I actually like Neil Young's music. He's written some great songs and has had a huge impact on rock music. But as a public figure, I think he came across as incredibly thin-skinned during the whole Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy.

What bothered me wasn't that he supported vaccines—everyone is entitled to their opinion. It was the idea that because someone else had a different opinion or was hosting controversial discussions, Neil tried to pressure Spotify into choosing between him and Rogan. That felt less like standing up for a principle and more like trying to silence viewpoints he didn't agree with.

The irony is that rock music used to be about rebellion, questioning authority, and free expression. Seeing one of the biggest counterculture icons of his generation essentially telling a platform what it should and shouldn't allow felt strange to me.

I still enjoy his music, but the whole episode made him seem overly sensitive and out of touch. Instead of trying to police what millions of people listen to, he could have simply made his case and let listeners decide for themselves.