Stephen Stills co-hosted the seventh edition of the Light Up the Blues benefit concert for the Autism Speaks charity, which took place Saturday, April 26, at the famed Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. As reported by RollingStone.com, the star-packed event featured many highlights, including a set by Neil Young and his current backing group, The Chrome Hearts.
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Young and Stills have a long, shared history together, having played together in the Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the short-lived 1970s group The Stills-Young Band. At the benefit show, the two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers teamed up again to play multiple songs together.
Stills joined Young and The Chrome Hearts at the end of their set to play the 1978 Neil gem “Human Highway” and Young’s popular politically charged 1989 tune “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Before kicking into the latter tune, Young got the crowd to chant with him, “Take America back!”
The Chrome Hearts also served as Stills’ backing band. At the end of Stephen’s set, Neil returned to the stage for a version of the classic Stills-penned Buffalo Springfield protest tune “For What It’s Worth.”
Fan-shot footage of various performances from the concert have been posted on YouTube.
More About Young’s Light Up the Blues Set
Young’s set kicked off with the debut live performance of a new song called “Let’s Roll Again.” The tune featured pointed lyrics that appear to criticize the administration of President Donald Trump. “Let’s Roll Again” is believed to be among the songs that will appear on Talkin’ to the Trees, the upcoming album Neil recorded with The Chrome Hearts.
Young followed the new tune with a couple of rarities before Stills hit the stage. The first was “Big Box,” a song from Neil’s 2015 album The Monsanto Years, which he recorded with the band Promise of the Real. The Chrome Hearts’ lineup includes three members of Promise of the Real.
Young and company also performed “Ordinary People,” a song he last played in concert in 1989. The studio version of “Ordinary People” wasn’t released until Neil’s 2007 album Chrome Dreams II.
More About Stills’ Set
Stills set began with a version of “Colorado,” a song by Stephen’s short-lived early-1970s band Manassas. Nathaniel Rateliff, who also was part of the Light Up the Blues show’s lineup, shared lead vocals with Stills.
Next up was a rendition of the 1967 Buffalo Springfield song “Hung Upside Down.”
Stills also played his 1975 solo rarity “Turn Back the Pages” and the 1977 Crosby, Stills & Nash song “Dark Star.”
More About the 2025 Light Up the Blues Concert
Other performers at the 2025 Light Up the Blues concert included Billy Idol and his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, Cat Power, Linda Perry, and Rufus Wainwright. Comic actor and The Masked Singer judge Ken Jeong served as emcee.
Stills and his wife, Kristen, hosted the event, which, as mentioned earlier, benefits the Autism Speaks organization.
This year’s concert celebrated the 20th anniversary of Autism Speaks, which is the largest autism research organization in the U.S. The organization also helps provide resources and services to autistic people and their families.
The Light Up the Blues concert, which first was held in 2013, is held during World Autism Month. The event reinforces the Autism Speaks organization’s commitment to support the autistic community and encourage people celebrate and encourage those with autism or on the spectrum.
This year, Autism Speaks also is lending support to communities affected by the Los Angeles-area wildfires by offering assistance to frontline response efforts.
For more information, visit AutismSpeaks.org.
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