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Last week, Neil Young — someone who, until last week, we respected as an artist and dedicated audiophile — pulled his music from Spotify in an effort to truly embrace the roots that made him a famous hippie protest songwriter by — would you believe it — protesting free speech. Namely, the Joe Rogan Experience.
First, let’s pause to appreciate the irony of the guy who famously wrote “Ohio” — an ode to the Kent State protests of 1970 — now getting his arthritic bones in a bunch because he thinks that Joe Rogan is spreading “misinformation.” (Just let the Soviet-socialist sound of that phrase, misinformation, sink in for a minute). Rogan’s crime? He interviews world-renowned doctors with moderately dissenting opinions about Covid treatment in between podcasts with standup comedians and people who think the aliens built the pyramids. (We love you, Joe.)
Neil Young, we’d almost forgotten you. I used to mourn that fact. Now, maybe not so much. Maybe Young has just smoked so much grass over the last 50 years that he really has forgotten which way is up — or maybe it’s his somewhat servile, broom-of-the-system, Justin Trudeau Canadian-ness coming into full bloom in his old age. So be it. As most Americans unwittingly do in regards to Canada anyway — we can now also forget Neil Young exists.
Good riddance Neil. You’ve told us for years that vinyl was the only true way to appreciate music anyway. We’ll be sure and look for you in the record stores we don't visit. Turns out that just like Lynyrd Skynyrd, we don’t need you around anyhow.
As for Joe Rogan — we’ve got a hundred million dollars says he’ll be fine.
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Shirt specs:
• 100% ring-spun cotton
• Sport Grey is 90% ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Dark Heather is 65% polyester, 35% cotton
• 4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, or Nicaragua