Lukas Nelson Reflects on His Longtime Band’s Breakup: “I Felt That the Band Had Become Neil Young’s Band”

In June 2024, Lukas Nelson and his band, Promise of the Real, decided to part ways. First forming the band in 2008, the group released numerous albums. Their last, Sticks and Stones, hit the airwaves in July 2023. Although marking the end of the band, Nelson had no interest in pausing his own career. And back in June, he shared his debut studio album with American Romance. Excited to explore a solo career in country music, Nelson recently opened up about why he decided to go solo.

While not wanting to diminish what they created together, Nelson explained to Rolling Stone how he felt the need to travel the country as a solo artist. It seemed there was no better time than the present after he believed his band had become the Neil Young band. “You know, it had been a long time of hundreds of shows a year with the same guys, the same musicians, and I think growth is important. I felt that the band had become Neil Young‘s band.”

Nelson held no animosity towards Young as he added, “It started off as my band, and then when Neil heard us, we all loved Neil, and we went and became disciples and students of him. And then he took that band, and we went off and had adventures with him.”

Lukas Nelson Wanted To Build His Own Crowd

Thankful for the time he spent alongside Young, Nelson sought a different path for himself. And with him writing “all the songs” for Promise of the Real, he said, “A lot of those guys are still playing with Neil, so that’s great, but I wanted to be able to do my own thing and to put most of my focus on that building my own crowd and hopefully one that will be with me for a long time.”

Taking the years on the road and using them as inspiration for American Romance, Nelson’s song “Pretty Much” caught the attention of fans, gaining over 500,000 streams. Looking at the reception it received, fans wrote, “I think you’re in line for a Grammy on this song, Lukas. Sure hope so, my Maui friend. Aloha!”

Although Nelson grew up with Willie Nelson as his father, one person insisted that he found his own place in music. “Great song and voice. We know Willy is his father and he has inherited much from his father, but he has his own voice and talent.”

With fans by his side and a new sound on the rise, Lukas Nelson was ready for the future and the next chapter in his music career.