As a relative newcomer to the ranks of published rock authors, one of the more gratifying things I have experienced has been the incredible support from the fans of my chosen subject.
Which, in this particular case, means those diehard Neil Young fans who have come to be known as the Rusties.
Quick history lesson here.
The "Rusties" first began life on the internet as the sort of wildly devoted Neil Young fan group who could quote you the most obscure song from Neil's vast catalog line and verse without batting an eye, and who have seen the man himself in concert—often on multiple continents—more times than folks like you and I change underwear.
No matter.
What is important here, is that these are those same Neil Young fanatics who religiously make their way out to the annual Bridge School benefits every year like clockwork.
They do so not only without apology, but by counting these same annual religious pilgrimages to Mountain View, California as simply another notch on their belts of devotion.
Shortly after the release of my book, Neil Young FAQ last month, the Facebook offshoot of these same Rusties sponsored two wildly successful book signings here in Seattle, which raised nearly $900 for said Bridge School.
Besides the obvious benefits of raising money for a great cause, the signings also brought some much-needed attention to my virgin entry into the rock-book sweepstakes as a newly published author. However, despite this overwhelming support from the Rusties, one gaping hole in the book was brought to my attention by a few fans soonafter.
This was my lack of acknowledging this same fan group in the book itself.
First of all, let's be clear. Neil Young FAQ was never intended to be a book about the fans—and especially those who follow his every word and concert—often from continent to continent. That part of the process came much later, and long after the actual, initial mission of attempting to document and otherwise catalog all of Neil Young's recorded and performed music was committed and put to print.
Article comments
1 - thrasher
Most excellent Glen !. We'll highlight on TW. Happy 4th!!!
Happy Independence Day!
2 - Stringman
Nice afterthought except you left off the Rust list, the source of everything Rusted and everything else Neil, and of course the Neil Young Internet museum (Hyperrust.org). That web guy who looks after that site needs a good kick up the arse! LOL
3 - Glen Boyd
Hyperrust is covered in the NYFAQ book Stringman (check out the "Computer Cowboy" chapter).
As for the Rust list, we may still get to that in a future installment of NYFAQ Diaries. What somebody probably really needs to do is a book on the NY community as its own standalone subject though...there's certainly more than enough ground to cover.
Thanx for the comment!
-Glen