Neil Young To Release His Memoir, ‘Waging Heavy Peace’

Neil Young has just signed a book deal to write his memoir. Several years of discussions have led up to this moment, and like other rock star biographers such as Keith Richards, Sammy Hagar and Steven Tyler, Young will finally tell his life story – in his own words.

The book is tentatively titled ‘Waging Heavy Peace’ and is scheduled for release in the fall of 2012 through Blue Rider Press, an imprint of Penguin Group USA. Young's intent is to cover everything; growing up, music and his life. President (publisher) David Rosenthal told the New York Times, “I am astounded at his memory for detail.”

‘Shakey,’ the 786 page biography that came out in 2003, was ten years in the making and found author Jimmy McDonough on the road to publishing an authorized story about Young. After the author thoroughly researched the archives and chasing the singer-songwriter around for years, in 1998 Young put the kibosh on the project and cut off McDonough’s access.

McDonough, not easily deterred, moved forward and completed the bio two years later. Young tried to stop the book from being published but McDonough sued and after some legal actions from both parties, Young let it go and ‘Shakey’ saw publication. Now, nearly a decade later, Young’s story will be updated and get the hands-on, personal attention that his fans have been longing for.