My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) (Live 1979)

The song "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, featured on the 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps, carries a raw energy that captures the rebellious spirit of rock. Recorded live at The Boarding House in San Francisco in May 1978, this acoustic track was inspired by the punk rock movement and Young’s collaboration with the art-punk band Devo. During the filming of Young’s movie Human Highway, Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh contributed the phrase "rust never sleeps," a slogan from a Rust-Oleum ad he recalled from his graphic arts days. Young loved it so much that it became the album’s title and a lyric in the song’s electric counterpart, "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)." The iconic line “It’s better to burn out than to fade away,” borrowed from Jeff Blackburn of Young’s side project The Ducks, gained tragic fame when Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain quoted it in his 1994 suicide note, prompting Young to dedicate his album Sleeps with Angels to Cobain. In a 2005 interview with Time, Young reflected on the lyric’s impact, saying Cobain’s interpretation was about artistic survival, not self-destruction, and shared his regret over not reaching out to Cobain about the pressures of fame.

Another layer of trivia comes from Young’s response to criticism of the song’s message. In a 1980 Playboy interview, John Lennon called the “burn out” sentiment “garbage,” arguing it glorified figures like Sid Vicious and that survival, like that of Gloria Swanson, was more admirable. Two years later, Young countered in an interview, explaining that rock and roll embodies a “right now” spirit, not long-term decay, though he acknowledged the maturity of Lennon’s perspective. The song’s influence stretched further, inspiring the Australian band Powderfinger to name themselves after another Rust Never Sleeps track and earning a nod from punk icon Johnny Rotten, who played Young’s “Revolution Blues” on a London radio show. Social media posts on X from 2024 highlight the song’s enduring legacy, noting its recording 46 years ago and its place as a cornerstone of Young’s career resurgence.

Neil Young began his musical journey in Winnipeg, Canada, where he was born on November 12, 1945. As a teenager, he played in local bands like The Squires, honing his guitar skills and songwriting. In the mid-1960s, he moved to Toronto and co-founded Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, gaining fame with songs like “For What It’s Worth.” After the band’s breakup in 1968, Young launched a solo career, releasing his debut album Neil Young in 1969. His work with Crazy Horse, starting with 1969’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, defined his raw, distorted guitar sound, earning him the nickname “Godfather of Grunge.” Young’s deeply personal lyrics, high tenor voice, and genre-blending style—spanning folk, rock, and country—built a career that led to multiple Grammy and Juno Awards and inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1995 and with Buffalo Springfield in 1997.

Fans can connect with Neil Young through his official website, Neil Young Archives, which offers a deep dive into his discography and unreleased material. His social media presence includes Facebook, Instagram, and X, where updates on tours and releases are shared. For fan communities, the r/neilyoung subreddit is a vibrant hub with over 22,000 members discussing Young’s work, including Rust Never Sleeps. Additionally, fan sites like Thrasher’s Wheat provide news, reviews, and tour information, fostering a dedicated space for “Zoo Freaks” and others to celebrate Young’s legacy.