Neil Young’s career has always been defined by a relentless pursuit of authenticity. Although his iconic solo work cemented his legendary status, his contributions to influential bands like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young stand as some of his most cherished moments. In these bands, Young not only pushed their songwriting to new heights but developed a unique, conversational guitar style alongside Stephen Stills, a key collaborator in both groups.
Yet, Young’s time in both bands was short-lived. His unwavering commitment to artistic integrity often clashed with the direction of the groups. He was unwilling to compromise his creative vision for anything, even fame or fortune. His dedication to maintaining authenticity was so fierce that in 1994, he turned down a reported $1 million to headline Woodstock, citing the festival’s corporate motives as a turn-off.
Given his independent nature, Young would have been cautious about joining any new group. For him, any project had to prioritize artistic integrity above all else, with commercial pressures set aside—or eliminated entirely. This was a crucial factor in his decision-making throughout his career.
In 1979, The Rolling Stones were at the height of their success. Albums like Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, and Some Girls had propelled them into global stardom. But this booming success, while thrilling, could have been a compromising environment for someone like Young—an artist who always sought to stay true to his creative roots.
It was during this period that Young almost joined The Stones, forming what could have been one of music’s most powerful supergroups. Mick Jagger later recalled, in an interview with Trouser Press, that Young was “really involved” in the process. He had come down to Los Angeles to meet with Keith Richards, but their schedules never aligned. Jagger explained that while Young was in L.A., Richards was unreachable, and by the time Richards arrived, Young had already headed to Acapulco for a break from editing his film.
Jagger also shared how persistent Young had been about joining the band. He even offered to tour with The Stones “for nothing” if Woody (Woodward) would join them. “I’ll do it for nothing, I just want to tour with him and Keith,” Young had said. It was a compelling offer, and had it come to fruition, the tour could have reshaped both Young’s and The Stones’ careers.
Sadly, the supergroup never materialized. However, Jagger revealed that he and Young did form a friendship, spending time together in Malibu where Young would often show up with his guitar on the doorstep. Young had always admired The Rolling Stones, particularly the collaboration between Brian Jones and Keith Richards, which he described as “exuberant” despite Jones’s brash style.
There’s a special kind of chemistry between two guitarists in great rock bands—a dynamic that transcends simple technical skill and taps into something deeply human. Young and Stills shared this kind of relationship, where their contrasting styles fused into something uniquely powerful. The same potential magic could have occurred between Young, Richards, and Wood, but we’ll never know for sure. The Rolling Stones and Neil Young may have created a new sonic force together, altering the landscape of rock ‘n’ roll, or perhaps their partnership would have clashed too dramatically, leaving only the legend of what could have been.
