Elliot was described in Jimmy McDonough’s “Shakey” biography like this:
"There have been other infamous artist/manager teams in rock and roll – Dylan and Albert Grossman. Ray Charles and Joe Adams, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau – and, of course, Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker. Elliot Roberts definitely resides in that hall of infamy – and is the only human capable of guiding Neil Young's career."
"Neil likes quirky people around him," said Elliot Roberts, Young's manager since the late sixties. "I think having quirky people around him lessens-in his mind-his own quirkiness. 'Yes, I am standing on my head, but look at these two other guys nude standing on their head.' " His mane of gray hair flying, Roberts was on his ninety-sixth phone call of the day, either chewing out some record-company underling or closing a million-dollar deal. Not far away, a bearded, sunglassed David Briggs- Young's producer-prowled the stage, palming a cigarette J.D.-style and looking like the devil himself.
Briggs and Roberts were the twin engines that powered the Neil Young hot rod. Feared, at times hated, both men possessed killer instincts and had been with Neil almost from the beginning. Roberts was a genius at pushing Young's career, Briggs at pushing his art. It's an understatement to say the two didn't always see eye to eye. Roberts and Briggs were two of the quirkiest characters around- difficult, complicated men-but then so was just about everybody and everything in Young's world.
"Let's look at Neil's whole trip-the ranch, the people he plays with," said computer wizard Bryan Bell, who worked extensively with Young in the late eighties. " 'Easy' isn't in the vocabulary."
I think Shakey is an excellent biography. In one of his books, Neil talks about what a huge mistake it was to have someone else co-write his biography. I have to assume he was referring to Shakey. I think he said this in Waging Heavy Peace, also a fine book.
Roberts also appears in the Tom Petty film, "Runnin' Down a Dream". I thought he was great in that rockumentary.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
What is everyone's favourite album? I really love On The Beach.
What next? Going to ask which family member I love the most?
Oh, that's tough! If I had to go with one and only one as a favorite, a lot would depend on when I answered. But that's copping out on the question!
OK, I'll go with Rust Never Sleeps. The first time I heard Rust I was at a small intimate party outdoors in the countryside in Windsor CA (before it was ruined and turned into a wealthy Sonoma County suburb) on a perfect late spring evening. It was magic. Such a great album and I really love the two differing sides that somehow make total sense. And the album builds and is sequenced perfectly. One of the greatest.
I love Rust Never Sleeps too.
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
Rust Never Sleeps - love that album. Just love it to pieces. It's right there next to Tom Petty's - Echo and Floyd's - The Wall for my favorite non-PJ records. Never tire of any of those gems.
"A smart monkey doesn't monkey around with another monkey's monkey" - Darwin's Theory
The Berlin show was awesome, I couldn't believe that he did Dangerbird. So good...
Salzburg 2000, Vienna 2006, Munich 2007, Novarock 2007, Prag, Berlin 1 + 2, Stockholm 2012, EV London 1 + 2 2012, Vienna 2014, EV Berlin 2017, Berlin 2018, EV Amsterdam I + II 2019
Comments
"Not all your albums can be hits. But all your albums can be good."–Elliot Roberts to Tom Petty
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
I saw that Ed dedicated Man of the Hour to Elliot at his show in Madrid last night too
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
Lett it feel less demo-rough than Psychedelic Pill.
And he played Powderfinger twice in the set. Haha.
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
Berlin:
Too much Dylan, not enough Cat Power!
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)