young shot back: “Who is Bono?”

Asked what he thought about having fans across generations, Young was more introspective: “If you’re still alive, it means you’re getting old.”

Click here to purchase …

Psychedelic PillRust Never SleepsGreendale (Bonus Dvd)Weld (2 disc set)

Something Else!