KEY POINTS:
Neil Young is heading to Auckland - not to perform for his supposed baby boomer fan base but as the headliner to the 2009 Big Day Out.
BDO organisers have confirmed the rock warhorse for the January 16 event at Mt Smart Stadium.
At 62, Young is the oldest act to play the Australasian touring festival, pipping Iggy Pop who appeared in at 2006 BDO at 58.
It will be Young's first New Zealand appearance in more than20 years.
The Canadian-born musician rose to prominence in the 1960s with Buffalo Springfield, before joining folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, then recording a string of classic albums in the 1970s.
He comes to the BDO with his long-time garage-rock backing band Crazy Horse, with whom he forged a high-volume hard rock style which earned him the title "the Godfather of Grunge".
The BDO's Australian promoter Ken West says Young will be doing shows other than the festival across the Tasman. Other BDO acts will be announced at the end of this month.
