Neil Young fans await glimpse of rocker at Junos

Canadian Press
March 31, 2005 3:41 PM ET

WINNIPEG — Rock legend Neil Young said the only way he'd ever play the Junos again was if the awards show was held in the Prairie city he once called home.

This Sunday, he's expected to make good on that pledge, a prospect that has sent autograph-seeking admirers and paparazzi into a frenzy.

"My wish, wish, wish is to get a shot of Neil,'' said Hina Ansari, photo editor for Flare, who's hired celebrity photographer George Pimintel to snap the awards show.

But fans shouldn't expect him to bump into him on Portage and Main, casually dining at a restaurant or taking part in Juno revelry, warns his longtime friend and fellow Winnipeg native Randy Bachman.

"I don't think anyone's going to see him walking around,'' said the Guess Who singer, who helped co-ordinate Young's Juno participation. "He really has to keep to himself.''

But that won't stop fans like Bill Laing, a 52-year-old Grade 8 teacher, from trying.

"I'm a huge fan to the point of what my wife considers obsessive,'' said Laing, who lives in Gimli, Man., and is a contributor to the fan website Thrasher's Wheat, www.thrasherswheat.org.

He's keeping an ear to the ground in the hopes Young, who's career has spanned 40 years, might make a surprise stop at one of the local bars on Saturday night, but isn't holding his breath.

"If you know Neil's background you know he's evasive and elusive,'' said Laing, who purchased tickets to the Junos to ensure he'd get to see his idol in the flesh.

The singing legend makes it a point to avoid awards shows and commercially minded music gatherings.

After attending the Junos in 1982, where he was inducted into Canada's Music Hall of Fame, Young said he wasn't "really big on awards shows'' and would only attend the event again if it was held in Winnipeg.

That makes his appearance this weekend even more intriguing.

Everyone wants a piece of the one-time Buffalo Springfield member, admits his publicist Steve Waxman of Warner Music.

Young has turned down all requests for interviews leading up to the show, and details of his itinerary are being kept under lock and key.

"We don't want people to be chasing him around,'' said Waxman.

Two years ago, paparazzi had a field day chasing Twain in Ottawa, and Morissette was met with a posse of snappers outside her hotel in Edmonton on a daily basis.

Young's performance on Sunday will mark his first in the city since 1996, says Laing.

Born in Toronto, Young lived here for five years in the 1960s. It's considered to be his formative music years because he started writing music and playing in bands like the Squires.

It's not just locals hoping to bump into the Crazy Horse icon.

"Oh. My. God. It still can't believe that he's going to be in the same building,'' gushed singer-songwriter Sarah Slean, up for a best alternative album Juno. "That's going to be a huge highlight.''

Juno host Brent Butt is equally eager to get close to Young.

"You don't often get to rub elbows or hobnob with a legend,'' he said. "It would just be awesome to say `I was hobnobbing with Neil Young.'''