Nardwuar Has "Almost Given Up" on Interviewing Neil Young, but Here's the First Thing He'd Ask

The Human Serviette cited the songwriter alongside Barack Obama, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and Playboi Carti on his list of dream interviews

Photo: Neil Young by Takahiro Kyono (right)

BY Megan LaPierrePublished Sep 25, 2024

Once the entire Exclaim! staff go as Nardwuar for Halloween together, it's over for you bitches. (This is something we've given some serious consideration.) While the public continues to beg for the Human Serviette to make an appearance on one of our foremost chicken shows, the legendary journalist took the time out of his in-depth research to speak with Vulture about his ongoing will-they, won't-they with Neil Young.

Ahead of hosting his Nardwuar's Video Vault Live event in New York City tomorrow (September 26), the interviewer became the interviewee — and, naturally, was asked about who is on his list of dream interviews.

"Well, it probably would have been Tina Turner. Rest in peace," Nard said. "I still would love to talk to Barack Obama because there's all these great connections to Chicago and music. I'd love to talk to Paul McCartney and Neil Young. From the newer generation, I'd love to talk to Playboi Carti. Carti's right up there with all of them. So Barack Obama, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Tina Turner and Playboi Carti."

When the publication's Emma Madden asked what his first question for Young would be, Nardwuar knew immediately: "Where's Bev's sleeping bag?"

"My photographer friend Bev Davies was invited to accompany Neil on his famous journey in the hearse to California," he explained, referring to the musician's beloved Pontiac, "Mort," who carried him on the expedition from Toronto to Los Angeles in 1966. "So she put her sleeping bag in the hearse. And then Neil said, 'Hey, Bev, you're not going.' And he drove off with Bev's sleeping bag."

The Nard recalled, "In 1999, I got a tip that Neil was eating dinner with his manager in Vancouver. So I phoned up Bev, and she rushed down and we asked for an interview. It didn't happen. But we did get a photo."

"Bev was right there, but I didn't ask the question about the sleeping bag because I thought I'd get another chance," he admitted. "I've tried over and over to get him, but now I've almost given up."

Young needs to finally take the opportunity to give the world his "doot-doo," although it probably still wouldn't manage to be more memorable than Logic's Silly String.

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