Neil Young on farewell tours: ‘What kind of bulls*** is that?’
In a fresh interview promoting his Western movie Paradox, Neil Young has lambasted artists who announce ‘retirement tours.’
Many acts including Status Quo, KISS, Scorpions and Ozzy Osbourne have all announced so-called farewell tours only to come back later, and Neil Young isn’t a fan of the concept.
Mocking the idea to Rolling Stone, Neil said: “I'm going out with Cher. Cher and I are doing a retirement tour. (Laughs) ‘Neil and Cher’.
“When I retire, people will know, because I'll be dead. They'll know, "He's not coming back! He retired." But I'm not gonna say, "I'm not coming back." What kind of bulls*** is that?
“I could go out and play if I felt like it, but I don't feel like it. I've got a great band. I've got two great bands - I've got Promise of the Real and Crazy Horse. They're both great bands and they're different.”
Neil’s views echo those of former Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider who last November accused bands who announce farewell tours and return of insulting their fans.
"I'm one of those people who express great frustration at these bands who retire and then come back,” Snider told New York radio station radio station 101.5 WPDH.
“I think it's an insult to the fan, especially when you pay a premium for those shows, a premium for the 'No More Tours' shirt by Ozzy (Osbourne). How many years ago was that? C'mon, seriously? The KISS farewell tour — farewell to Ace (Frehley) and Peter (Criss), I guess? I think it's insulting.
“Scorpions did a three-year farewell tour and changed their minds. I don't want them to leave, but if you're going to announce that you are and tell us that, then you're supposed to leave. Feel free to stay forever. We love you Scorpions but don't do a three-year farewell tour and then change your mind the next day. Not cool. Not cool, Scorpions.
“Me and the Twisted guys, we are of the mind, just like Mötley Crüe, that this really is it, and we're done. I have no intention of going back.
“I don't want to be one of those people who go back on their word, and I hope if I do, the audience tars and feathers me, and says, 'You know what? You're worse than the people who faked it. You made a big deal, made a stink, pointing fingers at everybody, and then you came back!'”
Available to watch from this Friday (23rd March) on Netflix, Neil Young stars as the Man in the Black Hat, the leader of a band of outlaws that include his band, Promise of the Real, in the Darryl Hannah directed movie Paradox.
Also starring country icon Willie Nelson and his sons Micah and Lukas Nelson, Neil’s music also features and he has also produced the film under his pseudonym Bernard Shakey alongside Elliot Rabinowitz.
You can watch the trailer here: