Neil Young and the band The Chrome Hearts will play in the limestone quarry outside Rättvik before continuing on to the rest of Europe and North America. Initially, it was planned that the tour start would take place as a large free concert in war-torn Ukraine – a plan that Young was forced to scrap for security reasons.
Recently, the 79-year-old American-Canadian artist released the album "Talking to trees", but lately, he has primarily been written about for something other than his music. Young is openly critical of the US President Donald Trump, and has stated that the country has "lost its reputation" with Trump.
Protesting
Young has also strongly protested against Trump's use of his song "Rockin’ in the free world", including through legal action.
In June, Young also came to the defense of his fellow artists Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, who both ended up in conflict with Trump. On social media, he urged the president to stop caring about what rock singers say.
"You worry about that instead of the dying children in Gaza. That's your problem. I'm not afraid of you", Young wrote and added that Trump should focus on saving the US from the mess he created.
But the criticism is not solely directed at Trump – Neil Young is generally a loud critic of the surveillance society, the threat to freedom of speech, and commercialization in the cultural sphere. Earlier this year, he jumped off a gig at the Glastonbury festival with the motivation that the festival had become too commercial, mainly through its partnership with the BBC. He changed his mind later, and is once again the headliner at the festival in June.
Jab at Musk
On the new album, Elon Musk-owned Tesla also gets a jab from Young. "If you're a fascist, buy a Tesla" he sings on the song "Lets roll again". The melody uses Woody Guthrie's famous "This land is your land", and in the video for the song, a "Heil Tesla" image is shown along with Musk's controversial hand gesture that has been interpreted as a fascist greeting.
However, whether Young will concretely comment on Donald Trump during the tour remains to be said – earlier this year, he expressed concern that he would be arrested when he returns to the US.
”If I talk about Trump in Europe, I can become one of those who are later denied entry to America, or who get to sleep on a concrete floor in prison”, he wrote on his website.
Sara Haldert/TT
Fact: Neil Young
TT
Age: 79 years.
Does: Artist, guitarist, songwriter.
Background in selection: Released solo debut "Neil Young" in 1969 and has since released over 40 solo albums. Has also played in the band "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young".
Current: Starts his world tour at Dalhalla on June 18.
