Product Description

Neil Young is one of rock and roll's most important, influential and enigmatic figures, an intensely reticent artist who has granted no writer access to his inner sanctum - until now. "Shakey" is the whole story of Young's incredible life and career: from his childhood in Canada to the founding of folk-rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield, the bleary conglomeration of Crazy Horse and the monstrous success of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; to the depths of the Tonight's The Night depravity and the Geffen years; and Young's unprecedented nineties comeback. "Shakey" (the title refers to one of Young's many aliases) is also the compelling human story of a lonely kid for whom inside music was the only outlet, a driven yet tortured figure who controlled his epilepsy via mind over matter, an oddly passionate model train mogul who, inspired by his own son't struggle with cerebral palsy, became a major activist in the quest to help those with the condition. This long awaited, unprecedented story of a rock n roll legend is uniquely told through the interwoven voices of McDonough - biographer, critic, historian, obsessive fan - and the ever cantankerous (but slyly funny) Young himself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69218 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 704 pages

Scotland on Sunday·
‘...sensational: burning ambition, clashing egos, onstage epileptic seizures, deranged groupies, great albums, the birth and death of Sixties idealism.

Noel Gallagher - NME
'I've been reading this biography of Neil Young called Shakey and it's changed my life, man.'

The Observer.
'Succeeds in stripping a star of his iconography…McDonough’s book excels at anecdotes of music excess from a bygone era’

Customer Reviews

"Innaresting" Life & Times of the Great Rock Eccentric
There has been no shortage of books on Neil Young in recent years, some of which have been very good, some of which have been lazy cut and paste jobs. What makes this one different is that, for the first time, a biographer has had some measure of co-operation from Young himself - not that he made it easy.
There is also a good deal of candid comment by members of Crazy Horse, manager Elliot Roberts and several others past and present from Young's circle, which I would guess will tell you as much as Young & Co will give away as long as Neil is with us (long may he run).
In many ways this is an extraordinary book. A study about an unusual person, the music world (or at least that part of the music world that Young has inhabited) and a host of extraordinary (or "innaresting") characters and casualties along the way.
At this point I should confess to be being a Neil fan - in as much as I've got all of his official recordings (yes, even the terrible ones) and, ahem, 1 or 2 unofficial ones - without, I hope, quite becoming the sort of obsessive no-life that posts inanities to some of the many Young-related web-sites. So even allowing for some potential bias, I feel, ultimately, Young emerges from this book with a good deal of credit, even though his extremely driven nature must sometimes test the patience of those who are nearest and dearest to him. Not everyone gets let off lightly and the book does provide some considerable insight into the unpleasant side of some musos, their management and their hangers-on.
There is, as one would expect from a study of someone with such an idiosyncratic sense of humour, some alarming, hilarious and tragic anecdotes too - real beyond Spinal Tap stuff.
There is the occasional factual stumble (such as mistaking BBC2 early 70s "In Concert" series for "The Old Grey Whistle Test") but that hardly distracts from the overall quality this biography -which is often presented in an unusally frank style. Like other Young fans who read this, I thought of questions about the music I would have like to have asked if I had been McDonough's position - and I think I have as much info as I really want, or have a right, to know about Neil's family - but that's probably inevitable for an artist that has released (and not released!) so much.
In short, a must-have for Neil fans, even those who are very familiar with key events in Young's musical odyssey. There is a lot of added value here. A major book on a major artist.

innaresting
This in a way is an excellent account of Neil Young, but it is spoiled at times by the authors opinions on certain albums,certain concerts and certain people around the subject. I do detect a hint of jealousy insofar as he is not part of the inner circle.

Apart from this it is a great book about Neil Young ,meticolously put together and recalling the major things that happened in his life.

If you are a Neil Young fan you will love this book and some of the more obscure recordings to me, seem to make sense now .

Good read.
I really enjoyed this book. The author is frank about many things, and i dont agree with all his views but i like his bluntness. He even speaks bluntly to Young, its good and refreshing.
It's not some author being a sycophant just telling the reader how great Neil Young is, he gives his view on things both complimentry and critical of Young.

I found this book difficult to put down at times, it's given me a far greater insight, not only into Young's music but into Young himself, what makes him tick, where he get's his ideas and inspiration, what situations it takes for him to musically thrive, what situations it takes for him to flop.

This book has been a great parallel to me buying Young's albums. I get the full story behind the various albums and appreciate that when i listen to them.

This is a great read for Neil Young fans. As a relative newcomer (10 months) to his work this provided me with really good information on the man himself, helping me to get a greater understanding of the whole picture.

I loved, it great book, reccomended.