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Neil Young interview

The rock icon talks great guitar jams, politics and staying in shape.

By Dennis McCafferty

Neil Young is always happy to cultivate his iconoclastic image. His latest assault: a new documentary, "CSNY/Déjà Vu," which he directed and co-stars in with his longtime music-mates, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. In it, Young takes on the current presidential administration and the war in Iraq. But it's not a predictable anti-war movie, says the rock icon, considered by many the "godfather of grunge."

"I wanted to represent all of America in this, including the people who are angered" by his protest music. At 62, Young still works a full schedule, even after being treated for an aneurysm in 2005. He talked to us from his ranch near La Honda, Calif.

Your politics are clear in the film. But you've praised Republican presidents Nixon and Reagan and recorded "Let's Roll," which could have been written by Toby Keith. Do you try to avoid being pegged as a liberal?
I say what's on my mind, obviously. It's just that on some days, I'm thinking about something differently than I did the day before. I'll even say some nice things about President Bush.

Really? Like what?
He takes care of himself as good as anyone can at his age, and his mind still works well. He's also demonstrated how a person can be successful while having dyslexia. [Note to readers: Bush has denied that he has dyslexia.]

Speaking of being fit, you've bulked up considerably from that skinny hippie look of 30 years ago. What have you done to get in that kind of shape?
Yeah, I've gained a lot of weight, and it's not fat either. I swim in the morning, usually 10 or 15 laps. Then I get on an elliptical or some other kind of aerobic machine. Then I take what's called a Power Plate and work out on that. It vibrates and makes you feel like you're exercising every muscle in your body. But playing music is the best aerobic exercise I know.

You suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2005. How's your health now?
I'm in great shape. There's been no reoccurrence of the aneurysm. I get checked out routinely. I feel like I'm getting stronger all the time. The experience has given me a new sense of faith and humbleness about who you are and how long you're going to stay on this Earth.

At least there will always be a species carrying on your name after you're gone. A biologist has named a newly discovered spider, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi, in your honor.
That was great. I love spiders! I was thinking of naming my next band Spidey Web and the Trapdoors.

Do you think you're an underappreciated guitarist?
Man, I don't play the guitar. I hit the guitar. [Laughs.] I just go in there with a feeling and play. I saw in "Rolling Stone" something about "Cowgirl in the Sand" being one of the top 20 guitar songs, so that was cool. But I realize I'm not Eddie Van Halen; he can play rings around me.