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Randi’s Rock Report: Neil Young Discusses “Rockin in the Free World”…

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Today is the 31st anniversary of Neil Young’s legendary performance of “Rockin’ in the Free World” on Saturday Night Live. In a 1992 interview, Young spoke about why he doesn’t like playing on TV, but admitted to having pulled it off with that particular appearance.

Neil Young reflects on his legendary 1989 performance of “Rockin’ in the Free World” on Saturday Night Live.

“What I really don’t like about doing TV and why, from the beginning, I hardly ever did any TV, is that you really don’t really have control of what’s going on. I’m a control freak — I freely admit this. When I’m doing my thing, everything has to be the way I want it, or I just don’t go. I try to be as open as I can and if the circumstance isn’t right then I’ll be inhibited and I’ll be distracted and I can’t do my thing. On television, your control is limited. I did Saturday Night Live a couple of years ago and I was successful at doing the show and being a musician and playing music.”

Randi’s Rock Report: Music News Feature