NME Festival Guide
2009

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Neil Young closes Isle Of Wight Festival by covering The Beatles

He plays an epic set in front of thousands of ecstatic fans

June 14, 2009 | 13 Comments

Neil Young closed the Isle Of Wight Festival tonight (June 14), playing to a massive crowd of adoring fans.

Coming onstage at 9pm (BST) sharp, the legendary songwriter kicked straight into 'From Hank To Hendrix', performing with just his acoustic guitar and harmonica.

Switching between acoustic and electric guitar, Young played a blistering version of 'Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)' early in the set, extending the song for roughly 10 minutes – and sending the crowd wild.

Young was in jokey mood throughout, saying he hoped to "cop a buzz" after his performance and teasingly labelling the audience "alcoholics" before playing 'Mansion On The Hill'.

Treating the crowd to a stint of full-band songs, Young played tracks including 'Cinnamon Girl' and 'Fuckin' Up'.

An epic version of 'Rockin' In The Free World' was just one of the highlights, with Young playing a total of four extended outros for the song (the crowd only too willing to sing along each time). At one point, Young even instructed the entire audience to wave their hands from side to side in unison with him.

At the song's end, Young and his band left the stage to mass applause, returning a short while later and kicking into 'Down By The River'.

He followed the track with his final song, the now customary cover of The Beatles' 'A Day In The Life'. Slowing the song down, Young's version of the track was a hit with the crowd, who sang along throughout.

Young ended the performance in a blaze of feedback, breaking his guitar strings and shaking his instrument violently – and smiling to himself as he did so.

Photo Gallery – all the highlights from Isle Of Wight 2009

Neil Young played:

'From Hank To Hendrix'
'Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)'
'Comes A Time'
'Heart Of Gold'
'Old Man'
'Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)'
'Mansion On The Hill'
'Cinnamon Girl'
'Fuckin' Up'
'Rockin' In The Free World'
'Down By The River'
'A Day In The Life'

NME.COM will be bringing you coverage of all of today's highlights including the action from both the Download and the Isle Of Wight festivals at NME.COM/festivals. Head there now for all the best news, blogs and pictures straight from the festival sites.

neilist

Jun 15, 2009

'Mansion On The Hill' was "recently written"?! It's on his 'Ragged Glory' album, released in 1990, so it's at least 19 years old...'From Hank to Hendrix' is the most recently released song on this setlist and that was released 15 years ago.

rapn102pt

Jun 15, 2009

Mansion On The Hill recently written? As recently as 1989/80?

pinkoptus

Jun 15, 2009

Neil Young played to an empty arena, ITV2 were unable to cover the set because the remaining audience were a few older festival goers sat on their folding chairs in the mosh pit, very rock & roll. Terrible ending to an otherwise excellent festival, hoping Giddings improves next year.

fidelio

Jun 15, 2009

how strange - after Cobain quoted the song in his "suicide note", I thought that Neil Young had vowed never to play "Hey Hey My My" ever again?

mike Fastfingers shiner

Jun 16, 2009

The legend Neil Young himself ! What an awesome performance to young and old alike to close this years festival, thankyou Mr Giddings. In responce to pinkoptus"s comments I must say that i didnt see any folding chairs in the mosh pit, sorry mate just thousands of music fans having a good time, what festival were you at. Maybe next year we can get the Wurzels to HEADLINE just for you.

MrCru5

Jun 16, 2009

(Neil Young played to an empty arena, ITV2???)Strange comment and even stanger how that can be quoted as a best comment.Best set off the weekend stadium was still packed, just not over packed like it had been and Mr Young really rocked.Alot of the pissed up kids just couldn't quite hang in there and the place was a much nicer place for it. pinkoctopus!!! how rock and roll

LennieDB

Jun 16, 2009

Neil Young also played "Spirit Road" from the 2007 album "Chrome Dreams II". This was the track that he said he had written recently.It was not an empty arena, but many folk left before and during the set. Few people knew who Neil Young was, other than that he was a "legend". Many people gave up after the first few acoustic songs, but may have stayed if they had known what the electric set was to be like. I saw NY twice last year, at Hammersmith (V Good), and at the Hop Farm (stunningly brilliant). Each time the audience was made up of NY fans. Festivals such as the IOW are not always like that. A lesson for all festival performers.

beetroute

Jun 16, 2009

Neil Young played to a packed crowd on Sunday evening - some not knowing what to expect, many kids seemed unwilling to give him an ear at first, those that did were amazed by the genuius at work. This was a lesson in rock & roll, a treat for anyone with an ear for real music. It was interesting to see the connection happening and the crowd won over by sheer talent, no nonesense attached. Hats of to John Giddings, you booked one of the best matey.

schnide

Jun 16, 2009

This article's an absolute lie - the audience deserted Young's set. Pixies played before him and I walked straight down to the front, ten rows back with plenty of room to spare.

tomb26

Jun 16, 2009

Only the pissed kids deserted Young's set. It was actually an inspired move by him to start with some acoustic songs cos it got rid of the rif-raf so that proper music-lovers could appreciate the genius of Heart of Gold, before he blew everyone away with the electric stuff. I was near the front and everyone thought his performance was genius, especially Rockin' In The Free World. Awesome!

RhiBailey

Jun 16, 2009

I wasn't very familiar with his material but thought it was an enjoyable set, particularly the songs I did know like Heart of Gold and Rockin' in the Free World. However, I think it would have been better to have Neil Young followed by Pixies rather than the other way around. Pixies absolutely rocked and really got the crowd going and, whilst very good, it didn't feel like Young's performance maintained that level of atmosphere and excitement.

GAZZY JEFF

Jun 17, 2009

Fidelio you're mistaken he didn't say he wouldn't sing 'hey hey my my' anymore only that he wouldn't sing the line 'rust never sleeps 'again as it was in Cobain's note -and true to his word I don't believe he has since!!

BadApe

Jun 23, 2009

The line Cobain used was 'It's better to burn out than to fade away' which Neil sang and we all joined in. I don't think it's offensive I just think it holds a different meaning when he sings it now.