Saturday Deluxe / 12 July 2025

Neil Young at BST Hyde Park

Despite being a massive fan, for whatever reason it has been over 20 years since I’ve seen Neil Young play live (in 2002 at Brixton Academy, supporting his rather forgotten Are You Passionate? album) so I was very pleased to get the opportunity to see Young last night as he headed a bill at BST Hyde Park that included Van Morrison and Cat Stevens.

Thanks to long bar queues, annoyingly I missed the first song, which I later found out was the brilliant ‘Ambulance Blues’ from what is probably my favourite Neil Young album, On The Beach (argh!) but thankfully there were loads of highlights to come in a setlist that had many more classics that he played in Brixton all those years ago.

On a scorching summer’s evening Neil performed ‘Cinnamon Girl’, ‘Old Man’, ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’, ‘Southern Man’, ‘Harvest Moon’, ‘After The Gold Rush’, ‘When You Dance I Can Really Love’ and many more. The Canadian musician turns 80 in November, but despite this voice sounds great and still retains his range and if it sounds a little more fragile than the old days, it’s fine, since fragility has always been an important element of his singing.

Unlike other aging rockers, Neil clearly has not had any ‘work’ done and so he doesn’t look like some privileged millionaire musician, but with his cap, baggy T-shirt, jeans, and big white sideburns, rather more like someone who has worked hard his entire life running an auto repair shop in some dusty state in America.

The band were fantastic (dress code: dishevelled) with guitarist Micah Nelson giving off strong Curt Cobain/Johnny Greenwood vibes, bass player Corey McCormick (who didn’t get the memo because he looks fit and healthy, like a Brat Pitt stunt double), Anthony LoGerfo on drums and legendary organist Spooner Oldham (a sprightly 82 year old).

Neil let the songs do the talking with just a few friendly words here and there between numbers and played for around two hours. The was nothing from the latest album Talkin’ to the Trees and those who skipped off early to avoid the crowds missed the encore of ‘Throw Your Hatred Down’ (from 1995’s Mirrorball) and a rousing ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’. The latter went on for ages, with at least three false endings, and either stopped around 10.30 by the band’s choice or the plug being pulled via the curfew – it wasn’t exactly clear!

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts continue their Love Earth World Tour in Paris tomorrow night ending the European leg before hitting North America in August.

Jeff Lynne cancels BST Hyde Park

Sadly, ELO legend Jeff Lynne has CANCELLED the band’s appearance at BST Hyde Park – he was due to headline tomorrow.

Lynne sustained a hand injury in a London taxi accident and therefore couldn’t play guitar during last weekend’s Birmingham show (part of ELO’s Over and Out tour). The Manchester show this week was then cancelled at the last minute (with fans seated and ready to go) and now, perhaps inevitably, Lynne is not well enough to take to the Oak Stage tomorrow night in London. The following statement has been issued:

Please go to the BST Hyde Park website for all information regarding refunds.

Update: The entire day tomorrow is now cancelled.

Luis Jardim

I was sad to read the news of the death of musician Luis Jardim earlier this week. Fans of Trevor Horn, or music released under his ZTT, label will likely be familiar with the name of the Portuguese percussionist, bass player and producer because he features on some very well known records including ABC’s The Lexicon of Love, Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Welcome to the Pleasuredome and Grace Jones’ Slave to the Rhythm.

Luis Jardim was 75 when he died. Rest in peace.

Fleetwood Mac Blu-ray Audio

Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album (the first to feature Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) will be issued on Blu-ray Audio, next month.

The disc will feature a Dolby Atmos Mix by Chris James (who did immersive mixes of Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls and Purple Rain) the old 5.1 mix (by Ken Caillat and Claus Trelby) and a stereo mix.

It’s out on 8 August 2025 and you can order via the SDE shop using this link, or via the button below.