Between the Lines-Neil Young “Waging Heavy Peace”

Jenn Cohen | March 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

by Tim Wenger

Neil Young is a visionary; he was back in the ’60s and ’70s, and his memoir “Waging Heavy Peace” is proof that he still is today, cranking away at his uber-sustainable Lincvolt project as if it is the single most important passion of his jam-packed 70 years on the planet.

He begins the book with a look into model trains, continues through many discussions about cars and how they can and should become more energy efficient, delves into his rich (but often plagued with health problems) family life, and even throws in some talk about, what is it that he is known for? Oh yeah, his music.
Young has spent more time in the studio than most of the musicians who make up modern genres combined, and although he admits that he can, at times, be hard to work with, the products of all that recording time have made him an undeniable legend of rock. Throughout the book, Young speaks of many of his favorite and most memorable times in the studio, and paints a vivid picture of the personalities that surrounded him so well that I was almost brought to tears when he spoke of their passing.

At times he rambles, he has a penchant for going on tangents, and the chapters are short and often completely unrelated. But for a memoir of nearly five hundred pages, that seemed to be okay, preventing the reader from becoming burned out on one subject or another.

Long time fans of Young will undoubtedly appreciate the tales of specific concerts, songs, and people; even those who are only familiar with his radio hits will find some interesting stories of rock star livelihood. He talks about drug use in his stories as if the reader knows the exact feeling and terminology; this book is not for those who shy away from real life stories. It is not for those who are a fan of standing in line, as Young has lived about as free a life as could be imagined, and the fortunes of being a rock star are blatantly presented throughout the book.

The reader follows Young’s progress from a broke musician eating macaroni every night to a multi-millionaire with beach houses and a collection of classic cars, something he discusses with no shame or sympathy, almost as if he always knew it would end as it did. He talks in detail about his son’s health problems, the acquaintances he has made with everyone from fellow rock stars to Internet entrepreneurs, all with the careless reflection of a stoned hippie carrying on over living room conversation.

The book is, despite its length, a relatively quick read, as long as you can follow the mind and memories of a man who has lived a very full life. He presents his views without being offensive, tells his stories like they need to be told, and gives respect to the people who have helped him be what he is, the old rocker who barely avoided burning out and refuses to fade away.

Online: neilyoung.com/wagingpage.html