Neil Young: Fame, Death & Devo – His most Poignant Number?
Neil Young’s pairing with DEvo is one of the oddest in rock is roll, yet it plays a vital part in the writing of that iconic number ‘My My Hey Hey into the Black’. It looks at adage sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll and compairs it to life itself
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DISCLAIMER: This video features materials protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Clips are used with commentary for educational purposes.
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@classicalbum
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Is this Neil's most poignant song? And if not which one… muct admit I'm a big fan of 'Cortez the Killer'
@willemrm4033
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
You really make a good, interesting and convincing case for it. As far as poignancy goes there are a lot of contenders.
It's my top favorite NY song, but rather because of it being energetic and very catchy, as i'm not much into lyrical analysis.
@Andy-cc6ms
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Calm your arms down ffs. So distracting.
@snixelpig
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
My older sister played Live Rust all the time. it was the only Neil young I had heard. I thought, I have never heard a Guitar so heavy after hearing Hey, Hey My, My. This is when I was 9. I was a tad shocked to hear his other records.
@DonaldChiert
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Saw Neil and band last summer and they rocked hard, were a tight unit and Neil was in great voice – clear and strong. He actually chose great, crowd pleasing material to play in contrast to prior shows which were like a middle finger to the fans. Of course I need to separate the personality from the art as he is unlikable to me. Still he’s one of the greats even if some of his output is mediocre. But a revisit reveals many treasures.
@NigelFortune
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
The album 'Harvest' is an absolute masterpiece. Sit in front of a good h–fi system, put the vinyl on, shut your eyes and you're in the room with the musicians.
@dirkbonesteel
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Imagine if Cobain and Grohl had done the Lennon and McCartney thing. Both writing, the power of Nirvana and Foo Fighters. Should have happened, drugs are bad…often
@cosmiccat3295
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
No, it was a commercial for an exhaust company that Mothersbaugh and the boys had done some music for, and may have even come up with the slogan "Rust Never Sleeps" themselves
@adamfindlay7091
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Most are fans of sex pistols for a few moments. Even Jagger. Neil has reshaped himself as much as Bowie though. Know it alls do not …
@markkumanninen6524
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
In my books there is one real rock star who hasn't faded away – Josh Homme. After something like 35 years he's still delivering the goods. Have you ever discussed QotSA here?
@stuartblyton75
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
The needle and the damage done, heavy song.
@andyjay9346
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
The 27 Club says it all.
@k-matsu
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
I can think of dozens of more musically inventive or memorable Neil Young songs, whether it be hard rockers like Cinnamon Girl or Powderfinger, or earworm melodies like Heart of gold or Long May You Run . . .
But as far as emotionally engaging and "poignant" Neil Young tunes go, few can match the Needle and the Damage Done
@1990-t1j
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Neil Young is favourite ever.
@maynardwayward12
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
I don't know of many other bands as beloved almost as soon as they came out as Devo. Like, they had all the celebrity endorsements from the beginning. They were bigger than the Strokes in my time, weren't they? As a millennial that's my closest reference point
@bazbarrett8103
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
' my candle burns at both ends it will not last the night, but ah my foe's and oh my friends it gives a lovely light' Edna st Vincent Milay.
@jheffwithah612
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Good summary, I've also interpreted it as being about stagnation. If you stop moving forward or, in the case of music, stop looking for new sounds and inspiration then you start to "rust" and get left behind. It's like Neil talking to his peers in the "old guard" and saying "the future is here, you can either evolve with it or be left behind and decay".
@garyzimmer4149
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Side B track 2 is Thrasher. At 7:05 the label of that record has track 2 as "Trasher" I blame the work experience kid.
@kocinski8734
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Borrowed Tune always gets me.
@32brookse
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Nice one..
@dourmoose
May 20, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Most poignant song – Thrasher