Neil Young

Few artists have enjoyed the durable popularity and long-lasting influence of Neil Young. He is a restless singer songwriter and performer, who has touched many genres from the pioneering folk-rock of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to more recent grunge bands like Pearl Jam, who cited him as a direct inspiration. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain even quoted a Young line ("It's better to burn out than to fade away") in his suicide note. Young's career began in Winnipeg, where he formed his first band The Jades, going on to work the Winnipeg folk club scene before moving to Los Angeles. It was there he joined Buffalo Springfield, securing a solo album deal through his growing reputation as a guitarist and songwriter. His international breakthrough came with his third album After The Goldrush in 1970, including the Number 1 single Heart Of Gold. His distinctively individual style subsequently incorporated political material alongside experimental music as he retained the love of audiences and the respect of critics. Young won the Best Rock Song Grammy Award in 2011 for Angry World from his Le Noise album.