Relix - News - Cracker Apologizes To Neil Young

Current Issue details

Buy Current Issue

March Issue details

January - February Issue details

December Issue details

News

Cracker Apologizes To Neil Young

Cracker frontman David Lowery has issued a conciliatory statement to Neil Young. Earlier today we noted that yesterday the Huffington Post ran a story entitled “Neil Young: Piracy Is ‘The New Radio,’ Way To Get Your Music Heard.” This piece summarized Young’s talk at the D: Dive into Media conference from this past January. At that event Young spoke about digital music distribution and had this to say about piracy: “It doesn’t affect me because I look at the internet as the new radio. I look at the radio as gone … Piracy is the new radio. That’s how music gets around … That’s the radio. If you really want to hear it, let’s make it available, let them hear it, let them hear the 95 percent of it.”

Cracker’s Johnny Hickman then responded in response: “Fuck you Neil Young. I love most of your music (some of it sucks ass) that you made millions upon millions of dollars on….you own property all over the world, have 50 antique gas guzzling cars and a full recording studio….you have no sa
y in the matter NOW you rich, greedy old asshole. We hundredaire working class musicians DO!”

Now Cracker’s David Lowery has issued a Facebook of his own. he writes, “Apologies to Neil Young. He is free to think whatever he wants about Piracy. I’m not against casual non-profit sharing of files among fans. I draw the line when it becomes a for-profit business. for example in the case of ‘file lockers’ or ‘cyber lockers’ which are for profit businesses that make their money from advertising and ‘premium’ faster downloads. These companies make millions a year and share nothing with the artists. Johnny got a little over excited.”

Comments

There are 13 comments associated with this post

Eric Stowe September 21, 2012, 01:33:24

Did anybody catch this idiot Hickman’s response to the fans on Facebook? he made a bunch of libelous statements about me and others and then went on to explain that what He really meant was something that we don’t understand.. for chrissake for a moment there I thought that Neil had actually done something to this fuckhead… what an arrogant self-righteous hatemonger! and then he ends his insults with peace and love ha ha.. he sure gets my vote for the mayor of Absurdistan.! so goddamn delusional!

Maddie September 18, 2012, 14:56:57

It’s nice he calmed down and spoke how he really felt. But I guess you can say the same thing about what he originally said because in reality that is what he really meant. Anyway, Neil Young, worked his ass off to get what he has. He has always gone into his own direction even when it wasn’t what his fans wanted him to do. He has been an artist that has paved the way for bands like Cracker. Neil Young also gives back to the community in more ways than just his Bridge School. Neil has always been a pioneer in what he does. Be glad that we can share the music that is how it should be intended. Then you just play your butt off and tour constantly, oh…like Neil Young did for many decades. Peace…

Ken September 18, 2012, 15:13:41

Maddie, the response was not from the same band member. One member skewered Neil; the other backtracked on behalf of the band.

wow what an a** September 18, 2012, 15:50:57

how about cracker making some decent music.unlike mr young cracker has not done a damn thing to earn a penny what a douch bag

wow what an a** September 18, 2012, 15:51:02

how about cracker making some decent music.unlike mr young cracker has not done a damn thing to earn a penny what a douch bag

JW September 18, 2012, 17:09:30

Hey Neil some guy in a band named Cracker threw the F-Bomb at you Neil: Cracker who? Was the guys name Polly?

Geoffrey Miller September 18, 2012, 20:23:21

exactly, if you are good enough and dont play the same stuff over and over again then the people will realize and come and see you. sorry to cracker, it sucks we live in a world where people dont buy cds. start having fun and putting out good stuff and they will come and pay to see you. who would ever be THAT aggressive toward a legend like neil young, hes got to have one of the biggest egos going

RBS September 18, 2012, 22:08:28

What’s Cracker?

dk70 September 19, 2012, 17:53:48

Crapper

Crazy Chester September 21, 2012, 11:08:03

Look, the fact is that Neil did make a ton of money selling records, and then makes a public statement about it being cool to steal them instead. I can see why the guy is mad, even if there’s better ways to get you point across…

what? September 22, 2012, 13:10:45

dont worry Johnny Hickman no one wants to steal your music it sucks…...............come up with your own sound instead of stealing every other bands out there jerk

Fu$% Cracker September 22, 2012, 13:36:51

Cracker has made their living off of one good song their whole life and they sound like shit playing low now!! Rock On Neil!!

dk70 September 25, 2012, 15:16:57

Neil never said it was “cool” , he is just stating the facts. The emphasis is now on going out and putting on a show. Someday hologram technology will come to everyone’s living room and that may compromise concert attendance, too. Time waits for no one (especially one hit bands like Crapper).