Neil Young's Defiant Protest Anthem Rocks Farm Aid at 79

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Neil Young has delivered yet another fiercely relevant chapter to his storied career over the past several days. Capping off a summer of globe-spanning gigs, Young headlined the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid on September 20, 2025, in Minneapolis, taking the stage alongside co-founders Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, and even fellow legend Bob Dylan. According to The Current, Young and his band The Chrome Hearts—whose lineup features Micah Nelson, Corey McCormick, Anthony Logerfo, and the ever-iconic Spooner Oldham—opened their set with a new protest anthem titled Big Crime, a song brimming with pointed political commentary and already stirring comparisons to his earlier protest work. The lyrics, as noted by Parade, stop short of naming names but left little doubt the song is a direct rebuke of former President Trump, with lines referencing fascism, soldiers on the street, and a “big crime in DC at the White House.” The immediate social media response was electric. Parade reports fans were “moved to tears,” underscoring the generational impact of hearing Young still writing urgent protest music at age 79.

This Farm Aid appearance followed the dramatic closing of his Love Earth Tour at the Hollywood Bowl on September 18. According to Live For Live Music and WMGK, Young powered through a setlist that mixed urgent new material with beloved deep cuts—ranging from Vampire Blues, played live for the first time since 2024, to the classic Long Walk Home, updated for today’s geopolitics as Young swapped the line “From Vietnam to Old Beirut” for “From Canada to Ukraine,” reflecting the shifting tides of global strife. These shows were described as righteous, defiant, and brimming with the same moral fire that’s defined his decades-long career. But not all of the news was stage-bound. MyQ105 revealed Young rushed to a hospital in Northern California following his September 12 Shoreline Amphitheatre show due to a family emergency, prompting concern among fans. Young himself posted that the music “was great last night,” and indicated the tour would continue, though he has not shared further details about the emergency.

Meanwhile, Young’s legacy endures far beyond his own performances. Tribute bands such as Harvest & Rust are mounting “Neil Young Experience” events—like the October 25th show at Glens Falls, and Gold Rush is staging tribute nights in San Diego—evidence of his continued cultural draw, with both groups actively promoting on their social channels. No major product launches or new business ventures were publicly disclosed this week, and speculation about further political statements or future musical directions remains mostly in the realm of Twitter rumors and fan chatter, without substantiated official comment. The headlines tell the story: Young remains not just “the Godfather of Grunge,” but still the conscience and provocateur of American music, unafraid to “raise hell” in the face of any injustice.

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