10 days with The Loner
During the compiling of the Decade album, Neil Young did not forget his brief stay in Amsterdam in September 1974. One of the innersleeve photos, showing Neil and his guitar on a bed, was taken in a hotel room at the Amsterdam Memphis Hotel by official CSN&Y photographer Joel Bernstein.
This is a brief account of Neil’s stay in Amsterdam, told by Constant Meijers, which was published in Muziekkrant Oor, giving an exclusive, albeit shortened, version of his account of Neil Young’s stay. It was originally intended to be published as a chapter of The Loner - A Biography Of Neil Young.
This article has been painstakingly translated into English by Peter Didderiens. The pictures were taken by Gijsbert Hanekroot and are obviously copyrighted by our friends at GettyImages.
This is a brief account of Neil’s stay in Amsterdam, told by Constant Meijers, which was published in Muziekkrant Oor, giving an exclusive, albeit shortened, version of his account of Neil Young’s stay. It was originally intended to be published as a chapter of The Loner - A Biography Of Neil Young.
This article has been painstakingly translated into English by Peter Didderiens. The pictures were taken by Gijsbert Hanekroot and are obviously copyrighted by our friends at GettyImages.
Monday, September 23th, 1974
It’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon and already dusk when the telephone rings: “Hello, Lesley here, we’re at the Pulitzer Hotel, it’s booked up and we don’t know where to go. Do you know of another good hotel in Amsterdam?” I replied “The Memphis Hotel seems suitable to me, but it’s difficult to explain on the phone how to get there. Give me a minute to meet you, and I’ll take you there.”
Twenty minutes later I find a whole party, divided between two cars, waiting in front of the Pulitzer Hotel. Neil Young, Ranger David [Cline], Sandy Mazzeo and Joel Bernstein are in the antique Rolls Royce, parked on the pavement. In the Mercedes, parked behind the Rolls, are Graham Nash, his girlfriend Cally and his secretary Lesley. The Memphis Hotel has ample vacancies to meet the requirements of the party. While Ranger David and Sandy Mazzeo unload the Rolls and take the luggage up to the various rooms, Neil tells me about his antique car, a new purchase, brought for Hfl 35000 at Antique Worlds, Fulham, London. “It’s a Rolls Royce Wembley, a so-called shootingbrake, built in 1934. We drove all the way from London without any serious problems.”
Twenty minutes later I find a whole party, divided between two cars, waiting in front of the Pulitzer Hotel. Neil Young, Ranger David [Cline], Sandy Mazzeo and Joel Bernstein are in the antique Rolls Royce, parked on the pavement. In the Mercedes, parked behind the Rolls, are Graham Nash, his girlfriend Cally and his secretary Lesley. The Memphis Hotel has ample vacancies to meet the requirements of the party. While Ranger David and Sandy Mazzeo unload the Rolls and take the luggage up to the various rooms, Neil tells me about his antique car, a new purchase, brought for Hfl 35000 at Antique Worlds, Fulham, London. “It’s a Rolls Royce Wembley, a so-called shootingbrake, built in 1934. We drove all the way from London without any serious problems.”
On his way up to his room, Neil asks whether a house-boat has been found yet. “After this exhausting tour with CSN&Y I need a couple of weeks rest. How’s the weather over here? Sunny?” “Off and on, September in Holland means the beginning of autumn, wind and rain, temperatures dropping, though sometimes the summer lasts through until the end of September.”
Once in his room, Neil takes the guitars out of their cases, puts a saxophone in the corner, and puts a rubber mask over his bed, next to a drawing. A typewriter and an unbound ‘book’ appear. It covers the adventures of the latest CSN&Y tour. Everybody contributed in writings and drawings. The book is called Forward and like everything else that has to do with the group, it’s owned by Neil.
Tuesday, September 24th, 1974
It's cloudy outside, with occasional showers. Indoors the atmosphere anticipates the sun. Neil, smelling of Badedas (a brand of soap) and brushing his teeth, says he's full of new ideas and that he’s looking for a studio to put them on tape. For starters, we’re going for a ride. The battery of the Wembley needs charging. As we drive along we keep a look out for house-boats. We drive past The Gein and The Amstel, but the rain is restricting our view. Every time someone (Neil, David, Sandy or Joel) spots a house-boat we pull over and climb on board to see how it looks on the inside. At Baambrugge (a village), we briefly inspect the BBC Studios where the Beach Boys recorded Holland. Neil thinks the biggest advantage of this studio is the fact that the cows stare one right in the face when looking out of the window.
Back at the hotel, Neil retires to his room to play the guitar. “I want to improve my solo playing. Lately, I’ve been wanting to play leadguitar again. My voice is getting stronger, I’m able to sing much higher than I used to. The bad thing is I’m developing a cold. I need some sunshine.”
During dinner Neil talks to Graham and Cally about what happened during the day. His cold seems to pre-occupy him, and that seems to depress him slightly. “Tonight’s The Night is the only project I never finished.” Nash protests; “You’re still working on it man. It’s only now that you’re ready to finish it.” Neil does not appear to be convinced. Later that night, he’s cheerful about his latest plans. “I’ve been working on one song after the other, lately. I’ve got 37 new songs and I’d love to play them. Do you think it’s possible? Is there a folk-club or something, where I could play incognito? I’m feeling great lately, thanks to CSN&Y. Everything went well this time. We’re finished now, but I have a feeling that we’ll be back together again in 18 months time. In the meantime, I want to put a band together to play my new songs. I always want to bring something new, like Tonight’s The Night. I want to make a fresh start with those 37 songs, like a new artist, with a new repertoire. I want to record here too. I’ve sent postcards back to America saying I’ll disappear for an unknown period of time.”
It does not bother Neil that he’s recognised and that people talk to him. As we walk back to the hotel, he even jumps for joy. “Funny I never played here, they even tell me things I’ve never heard before. I’m flabbergasted... God, I feel so clean, I never felt so clean in my life.”
Back at the hotel, Neil retires to his room to play the guitar. “I want to improve my solo playing. Lately, I’ve been wanting to play leadguitar again. My voice is getting stronger, I’m able to sing much higher than I used to. The bad thing is I’m developing a cold. I need some sunshine.”
During dinner Neil talks to Graham and Cally about what happened during the day. His cold seems to pre-occupy him, and that seems to depress him slightly. “Tonight’s The Night is the only project I never finished.” Nash protests; “You’re still working on it man. It’s only now that you’re ready to finish it.” Neil does not appear to be convinced. Later that night, he’s cheerful about his latest plans. “I’ve been working on one song after the other, lately. I’ve got 37 new songs and I’d love to play them. Do you think it’s possible? Is there a folk-club or something, where I could play incognito? I’m feeling great lately, thanks to CSN&Y. Everything went well this time. We’re finished now, but I have a feeling that we’ll be back together again in 18 months time. In the meantime, I want to put a band together to play my new songs. I always want to bring something new, like Tonight’s The Night. I want to make a fresh start with those 37 songs, like a new artist, with a new repertoire. I want to record here too. I’ve sent postcards back to America saying I’ll disappear for an unknown period of time.”
It does not bother Neil that he’s recognised and that people talk to him. As we walk back to the hotel, he even jumps for joy. “Funny I never played here, they even tell me things I’ve never heard before. I’m flabbergasted... God, I feel so clean, I never felt so clean in my life.”
Wednesday, September 25th, 1974
The activities today are mostly confined to indoors. Only once do we go out, in order to try once more to find a house-boat. The long ride to the docks, the walk on the pier and the cold visit to the boat are in vain. This is not what we’re looking for, neither for Neil, nor for the owner, who, the moment he saw us, remarked that his boat would not be suitable.
Back at the hotel Neil is again preoccupied with his cold. He wears his Arsenal football scarf and regularly orders a fresh pot of tea. Wearing white socks and sitting on the bed with his legs folded under him, he plays his latest song Frozen Man, in which the question “Who will ever know what’s inside this frozen man?” is the central theme. The lack of sunshine is now becoming a major problem.
Neil is afraid the Wembley will get too wet and asks David to find a hotel with a garage. All the hotels are booked up. The plan for a trek south is beginning to take shape. Neil suggests that they should find a route that ends in Japan. From Japan, the crossing to California can then be made by boat. Joel will buy maps. In the meantime, Neil plays songs like Star Of Bethlehem, New Mama, Deep Forbidden Lake and even Heart Of Gold. “I stole the idea for Heart Of Gold from Love Is Blue.” The beautiful Human Highway regularly passes in revue. Neil is toying with the idea of releasing an album by that name. A photograph for the cover already exists; a fading country road, with a white line in the middle, ending in a T junction. Where to go? Left or right - the old dilemma?
“That my name is on the line, how can people be so unkind, o-o-o-hh...”
Back at the hotel Neil is again preoccupied with his cold. He wears his Arsenal football scarf and regularly orders a fresh pot of tea. Wearing white socks and sitting on the bed with his legs folded under him, he plays his latest song Frozen Man, in which the question “Who will ever know what’s inside this frozen man?” is the central theme. The lack of sunshine is now becoming a major problem.
Neil is afraid the Wembley will get too wet and asks David to find a hotel with a garage. All the hotels are booked up. The plan for a trek south is beginning to take shape. Neil suggests that they should find a route that ends in Japan. From Japan, the crossing to California can then be made by boat. Joel will buy maps. In the meantime, Neil plays songs like Star Of Bethlehem, New Mama, Deep Forbidden Lake and even Heart Of Gold. “I stole the idea for Heart Of Gold from Love Is Blue.” The beautiful Human Highway regularly passes in revue. Neil is toying with the idea of releasing an album by that name. A photograph for the cover already exists; a fading country road, with a white line in the middle, ending in a T junction. Where to go? Left or right - the old dilemma?
“That my name is on the line, how can people be so unkind, o-o-o-hh...”
Thursday, September 26th, 1974
When I mention during breakfast that my girlfriend has run off through pure jealousy, it brings a response from Neil. It turns out that he has a specific reason to prolong his stay in Europe - an argument with Carrie. “It’s time Carrie came to me for a change. I’ll stay away until that happens. Those girls always get jealous when you’re working on something with great intensity. Susan, who was a lot older than me, was very jealous. One morning, I got up early to work on Southern Man in the studio, she threw breakfast against the door. When I opened the door to see what was going on, she threw the coffee at me. Carrie is more in control, but still, a lot of problems have to be overcome. The first few years are always happy, but then the problems come. Love/Art Blues is about this, especially the second line. That’s why I want to break away for a while. I’m really having big domestic problems, which until now, have popped up in about 20 songs. Hmmm, women...!” After breakfast, Neil wants to start up the Wembley in order to check it’s battery. The engine won’t start and the ANWB (Dutch motoring club) is called for help, but it’s all in vain, they are unable to render assistance.
An appointment for this morning had been made with Klokgieter Repair Shop, somewhere in the Jordaan district of the city. A new spring has to be mounted, pushing seems to be the only solution. When we arrive, 76 year old Klokgieter, an old hand at fixing cars, immediately crawls under the car. Straight away he knows what the problem is and boasts of his 51 years experience. He takes out a cigar box and shows various postcards he’s received from satisfied customers from all over the world. Full of pride, Klokgieter shows us a 1953 Citroen.
An appointment for this morning had been made with Klokgieter Repair Shop, somewhere in the Jordaan district of the city. A new spring has to be mounted, pushing seems to be the only solution. When we arrive, 76 year old Klokgieter, an old hand at fixing cars, immediately crawls under the car. Straight away he knows what the problem is and boasts of his 51 years experience. He takes out a cigar box and shows various postcards he’s received from satisfied customers from all over the world. Full of pride, Klokgieter shows us a 1953 Citroen.
After Neil, Sandy and David have rubbed the Wembley dry we drive out to the Waterloo-plein. Neil is freezing and wants to go back to the hotel. When we get there, he picks up a guitar and starts playing Deep Forbidden Lake. Later that same day the plans for the trek south are being discussed. Joel has put up a world map and a map of Europe and Asia on the wall of Neil’s room. Together, a route is planned. Japan turns out be impossible, because of visa problems, and according to Joel, Turkey no longer receives U.S aid. Neil prefers to drive through Luxembourg, the Swiss Alps and Italy to the Mediterranean coast. From there, along the Italian and Spanish coasts, he wants to drive to North Africa. “Do you think Casablanca is a nice city?”
During dinner Neil talks about his recent extraordinary creativity. “I’ve got too many new songs, 37, what am I supposed to do with them? Even if I put seven on each side, I’ve still got 23 left.” He starts to compile the first side of the album. “Frozen Man, Baby Mellow My Mind, Deep Forbidden Lake... The songs are related through their mutual atmosphere and the images I use. They all have to do with water.”
In the evening we go to see The Exorcist. Back at the hotel Neil tells Graham the film flopped badly. “That film reminded me of the medical treatment I had about 6 years ago. Because of my problems I had to undergo a range of tests and examinations. After suffering from polio when I was six and having to learn to walk again, I’ve suffered from dizziness. I’ve had every test; the two stabs in the jugular arteries, six spinal punctions, two encephalograms, the lot. When that girl in the film had a punction, I knew exactly when she was going to scream. That spoilt the rest of the film for me, which wasn’t scary at all from that point on.”
After Neil enters Joel’s room, where the rest of the party is gathered in expectation, at 2:30 that night, he plays an integral version of Deep Forbidden Lake. Graham remarks, “This may sound funny, but every song is always a typical Neil Young song.” Neil smiles.
Friday, September 27th, 1974
Neil enters Sandy’s room, Ranger David is there too. “I’ve had a quiet night, no nightmares. One of the maps came crashing down in the middle of the night. I tried to get it off me, but I didn’t know what it was at first. On top of it all, Sam Sleaze (the rubber mask) came down. I was scared stiff! I sat up for half an hour and then went back to sleep. I’m feeling much better today, the cold is almost gone. I think I might trim my sideburns.”
During breakfast at the Keyzer’s, Neil says he misses Zeke. “Wouldn’t it be nice if he and his mother came over?”
After breakfast we get Neil a black scarf. In a bookshop down the road he picks up two copies of Rock Dreams. After that we pay Mr Klokgieter a visit, to see how the Wembley is coming along. Mr Klokgieter tells us it will be ready by Monday. That’s OK by Neil, because that means that the car will be parked in a garage during the weekend, and will be kept dry.
Back at the hotel we discuss whether Ibiza is a suitable winter resort. Neil’s brother-in-law owns a big house there and “Maybe we can cut some songs there. We could rent a mobile studio and have Elliot Mazer flown in, maybe Don and Glen also, and even Carrie and Zeke. My voice is coming back. I’ve got the feeling that I’ve got to do it right now. That I should record everything I’ve got, and soon.” Graham completely agrees; “Sure man, you can’t waste it all. The songs are too good to waste. Maybe it won’t make any difference to you, but it would be a shame if the people don’t get to hear them.” “Right,” Neil nods, “These songs all have to do with water, so the best thing to do is to cut them near the sea.”
Graham Nash and I drive out to the Bijlmermeer district. En route Nash tells me that Frozen Man is about Neil’s relationship with Carrie, they’ve broken up. He also tells me that Only Love Can Break Your Heart was written for him. “I’d broken up with Joni and Neil came to me and said he’d written a song for me, because he knew exactly how I felt. Joni is one of those people who can’t make a good relationship last. When we were doing alright, she quit.”
Back at the hotel, Neil and Joel are playing some Beatles songs, Rain, If I Fell, Norwegian Wood and I Need You are sung beautifully. When Neil picks up another guitar and starts playing some chords, I can tell by the reactions of the others that a new idea is being born. Half an hour later Graham, Cally and I have to leave, to pay Carel and Mathilde Willink a visit.
When I get back at De Kring at 2:30 that night I bump into Neil, Sandy and David, all tipsy and having a great time with Sjef van Oekel and Barend Servet (both were Dutch T.V personalities, specialising in satire - these are their television names). Van Oekel, in terrible English, begs Neil to perform on his TV show. Frank de Jonge asks for an autograph (Frank de Jonge is a cabaretier).
During breakfast at the Keyzer’s, Neil says he misses Zeke. “Wouldn’t it be nice if he and his mother came over?”
After breakfast we get Neil a black scarf. In a bookshop down the road he picks up two copies of Rock Dreams. After that we pay Mr Klokgieter a visit, to see how the Wembley is coming along. Mr Klokgieter tells us it will be ready by Monday. That’s OK by Neil, because that means that the car will be parked in a garage during the weekend, and will be kept dry.
Back at the hotel we discuss whether Ibiza is a suitable winter resort. Neil’s brother-in-law owns a big house there and “Maybe we can cut some songs there. We could rent a mobile studio and have Elliot Mazer flown in, maybe Don and Glen also, and even Carrie and Zeke. My voice is coming back. I’ve got the feeling that I’ve got to do it right now. That I should record everything I’ve got, and soon.” Graham completely agrees; “Sure man, you can’t waste it all. The songs are too good to waste. Maybe it won’t make any difference to you, but it would be a shame if the people don’t get to hear them.” “Right,” Neil nods, “These songs all have to do with water, so the best thing to do is to cut them near the sea.”
Graham Nash and I drive out to the Bijlmermeer district. En route Nash tells me that Frozen Man is about Neil’s relationship with Carrie, they’ve broken up. He also tells me that Only Love Can Break Your Heart was written for him. “I’d broken up with Joni and Neil came to me and said he’d written a song for me, because he knew exactly how I felt. Joni is one of those people who can’t make a good relationship last. When we were doing alright, she quit.”
Back at the hotel, Neil and Joel are playing some Beatles songs, Rain, If I Fell, Norwegian Wood and I Need You are sung beautifully. When Neil picks up another guitar and starts playing some chords, I can tell by the reactions of the others that a new idea is being born. Half an hour later Graham, Cally and I have to leave, to pay Carel and Mathilde Willink a visit.
When I get back at De Kring at 2:30 that night I bump into Neil, Sandy and David, all tipsy and having a great time with Sjef van Oekel and Barend Servet (both were Dutch T.V personalities, specialising in satire - these are their television names). Van Oekel, in terrible English, begs Neil to perform on his TV show. Frank de Jonge asks for an autograph (Frank de Jonge is a cabaretier).
Saturday, September 28th, 1974
As I enter Neil’s room late in the afternoon I notice that Rock Dreams is opened at the Hank Williams page. It lies on the window sill. While Neil strums his guitar the plans for Ibiza are being discussed. Mazer has been called to work out the possibilities for setting up a mobile studio. Neil says, jokingly, that he’ll call everybody as soon as he’s found a country where the women are different. He agrees when I remark that everything would be the same when we would get there. Neil seems satisfied with the idea for a song he’s worked on the previous evening. “This new song is written in a style I haven’t used for a while - the attack.”
After dinner at De Keyzer’s he does some more work on the song. He uses his mouth harp, it opened new perspectives. For a change of atmosphere, Neil proposes to take a walk. Outside he thinks it’s too cold and he returns to the hotel. Back in his room he takes out the typewriter, and at 8:15 pm, he starts typing. Five minutes later, he picks up a guitar and sings the hastily typed lines. Then he puts down the guitar and types a row of x’s. The telephone rings, it’s Elliot Roberts. A lawyer will arrive on Monday to discuss some things with Neil. When the word “Monaco” is mentioned on the other side of the line, Neil thinks that’s a great idea. “I’ve got 14 new songs, they’re better than the old ones. I’m really into it, this old typewriter does not let me down. Listen, I’ve got a plan. I want you to come over, maybe Ibiza is the most suitable place. Once I get there and find a good place I want the musicians to fly in. Levon is alright. I know he’s working on his studio right now, but maybe we could do Lookout Joe with him. So if you come over, don’t tell anyone where you’re going. I don't want too many people around me. You should hear my new songs, man. They’re really something else.”
8:40 pm. Neil picks up a guitar and sings the lines he has been typing, “Who are you, where are you going to?”
8:50 pm, types, 9:00 pm thinks, and then types some more. He then reads what he has just committed to paper and stamps his foot on the floor. 9:10, he tries to sing the lines. 9:15, stops, “I’m going to use a mouth harp.” Sandy, “It sounds OK from the bathroom.” 9:25, Neil orders tea, toast and ham. Two minutes later he looks for the harp... “Aahh, got my old funky one.” Sandy reads the lyrics; “Are you a friend, are you an enemy.” “You going out tonight Neil?” “Yeah.”
9:32 pm, the first version, with harp solo. Sandy says, “Call it Vendetta.”
9:37 pm, Neil says it’s called Vacancy. Sandy said “That’s the same thing as Vendetta.” Everybody laughs. Neil then sings Vacancy while Joel tries back-up vocals. Neil smiles; “Nice, good rhythm. When the whole band gets together there’s a lot of mayhem. I’m really into this stuff tonight. I could play a solo at the end - we could play it with The Who!”
When Neil and Joel try to work out an arrangement, Joel asks “Are you angry with someone Neil?” “Oh, I’ve got my frustrations, but up until now I’ve been able to let them out through my music.”
After dinner at De Keyzer’s he does some more work on the song. He uses his mouth harp, it opened new perspectives. For a change of atmosphere, Neil proposes to take a walk. Outside he thinks it’s too cold and he returns to the hotel. Back in his room he takes out the typewriter, and at 8:15 pm, he starts typing. Five minutes later, he picks up a guitar and sings the hastily typed lines. Then he puts down the guitar and types a row of x’s. The telephone rings, it’s Elliot Roberts. A lawyer will arrive on Monday to discuss some things with Neil. When the word “Monaco” is mentioned on the other side of the line, Neil thinks that’s a great idea. “I’ve got 14 new songs, they’re better than the old ones. I’m really into it, this old typewriter does not let me down. Listen, I’ve got a plan. I want you to come over, maybe Ibiza is the most suitable place. Once I get there and find a good place I want the musicians to fly in. Levon is alright. I know he’s working on his studio right now, but maybe we could do Lookout Joe with him. So if you come over, don’t tell anyone where you’re going. I don't want too many people around me. You should hear my new songs, man. They’re really something else.”
8:40 pm. Neil picks up a guitar and sings the lines he has been typing, “Who are you, where are you going to?”
8:50 pm, types, 9:00 pm thinks, and then types some more. He then reads what he has just committed to paper and stamps his foot on the floor. 9:10, he tries to sing the lines. 9:15, stops, “I’m going to use a mouth harp.” Sandy, “It sounds OK from the bathroom.” 9:25, Neil orders tea, toast and ham. Two minutes later he looks for the harp... “Aahh, got my old funky one.” Sandy reads the lyrics; “Are you a friend, are you an enemy.” “You going out tonight Neil?” “Yeah.”
9:32 pm, the first version, with harp solo. Sandy says, “Call it Vendetta.”
9:37 pm, Neil says it’s called Vacancy. Sandy said “That’s the same thing as Vendetta.” Everybody laughs. Neil then sings Vacancy while Joel tries back-up vocals. Neil smiles; “Nice, good rhythm. When the whole band gets together there’s a lot of mayhem. I’m really into this stuff tonight. I could play a solo at the end - we could play it with The Who!”
When Neil and Joel try to work out an arrangement, Joel asks “Are you angry with someone Neil?” “Oh, I’ve got my frustrations, but up until now I’ve been able to let them out through my music.”
Sunday, September 29th, 1974
Neil enters Graham’s room and says he’s spent an hour talking to Carrie on the phone. “How was she?” “Fine, yes she’s fine. She’s with friends in Santa Barbara. She was thinking about returning to the ranch. Straighten things out.” “Do you think she’ll be coming over?” “Maybe, at first she’ll think ‘going to a different place again’ but when she thinks about the Mediterranean Sea and what goes on down there, she might come to like the idea.”
Lesley’s gotten hold of Mazer and found out that after November 1st it rains on Ibiza, besides that, there’s no electricity. So Ibiza is out. With Graham and Cally I visit the Vinkenoog’s. Karel Appel is there too. After his visit to Willink, Nash is not at all impressed.
Lesley’s gotten hold of Mazer and found out that after November 1st it rains on Ibiza, besides that, there’s no electricity. So Ibiza is out. With Graham and Cally I visit the Vinkenoog’s. Karel Appel is there too. After his visit to Willink, Nash is not at all impressed.
Monday, September 30th, 1974
When I arrive, late in the afternoon, I hear that Neil and Sandy have bought up half of the antique shops in the Runstraat. Neil especially likes crystal and kerosene lamps, but he is more than pleased with an old Belgian stove. “Usually I don’t like shopping, but this time it was fun. Maybe I’ll do some more shopping in Barcelona, and maybe I’ll lay my hands on an old Bechstein.”
In the evening Neil went out, he went to the cinema to see Thunderball, he also went to the Melkweg, but a girl recognised him there and started to make trouble, so he had to leave.
In the evening Neil went out, he went to the cinema to see Thunderball, he also went to the Melkweg, but a girl recognised him there and started to make trouble, so he had to leave.
Tuesday, October 1st, 1974
The Wembley is ready and we can take it with us after paying Hfl 500. Although the battery is charged, the car won’t start. Neil thinks the starting motor has broken down. We start pushing the car and on the Rozengracht it finally starts up!
Back at the hotel we call the Rolls Royce Club, and order a new starting motor. That afternoon the carbon brushes need replacing. The man from the R.R Club replaces them in the pouring rain. All the obstacles for a journey to the sunny south have now been removed.
Lee, the lawyer, informs Neil that he’s lost about $90, 000, but it doesn’t seem to bother him; “The Rolls back in working order is of more importance!”
Back at the hotel we call the Rolls Royce Club, and order a new starting motor. That afternoon the carbon brushes need replacing. The man from the R.R Club replaces them in the pouring rain. All the obstacles for a journey to the sunny south have now been removed.
Lee, the lawyer, informs Neil that he’s lost about $90, 000, but it doesn’t seem to bother him; “The Rolls back in working order is of more importance!”
That night we go out to see the Pointer Sisters in concert. Neil likes the Sisters but he doesn’t like the backing band. “The pianist played very sloppily. They’d better find some Harlem musicians, people who show their teeth and not a bored face when they look up. Thelonious Monk on piano, Roland Kirk on wind-instruments, Jimmy Garrison on bass, but, well, that’s not very realistic.”
Afterwards, back in the bar of the hotel, Neil tells me how he likes to rip-off Stephen’s riffs. “I take out one note, which he expects. Vacancy is the riff I played on Black Queen, which Stephen himself taught me.” Everybody wants a snack, but the waiter informs us that the kitchen is closed. Ranger David, a candle in his hand, inspects the shutter, and finds out it can be opened from the kitchen side, and suggests somebody should crawl through it. The waiter doesn’t mind, as long as there’s no cooking or frying. He thinks ingredients for the sandwiches shouldn’t be too difficult to find. Neil gets up, and with loud encouragement, climbs through the shutter, Lesley follows him. Fifteen minutes later the sandwiches arrive. The music too, is appropriate; a tape Neil made of Roland Kirk in London, followed by one Nash made of Terry Reid, whom he’s producing. Suddenly Neil enters the bar through the door. The waiter has found the key to the kitchen in the managers desk.
Wednesday, October 2nd, 1974
In the car, on the way to the antique shops to arrange the shipping, Neil talks about his domestic problems. “I’ll go back as soon as she wants to see me. Until that happens I’ll stay here. We haven’t been seeing each other for a long time now. For months we’ve been having rows and arguments, and this time I’m not giving in. I’m not returning to the ranch unless she comes with me and dumps her shallow friends. All those girls, trying to be just like her, copying her...”
“Are you still planning on recording in the south of Europe?” “I don’t think so. I think I’ll just relax and record at home. I have a better control over the musicians I want to use, and I can always change my mind... This power struggle to get as much attention as possible... They expect you to give all your attention to them.... This power struggle is terrible.”
At 3 o’clock that afternoon the party, not including Graham and Cally who are flying home, leaves for the sun in the south. Honking it’s claxon, the Wembley disappears around the corner. The autumn sun breaks through the clouds.
Neil never got past Brussels. From there he flew back to America.
“Are you still planning on recording in the south of Europe?” “I don’t think so. I think I’ll just relax and record at home. I have a better control over the musicians I want to use, and I can always change my mind... This power struggle to get as much attention as possible... They expect you to give all your attention to them.... This power struggle is terrible.”
At 3 o’clock that afternoon the party, not including Graham and Cally who are flying home, leaves for the sun in the south. Honking it’s claxon, the Wembley disappears around the corner. The autumn sun breaks through the clouds.
Neil never got past Brussels. From there he flew back to America.
© Constant Meijers, 1974