Posts Tagged ‘Sharry’
Written by Shar on 03 January 2015
Our Zuman and Rustie sister Sharry Wilson has been getting a lot of publicity as her new book “Young Neil, the Sugar Mountain Years,” makes the rounds.
In the latest interview by Winnipeg Free Press, book reviewer Cheryl Girard writes:
“In Young Neil, first-time author Sharry Wilson attempts to have us do just that, taking us back to Neil Young’s early years, his childhood in and around Toronto and his teen years in Winnipeg.
The subtitle The Sugar Mountain Years is taken from one of Young’s songs written, Wilson tells us, on his 19th birthday. He had left home and was looking nostalgically back at his childhood.
A lifelong fan and a professional proofreader, Wilson, who lives just north of Toronto, interviewed many of Young’s old school chums and fellow band members from Ontario and Winnipeg. She offers many previously unseen photos and includes material gathered from letters, documents, biographies and other memorabilia.”
Read the whole review at: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/youngs-early-years-detailed-to-a-fault-287401111.html
Rolling Stone wrote: “A supremely compelling chronicle of Young’s first 20 years. Wilson, who painstakingly tracked down childhood friends and early band mates, recounts Young’s often difficult upbringing — from his parents’ divorce to the challenges he faced changing schools as he moved from town to town with his mother – as he relentlessly pursues his musical dreams and develops his songwriting voice.”
She was also interviewed by Thornhill Liberal reporter Simone Joseph a few weeks ago. Her article about “Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years” appeared in the New Year’s Day edition of the Thornhill Liberal.
Check it out here: http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5238057-thornhill-fan-authors-new-book-on-neil-young/
For the whole scoop, check Wilson’s website for the book: http://www.youngneil.com/
Ah Sharry, we can say we knew you when…….The Baron brought you on board. 😉
Tags: rolling stone, Sharry, Sharry Wilson, the Sugar Mountain Years, Winnipeg, Winnipeg Free Press, Your Neil
Posted in Book Info, News / Article | Comments Off on Young Neil – The Sugar Mountain Years
Written by bnbrainer on 12 February 2013
Exclusive interview with Sharry Wilson on her new book “Young Neil” expected to be out sometime in 2014.
http://www.human-highway.org/2013young-neil
Tags: Sharry
Posted in Book Info, Interviews, News / Article | Comments Off on Exclusive interview with Sharry Wilson on HH
Written by bnbrainer on 22 November 2012
Nov-19 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre w/Los Lobos
Great interview, from long-time Zuman legend, Neil historian and writer Sharry :
via Human-Highway.org.
“Neil was quite chatty with the audience. The first thing he said was “Thanks for coming, folks. Good to see you.” During the introduction to “Born In Ontario,” Neil said, “Home Sweet Home,” and then added, “Watch out for falling glass.” ”
Read the nice review with photos on Human-Highway.org.
Tags: review, Sharry, Toronto
Posted in Concert Reviews, News / Article | Comments Off on Toronto Show review from Sharry
Written by bnbrainer on 15 September 2011
Sharry writes:
I found myself in the middle of Neil childhood heaven while attending the premiere screening of “Neil Young Journeys.” That was definitely the theme of the evening. I felt very attached to everything that was going on. It was all so intimately familiar to me.
The concert footage which was excellent and compelling in its own right, was interspersed with footage from a road trip Neil took with his brother Bob and director Jonathan Demme. While visiting various sites in Omemee and Brock Road (Pickering), Neil reminisces about his childhood. His brother drove the lead car (an old Cadillac) and Neil and Demme followed. I’ve made numerous trips to Omemee over the past 5 years and was given a guided tour of Brock Road this past January. I’m familiar with all of the places and people that Neil mentioned. (Although I didn’t know about Bob guarding Neil’s chicken coop with a rifle after the famous chicken massacre of 1956. I took some notes.)
It was very cool to see Neil driving along Highway 401 West in his classic old car heading into Toronto with Massey Hall as the destination. He meant to take the Yonge Street exit but he got mixed up and took Bayview Avenue instead. Another driver honks at Neil as he maneuvers to quickly join the exit lane. (He also drove alongside a huge transport truck and it was really noisy.) I know that stretch of the highway where he took the wrong exit and it is really confusing at times.
As they approach Massey Hall Neil remarks, “It certainly doesn’t look like it did before. But I can smell it.” (In reference to Massey Hall). The camera then pans over the entire building from top to bottom where the triple red entry doors stand proudly.
When Neil was on-stage he made numerous comments about his childhood. He said that he was “reading a lot about his childhood lately.” He also mentioned that he attended many different schools and that during one particular year he had attended three different ones. (Neil was well acquainted with being the new kid in the class.)
Continuing with the “I Am A Child” theme, one of Neil’s ex-classmates from Grade 4 at an elementary school in Toronto was selected to speak during the Q&A session. Mary Ellen B. introduced herself and Neil’s face immediately lit up. He recognized her name right away. He said that Mary Ellen was his “first girlfriend.” I had interviewed Mary Ellen for “A Shakey Education” and she had called me earlier in the day to let me know that she planned to attend. (We were able to meet face to face — for the first time! — after the screening.)
Neil relayed an amusing story about winning a prize at a game at a community fair. He thought he had won a beautiful piece of jewellery. He had a bit of a crush on Mary Ellen so he decided to present her with a token of his affection. He went to her house but she wasn’t there. He gave the gift to Mary Ellen’s mother with instructions to give it to Mary Ellen. It turned out that the “golden necklace” was really a fancy dog collar choker chain. It was crafted in a chain-link fashion with little golden medallians hanging from it. Mary Ellen didn’t have the heart to tell Neil that his lovely gift ended up on the neck of their pet boxer.
Another classic Neil childhood heaven moment was when a large manila envelope was relayed to Neil from the audience. Neil’s old childhood pal from Omemee, Garfield “Goof” Whitney, wasn’t able to attend the screening but he sent along a memento to give to Neil. When Neil received it he jokingly remarked , “Oh, what does Goof want me to do now.”
During the road trip to Omemee Neil points out where his old friend Goof lives. (I had the opportunity to interview Goof this past April.) He reminisces about how his older friend would delight in taking advantage of his youthful naivete and general gullible nature. Goof told Neil that it was a good idea to eat tar from the road because after you chewed it for a while it would begin to taste like chocolate. Neil believed Goof and tested this out. Neil jokingly remarked that this was the beginning of his close relationship with cars.
Another member of the audience who spoke with Neil during the Q&A session had a photo with him that was taken at Kelvin High School’s 75th Anniversary Reunion in June 1987. Neil attended the event and was in the photo with some others. The reunion was held in conjunction with the Shakin’ All Over 1960s Winnipeg Bands Reunion. The audience member asked Neil if he was aware that Kelvin was celebrating its 100th anniversary next May and if so, did he plan to attend. Neil responded affirmatively.
Sharry (Up in T.O. keepin’ jive alive)
p.s. I’ll add some other highlights from the screening in the next day or two. There’s so much to report. I can’t do it all in one shot.
Tags: Jonathan Demme, Journeys, Sharry
Posted in Concert Reviews, Movie Info, Neil-unsorted-MISC-trivia, News / Article | 4 Comments »
Written by bnbrainer on 09 September 2011
We all wish that Sharry, who has tix for the show, will take notes on pen and papers, in particular the Neil/Demme conversation, but also the movie in itself.
TIFF: Jonathan Demme Talks Neil Young and Katrina Docs, Exclusive Clip — Thompson on Hollywood
New York filmmaker Jonathan Demme is heading for the Toronto Fest with the latest film in his Neil Young concert trilogy, Neil Young Journeys [formerly known as “Neil Young Life”], which follows 2006’s Heart of Gold and Neil Young Trunk Show in 2009.
…
And Demme’s love of Neil Young goes back to the start of his music-making in the late 60s. Young wrote the end-title song for Philadelphia; Demme met the musician soon after, who told him he’d love him to shoot a music video someday. “Then I saw Greendale,” says Demme, and contacted Young, who called him again six months later. He wanted to turn Greendale into a film, but Demme was already in pre-production on The Manchurian Candidate.
Later Young called Demme and told him he was finishing his album “Prairie Wind,” which became the basis of their moving Nashville concert movie Heart of Gold. “That show was never performed anywhere else, only the two nights,” says Demme. “The whole thing was hand-crafted. It was just magic.” The costumes and backdrops in the show were custom-made.
Demme also shot four shows of the 40-city Chrome Dreams world tour for Trunk Show. Warners has yet to release the DVD. “It’s frustrating,” Demme says.
…more on:
blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/09/07/jonathan_demme_talks_neil_young_festivals/
this in advance of their onstage meeting @ TIFF this weekend.
The Neil Journeys
tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/neilyoungjourneys
This past May, Neil Young brought his solo tour to Toronto’s Massey Hall, an iconic venue in the city of his birth. Jonathan Demme was on hand to capture the two nights, which highlighted new songs from the album Le Noise, produced by Daniel Lanois, mixed with classics like “Ohio” and “I Believe in You.” At sixty-five, Young retains a youthful vitality and musical curiosity that balances his wisdom and experience.
It’s no wonder he’s been an inspiration to the likes of Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth. In Neil Young Journeys, Demme intersperses the Massey Hall concert footage with brief scenes from a road trip through Ontario.
Driving a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria, Young visits the rural town of Omemee, where he spent a key part of his formative years, and reminisces about his former neighbours and their daughters. As he drives past bulldozers transforming the landscape, he remarks, “It’s all gone… it’s still in my head.”
…
Also Pearl Jam @ TIFF:
tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/pearljamtwenty
Tags: Jonathan Demme, Pearl Jam, Sharry, TIFF, Trunk show
Posted in Movie Info, News / Article | Comments Off on TIFF festival – Neil movie by Demme
memphish on 
Albert Stromann on 
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