Shakey: Neil Young's Biography - Hardcover
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. In Shakey, Jimmy McDonough tells the whole story of Young’s incredible life and career: from his childhood in Canada to the founding of folk-rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield; to the bleary conglomeration of Crazy Horse and simultaneous monstrous success of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; to the depths of the Tonight’s the Night depravity and the strange changes of the Geffen years; and Young’s unprecedented nineties “comeback” with Ragged Glory and Harvest Moon. No detail is spared — not the sex, drugs, relationships, breakups, births, deaths, nor the variety of chameleon-like transformations that have enabled Young to remain one of the most revered musical forces of our time.
Shakey (the title refers to one of Young’s many aliases) is not only a detailed chronicle of the rock era told through the life of one uncompromising artist, but the compelling human story of a lonely kid for whom music was the only outlet; a driven yet tortured figure who learned to control his epilepsy via “mind over matter”; an oddly passionate model train mogul who — inspired by his own son’s struggle with cerebral palsy — became a major activist in the quest to help those with the condition.
Based on interviews with hundreds of Young’s associates (many speaking freely for the first time), as well as extensive exclusive interviews with Young himself, Shakey is a story told through the interwoven voices of McDonough—biographer, critic, historian, obsessive fan—and the ever-cantankerous (but slyly funny) Young himself, who puts his biographer through some unforgettable paces while answering the question: Is it better to burn out than to fade away?
Shakey (the title refers to one of Young’s many aliases) is not only a detailed chronicle of the rock era told through the life of one uncompromising artist, but the compelling human story of a lonely kid for whom music was the only outlet; a driven yet tortured figure who learned to control his epilepsy via “mind over matter”; an oddly passionate model train mogul who — inspired by his own son’s struggle with cerebral palsy — became a major activist in the quest to help those with the condition.
Based on interviews with hundreds of Young’s associates (many speaking freely for the first time), as well as extensive exclusive interviews with Young himself, Shakey is a story told through the interwoven voices of McDonough—biographer, critic, historian, obsessive fan—and the ever-cantankerous (but slyly funny) Young himself, who puts his biographer through some unforgettable paces while answering the question: Is it better to burn out than to fade away?
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
" Jimmy McDonough's fat, teeming, obsessive, and revelatory biography of Young is a pure shot of all-access pleasure. . . . Hugely original." -- "Los Angeles Times Book Review
"" Just as unmanageable, hard-headed, overzealous, and ultimately endearing as Young himself . . . A maddening, beguiling portrait of an elusive maverick . . . A glorious mess." -- "San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
"" An exhilarating match-up of author and subject makes Shakey a great, gripping read. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about Neil Young." -- "Rolling Stone
"" Staggeringly thorough . . . McDonough gets it all: the chaos, the grandeur, the good times and dreary deaths, the alcohol- and drug-besotted recording sessions, the broken hearts, and the sheer unfettered joy of a seriously gifted artist." -- "Salon
"" The definitive book on the subject." -- "The Washington Post
"" Exhaustive, quarrelsome, and sometimes maddening . . . there are revelations in abundance." -- "The New York Times Book Review
"" Where the average rock-star biography is a tepid, toothless thing, McDonough has approached his task like a literary Terminator, steaming ahead with lethal thoroughness. One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written." -- "Times" (London)
" A mammoth portrait of the artist and lively exhumation of rock n roll history. . . . [McDonough] traces a rich turbulent career in vivid detail." -- "The New York Times
"" Imaginatively written...not only is Shakey an extraordinary literary feat of research andaffection and endurance, it's an insight into the art of biography itself." -- "Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"" Delves further into the life and motives of one of music's most private individuals than anything previously released. . . surprisingly comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable. . . .The most detailed portrait of this shrouded artist to date." -- "San Jose Mercury News
"" Exhaustively researched, impressively detailed. . . The long passages in which McDonough steps aside to let Young talk are the most revealing. ' One day I'm a jerk, ' Young says, ' the next day I'm a genius.' This book argues artfully for the latter." -- "People
"" Like meeting Brando's Kurtz in a cave at the end of "Apocalypse Now," . . . Young comes across as a Jekyll-and-Hyde loner whose life has unfolded like a reckless chemistry experiment -- a control freak on an endless quest for the uncontrolled moment." -- "Macleans "(Canada)
" McDonough is an avid fan, music critic and impartial journalist all in one. . . . [He] deftly weaves Young's life, actions and art together. . . . What was known of Young's life before was akin to a series of rough demos. In Shakey, McDonough delivers a full double-album." -- "Rocky Mountain News
"
" Does what most rock bios don' t: It fails to fawn, it delivers the juice, it subjects the hero to the scrutiny and disappointment of a fan. . . A page-turning good read.." -- "Houston Chronicle
"" Fascinating reading. . . McDonough gives us as good a look at [Young' s] cards as we're likely to get." -- "TheTampa Tribune
"" [Shakey's] unprecedented access makes for an entertaining read: McDonough, more than any music journalist since Peter Guralnick in his authoritative Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, has succeeded in stripping a star of his iconography." -- "The Observer" (London)
" Crammed with razor-sharp insights and mind-boggling detail, Shakey is a rock-solid literary triumph, as inspired and inspiring as the eccentric figure it evokes with such frustrated devotion." -- "The Guardian" (London)
" McDonough . . . pores through Young's life with vivid prose and blunt detail, and he is unashamed to insert some stinging opinions. In his probing conversations with Young, . . . he challenges the formidable artist in ways that few others would dare." -- "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"" It's hard to imagine anyone trying to better this book. . . It has what Young values above all else. . . passion." -- "Evening Standard "(London)
"Jimmy McDonough's fat, teeming, obsessive, and revelatory biography of Young is a pure shot of all-access pleasure. . . . Hugely original." --"Los Angeles Times Book Review
""Just as unmanageable, hard-headed, overzealous, and ultimately endearing as Young himself . . . A maddening, beguiling portrait of an elusive maverick . . . A glorious mess." --"San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
""An exhilarating match-up of author and subject makes Shakey a great, gripping read. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about Neil Young." --"Rolling Stone
""Staggeringly thorough . . . McDonough gets it all: the chaos, the grandeur, the good times and dreary deaths, the alcohol- and drug-besotted recording sessions, the broken hearts, and the sheer unfettered joy of a seriously gifted artist." --"Salon
""The definitive book on the subject." --"The Washington Post
""Exhaustive, quarrelsome, and sometimes maddening . . . there are revelations in abundance." --"The New York Times Book Review
""Where the average rock-star biography is a tepid, toothless thing, McDonough has approached his task like a literary Terminator, steaming ahead with lethal thoroughness. One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written." --"Times" (London)
"A mammoth portrait of the artist and lively exhumation of rock n roll history. . . . [McDonough] traces a rich turbulent career in vivid detail." --"The New York Times
""Imaginatively written...not only is Shakey an extraordinary literary feat of research and affection and endurance, it's an insight into the art of biography itself."--"Fort Worth Star-Telegram
""Delves further into the life and motives of one of music's most private individuals than anything previously released. . . surprisingly comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable. . . .The most detailed portrait of this shrouded artist to date." --"San Jose Mercury News
""Exhaustively researched, impressively detailed
Jimmy McDonough s fat, teeming, obsessive, and revelatory biography of Young is a pure shot of all-access pleasure. . . . Hugely original. Los Angeles Times Book Review
Just as unmanageable, hard-headed, overzealous, and ultimately endearing as Young himself . . . A maddening, beguiling portrait of an elusive maverick . . . A glorious mess. San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
An exhilarating match-up of author and subject makes Shakey a great, gripping read. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about Neil Young. Rolling Stone
Staggeringly thorough . . . McDonough gets it all: the chaos, the grandeur, the good times and dreary deaths, the alcohol- and drug-besotted recording sessions, the broken hearts, and the sheer unfettered joy of a seriously gifted artist. Salon
The definitive book on the subject. The Washington Post
Exhaustive, quarrelsome, and sometimes maddening . . . there are revelations in abundance. The New York Times Book Review
Where the average rock-star biography is a tepid, toothless thing, McDonough has approached his task like a literary Terminator, steaming ahead with lethal thoroughness. One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written. Times (London)
A mammoth portrait of the artist and lively exhumation of rock n roll history. . . . [McDonough] traces a rich turbulent career in vivid detail. The New York Times
Imaginatively written...not only is Shakey an extraordinary literary feat of research and affection and endurance, it's an insight into the art of biography itself. Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Delves further into the life and motives of one of music's most private individuals than anything previously released. . . surprisingly comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable. . . .The most detailed portrait of this shrouded artist to date. San Jose Mercury News
Exhaustively researched, impressively detailed. . . The long passages in which McDonough steps aside to let Young talk are the most revealing. One day I'm a jerk, Young says, the next day I'm a genius. This book argues artfully for the latter. People
Like meeting Brando's Kurtz in a cave at the end of Apocalypse Now. . . . Young comes across as a Jekyll-and-Hyde loner whose life has unfolded like a reckless chemistry experiment -- a control freak on an endless quest for the uncontrolled moment. Macleans (Canada)
McDonough is an avid fan, music critic and impartial journalist all in one. . . . [He] deftly weaves Young's life, actions and art together. . . . What was known of Young's life before was akin to a series of rough demos. In Shakey, McDonough delivers a full double-album. Rocky Mountain News
Does what most rock bios don t: It fails to fawn, it delivers the juice, it subjects the hero to the scrutiny and disappointment of a fan. . . A page-turning good read.. Houston Chronicle
Fascinating reading. . . McDonough gives us as good a look at [Young s] cards as we re likely to get. The Tampa Tribune
[Shakey's] unprecedented access makes for an entertaining read: McDonough, more than any music journalist since Peter Guralnick in his authoritative Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, has succeeded in stripping a star of his iconography. The Observer (London)
Crammed with razor-sharp insights and mind-boggling detail, Shakey is a rock-solid literary triumph, as inspired and inspiring as the eccentric figure it evokes with such frustrated devotion. The Guardian (London)
McDonough . . . pores through Young s life with vivid prose and blunt detail, and he is unashamed to insert some stinging opinions. In his probing conversations with Young, . . . he challenges the formidable artist in ways that few others would dare. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It s hard to imagine anyone trying to better this book. . . It has what Young values above all else. . . passion. Evening Standard (London)"
Book Description:
"" Just as unmanageable, hard-headed, overzealous, and ultimately endearing as Young himself . . . A maddening, beguiling portrait of an elusive maverick . . . A glorious mess." -- "San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
"" An exhilarating match-up of author and subject makes Shakey a great, gripping read. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about Neil Young." -- "Rolling Stone
"" Staggeringly thorough . . . McDonough gets it all: the chaos, the grandeur, the good times and dreary deaths, the alcohol- and drug-besotted recording sessions, the broken hearts, and the sheer unfettered joy of a seriously gifted artist." -- "Salon
"" The definitive book on the subject." -- "The Washington Post
"" Exhaustive, quarrelsome, and sometimes maddening . . . there are revelations in abundance." -- "The New York Times Book Review
"" Where the average rock-star biography is a tepid, toothless thing, McDonough has approached his task like a literary Terminator, steaming ahead with lethal thoroughness. One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written." -- "Times" (London)
" A mammoth portrait of the artist and lively exhumation of rock n roll history. . . . [McDonough] traces a rich turbulent career in vivid detail." -- "The New York Times
"" Imaginatively written...not only is Shakey an extraordinary literary feat of research andaffection and endurance, it's an insight into the art of biography itself." -- "Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"" Delves further into the life and motives of one of music's most private individuals than anything previously released. . . surprisingly comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable. . . .The most detailed portrait of this shrouded artist to date." -- "San Jose Mercury News
"" Exhaustively researched, impressively detailed. . . The long passages in which McDonough steps aside to let Young talk are the most revealing. ' One day I'm a jerk, ' Young says, ' the next day I'm a genius.' This book argues artfully for the latter." -- "People
"" Like meeting Brando's Kurtz in a cave at the end of "Apocalypse Now," . . . Young comes across as a Jekyll-and-Hyde loner whose life has unfolded like a reckless chemistry experiment -- a control freak on an endless quest for the uncontrolled moment." -- "Macleans "(Canada)
" McDonough is an avid fan, music critic and impartial journalist all in one. . . . [He] deftly weaves Young's life, actions and art together. . . . What was known of Young's life before was akin to a series of rough demos. In Shakey, McDonough delivers a full double-album." -- "Rocky Mountain News
"
" Does what most rock bios don' t: It fails to fawn, it delivers the juice, it subjects the hero to the scrutiny and disappointment of a fan. . . A page-turning good read.." -- "Houston Chronicle
"" Fascinating reading. . . McDonough gives us as good a look at [Young' s] cards as we're likely to get." -- "TheTampa Tribune
"" [Shakey's] unprecedented access makes for an entertaining read: McDonough, more than any music journalist since Peter Guralnick in his authoritative Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, has succeeded in stripping a star of his iconography." -- "The Observer" (London)
" Crammed with razor-sharp insights and mind-boggling detail, Shakey is a rock-solid literary triumph, as inspired and inspiring as the eccentric figure it evokes with such frustrated devotion." -- "The Guardian" (London)
" McDonough . . . pores through Young's life with vivid prose and blunt detail, and he is unashamed to insert some stinging opinions. In his probing conversations with Young, . . . he challenges the formidable artist in ways that few others would dare." -- "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"" It's hard to imagine anyone trying to better this book. . . It has what Young values above all else. . . passion." -- "Evening Standard "(London)
"Jimmy McDonough's fat, teeming, obsessive, and revelatory biography of Young is a pure shot of all-access pleasure. . . . Hugely original." --"Los Angeles Times Book Review
""Just as unmanageable, hard-headed, overzealous, and ultimately endearing as Young himself . . . A maddening, beguiling portrait of an elusive maverick . . . A glorious mess." --"San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
""An exhilarating match-up of author and subject makes Shakey a great, gripping read. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about Neil Young." --"Rolling Stone
""Staggeringly thorough . . . McDonough gets it all: the chaos, the grandeur, the good times and dreary deaths, the alcohol- and drug-besotted recording sessions, the broken hearts, and the sheer unfettered joy of a seriously gifted artist." --"Salon
""The definitive book on the subject." --"The Washington Post
""Exhaustive, quarrelsome, and sometimes maddening . . . there are revelations in abundance." --"The New York Times Book Review
""Where the average rock-star biography is a tepid, toothless thing, McDonough has approached his task like a literary Terminator, steaming ahead with lethal thoroughness. One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written." --"Times" (London)
"A mammoth portrait of the artist and lively exhumation of rock n roll history. . . . [McDonough] traces a rich turbulent career in vivid detail." --"The New York Times
""Imaginatively written...not only is Shakey an extraordinary literary feat of research and affection and endurance, it's an insight into the art of biography itself."--"Fort Worth Star-Telegram
""Delves further into the life and motives of one of music's most private individuals than anything previously released. . . surprisingly comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable. . . .The most detailed portrait of this shrouded artist to date." --"San Jose Mercury News
""Exhaustively researched, impressively detailed
Jimmy McDonough s fat, teeming, obsessive, and revelatory biography of Young is a pure shot of all-access pleasure. . . . Hugely original. Los Angeles Times Book Review
Just as unmanageable, hard-headed, overzealous, and ultimately endearing as Young himself . . . A maddening, beguiling portrait of an elusive maverick . . . A glorious mess. San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
An exhilarating match-up of author and subject makes Shakey a great, gripping read. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about Neil Young. Rolling Stone
Staggeringly thorough . . . McDonough gets it all: the chaos, the grandeur, the good times and dreary deaths, the alcohol- and drug-besotted recording sessions, the broken hearts, and the sheer unfettered joy of a seriously gifted artist. Salon
The definitive book on the subject. The Washington Post
Exhaustive, quarrelsome, and sometimes maddening . . . there are revelations in abundance. The New York Times Book Review
Where the average rock-star biography is a tepid, toothless thing, McDonough has approached his task like a literary Terminator, steaming ahead with lethal thoroughness. One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written. Times (London)
A mammoth portrait of the artist and lively exhumation of rock n roll history. . . . [McDonough] traces a rich turbulent career in vivid detail. The New York Times
Imaginatively written...not only is Shakey an extraordinary literary feat of research and affection and endurance, it's an insight into the art of biography itself. Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Delves further into the life and motives of one of music's most private individuals than anything previously released. . . surprisingly comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable. . . .The most detailed portrait of this shrouded artist to date. San Jose Mercury News
Exhaustively researched, impressively detailed. . . The long passages in which McDonough steps aside to let Young talk are the most revealing. One day I'm a jerk, Young says, the next day I'm a genius. This book argues artfully for the latter. People
Like meeting Brando's Kurtz in a cave at the end of Apocalypse Now. . . . Young comes across as a Jekyll-and-Hyde loner whose life has unfolded like a reckless chemistry experiment -- a control freak on an endless quest for the uncontrolled moment. Macleans (Canada)
McDonough is an avid fan, music critic and impartial journalist all in one. . . . [He] deftly weaves Young's life, actions and art together. . . . What was known of Young's life before was akin to a series of rough demos. In Shakey, McDonough delivers a full double-album. Rocky Mountain News
Does what most rock bios don t: It fails to fawn, it delivers the juice, it subjects the hero to the scrutiny and disappointment of a fan. . . A page-turning good read.. Houston Chronicle
Fascinating reading. . . McDonough gives us as good a look at [Young s] cards as we re likely to get. The Tampa Tribune
[Shakey's] unprecedented access makes for an entertaining read: McDonough, more than any music journalist since Peter Guralnick in his authoritative Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, has succeeded in stripping a star of his iconography. The Observer (London)
Crammed with razor-sharp insights and mind-boggling detail, Shakey is a rock-solid literary triumph, as inspired and inspiring as the eccentric figure it evokes with such frustrated devotion. The Guardian (London)
McDonough . . . pores through Young s life with vivid prose and blunt detail, and he is unashamed to insert some stinging opinions. In his probing conversations with Young, . . . he challenges the formidable artist in ways that few others would dare. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It s hard to imagine anyone trying to better this book. . . It has what Young values above all else. . . passion. Evening Standard (London)"
'One of the most penetrative studies of a rock icon ever written... Scary, bittersweet and strangely moving... One of the great tales of the rock 'n' roll era' Sunday Times
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- PublisherRandom House Canada
- Publication date2002
- ISBN 10 0679309403
- ISBN 13 9780679309406
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages800
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(2002)
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ISBN 13: 9780679309406
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