# In 1988, Neil Young wrote a song about hating commercials. Glenn Frey wanted him to shut up

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1988-neil-young-wrote-a-song-about-hating-commercials-glenn-frey-wanted-him-to-shut-up/
- Published: 2026-10-25T18:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T19:24:07+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1988-neil-young-wrote-a-song-about-hating-commercials-glenn-frey-wanted-him-to-shut-up/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Young mocked commercial deals in rock.
- Frey defended his Pepsi advert and criticised Young’s records.
- Their exchange reflected a wider debate about artistic integrity.

## Summary

Neil Young’s song ‘This Note’s For You’ mocked the growing commercialisation of rock, taking aim at musicians who lent their names to adverts. Glenn Frey, who had made a Pepsi commercial, retorted that Young had no right to present himself as rock’s moral authority.

Frey defended his choice by comparing the million dollars he said he received from Pepsi with Young’s 17 albums that he dismissed as sounding like demos. He also argued Young had not made a decent record since ‘Harvest’. The article contrasts Frey’s lasting association with Eagles hits and corporate rock with Young’s renewed influence among a younger generation.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.