Credit: Danny ClinchLate last month, a joint concert featuring Neil Young and Bob Dylan was announced as the first show of the 2019 edition of London’s British Summer Time Hyde Park series. Now Young has taken to his Neil Young Archives website to criticize certain aspects of the July 12 event.
Firstly, Neil apologized to fans who expected to be able to purchase tickets to the concert via his website, noting that the event was announced before he’d agreed to the final details.
“I was still finessing the art for the poster and trying to make sure that all the details of the show were agreeable to me,” he explains in his message. “Then, suddenly, someone jumped the gun. The tickets were put on sale and the announcement was made, all without my knowledge.
Young then notes, “We promised you that you would learn first at [Neil Young Archives] about all of my activities and have first access to pre-sale tickets. You didn’t. I was angry.”
Neil also says he has a big issue with the concert’s main sponsor, Barclays Bank, whom the longtime environmental activist maintains is a major funder of the fossil-fuel industry.
“That doesn’t work for me,” Young says with regard to Barclays involvement in the concert. “I believe in Science. I worry about the Climate Crisis and am deeply concerned about its massive global ramifications and my beautiful grandchildren’s future.”
“There’s no doubt about it — [It’s] been a massive f*** up!” Neil declares. “At the moment, we are trying to rectify the situation and will soon update you on the status of the Hyde Park show.” He notes he’s discussing possibly “requiring a different sponsor” before moving forward with the concert.
The Hyde Park show currently is Young’s only confirmed 2019 gig.
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