Neil Young Talks About Losing A Bandmate To Bruce Springsteen
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Now 79, Neil Young is preparing for another run of live shows in 2025—but this time, something’s different. In a candid discussion during an interview with producer Rick Rubin in 2022, Young shared that one of his longtime bandmates, Nils Lofgren, won’t be joining him on the road. The reason? A renewed tour commitment with Bruce Springsteen.
Young’s music has always relied on the chemistry and versatility of his band, with each member playing a crucial role. So when Rubin brought up the complexities of performing his instrument-rich catalog live, Young chuckled and admitted it still surprises him how they pull it off. But with Lofgren now committed to Springsteen’s E Street Band, Young is entering this tour with a gap in the lineup.
Rather than dwelling on the change, Young reflected on it with grace. His comments weren’t filled with disappointment but curiosity—curiosity about how the sound would evolve, and how the performances would adapt without Lofgren’s contributions.
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The Sound Without a Staple
Neil Young has always had a knack for making even the most complex arrangements work on stage. Still, the absence of someone like Lofgren—who can move seamlessly between instruments—changes the dynamic. When asked about this, Young admitted, with a familiar twinkle in his eye, that he, too, wonders how it will all come together.
Lofgren has long been more than just a session player. His ability to switch from guitar to piano to whatever the song calls for makes him a vital part of the live experience. Losing that kind of adaptability isn’t easy—but Young seemed to see it more as an interesting twist than a setback.
That openness to change has defined much of Young’s career. While many artists his age are dialing back, he’s still experimenting, adjusting, and embracing the unknown. Even without one of his most trusted collaborators, Young appears ready to charge forward.
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Loyalty to the E Street Band
Young spoke warmly about Lofgren’s decision, making it clear there was no hard feeling. As he explained to Rubin, Lofgren was simply committed to Springsteen’s major 2025 tour. “You can’t be in two places at once,” he joked, before expressing genuine empathy for his friend’s tough decision.
According to Young, Lofgren would have loved to be part of both projects if it were possible. “We were all really into this,” Young said. “But Bruce has been there for him for decades, and that kind of history matters.” The way he told it, Lofgren wasn’t walking away—he was honoring another long-standing commitment.
This kind of mutual respect doesn’t always make headlines in the music world, but it says a lot about both men. Young’s acceptance wasn’t just professional—it was personal. He knows what it means to belong to something bigger than one tour or one album.
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A Musical Bond That Started It All
What many fans might not realize is that Neil Young and Nils Lofgren go back far before Springsteen ever entered the picture. Young reminded Rubin—and viewers—that Lofgren played on his 1970 classic After the Gold Rush. At just 17, he was thrown into the deep end, asked to play piano on tracks that would become rock staples.
The twist? Lofgren wasn’t even a pianist at the time. “He played accordion,” Young recalled, laughing. “I just didn’t want him to sound like he knew what he was doing.” That off-the-cuff decision speaks volumes about Young’s intuitive approach to music—rawness and emotion over technical polish.
Even in 2025, those early memories still resonate with Young. While Lofgren may be physically on stage with Springsteen, it’s clear he’ll always be part of Neil Young’s musical DNA. That kind of history doesn’t fade—it just plays in a different key for a while.
