Rocker Neil Young, one of the most famous musicians that Winnipeg, Manitoba likes to call its own, has cancelled his appearance at the annual Juno Awards, due to his ongoing recovery from a brain aneurysm.
The 59 year-old musician received treatment this past Tuesday from a New York hospital and remains hospitalized.
After the induction ceremonies for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, Young experienced blurry vision. The aneurysm was then discovered.
Usually wary of award shows, Young did say that if the Juno Awards (think of them as Canada's Grammy Awards) were ever held in his hometown of Winnipeg, he would be happy to perform on the show.
I can't think to too many musicians who have been as respected, as prolific and most importantly, as relevant for as long as Neil Young. He has a lot of contemporaries but no one would describe Young as a dinosaur or a hasbeen.
Article comments
1 - Cody
I wish Neil and Neil's family the best of luck, I was getting excited to seeing Neil performing at the Junos, I was planning on going to the Junos myself but the tickets sold out way too fast, the last time Neil performed in Winnipeg was 1996 I believe, it would've been a treat to see Neil perform alongside Randy Bachman for the first time since '96
2 - Eric Olsen
had the pleasure of seeing his appearance at the Rock Hall inductions where he inducted and then played along with the Pretenders - agree with your assessment T-man and wish him only the best
3 - thrasher
Worldwide reaction to Neil's illness has been intense. Not quite of the Pope/Terri Schiavo level of intensity.
But the global rock community is sending out the "Get well soon" message to Neil.
More on the coverage and reaction to Neil Young's illness and impact on Winnipegger's at the Junos at
http://www.thrasherswheat.org/2005/04/neil-young-suffers-brain-aneurysm-long.html
4 - Tristan
and I had the pleasure of being in the 2nd row front center when Young played here in Palm Beach a few years ago-- he played in a lineup of about 5 or 6 other kinda newish alt-type bands --
i got in with a friend's VIP pass who was on the stage crew and we all went backstage after and were eating in the canteen; Young was sitting over at a small table in the corner with just his old hound dog with him at the table...
very meek and quiet and unassuming...very UN-"star"-like !!!
5 - joann
This is an April Fool's joke, right?!
Please, this isn't funny.
6 - Natalie Davis
No joke, sad to say, and brain aneurysms are scary things. We've lost tons of folks in our family from aneurysms -- they hit, they died. But Mr. Young and his admirers appear to have been fortunate this time around. Let's hope Neil is up and around and rockin' in the free world again soon -- and that he'll make next year's Junos.
7 - Tristan
His doctors have said the operation and recovery are a total success and that he can resume his work very soon. They did ask him not to fly for a few days though. Sadly, no--it is NOT an April Fools joke, but he is supposedly doing great now.