its better to burn out than fade away neil young

I would like to hear what Kurt Cobain created as he got older as the band was at a crossroads when he died. Although they managed to sell tens of millions of records, those that preceded them were lucky to sell hundreds to a few thousand. Nirvana represented the forefront of a musical crusade born in the underground of the 80s and the punk of the ’70s. Kurt Cobain, David Grohl, and Krist Novoselic couldn’t be more different than CSNY. They are known for their terrific harmony and hippy vibe.įast forward twenty years, and it was Nirvana playing in my car, and I was in the middle of my college years and a DJ. The so-called ‘supergroup’ was different because they were one of the first to rise to fame in other prominent groups before joining forces. I remember, as a young child, my father would play Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young in the car. Ultimately, it made me personally question what it means to burn out? And, is it truly better to burn out than fade away? Is it Better to Burn Out than Fade Away? Is he happy that he is fading away instead of burning out? Has he lived his life to its fullest, and in this life better led than the short one Kurt Cobain lived? This week, his relevance was felt once again as he penned a personal letter to Donald Trump. In 2000 Rolling Stone named him the 34th greatest Rock n Roll artist, and in 2009 a year before the concert, he was appointed an officer to the Order of Canada, which is Canada’s second-highest honor. In fact, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him twice in 19. It is brought on by repeated stress, resulting in self-doubt, depression, fatigue, and a loss of control,” John R.

“I’ve come to see burning out as a state of exhaustion that can be emotional, physical, or mental. I would argue that he is sustaining a long and successful career. Instead of burning out, he had persevered. My friend Marc Benioff invited me to see Young play a concert in support of his new charity: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.Īs I watched Young back then, he was still on top of his game and played to an enthusiastic but youthful audience. In 2010 (over thirty years after Neil Young wrote the song), I had the fortunate opportunity to see him play a solo concert at the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco. And, in his suicide note, he concludes, “I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than fade away.” It appears that Cobain related to Young’s dilemma. As Young writes, “it’s better to burn out than fade away,” he is coping with the short-lived aspect of fame and the difficulties of staying relevant as an artist. Neil Young penned the lyrics to the song in the late seventies during a period where he was questioning his own legitimacy.

Ironically, I happened to hear Neil Young- “My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)” earlier in the day on Spotify. If Kurt Cobain was alive, he would be 53 today.

Its better to burn out than fade away neil young