Clash of the Titans

Neil Young

Name: Neil Percival Young

Age: 66

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Height: 6 feet

Other Bands: The Squires, the Mynah Birds, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Career High Point: 1972 No. 1 "Heart of Gold"; inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1995

Biggest Fuck You to the Music Industry: 2009 box set Archives Vol. 1: 1963-1972

Essential Concert Film: Rust Never Sleeps (1979)

Number of Grammys: Two

Local Connection: Founded Farm Aid with Willie Nelson in 1985

Notable Austin Gig: 1984 Austin City Limits taping

Number of Albums: 33 studio, eight live, four soundtracks, six archive series entries

Important Collaborator: Stephen Stills

Inspired Cover: "Blowin' in the Wind"

Duet: "Star of Bethlehem" with Emmylou Harris

Best Forgotten: Trans

Song He Has To Play: "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)"

Song He Shouldn't Play: Anything from Americana

Favorite Guitar: 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, nicknamed "Old Black"

Longest Solo: "Down by the River"?

Go-To Hat: White Panama

Band Members: Frank "Poncho" Sampedro (guitar), Billy Talbot (bass), Ralph Molina (drums)

Supermodel Girlfriends: Carrie Snodgrass

Why One Over the Other? A set with Crazy Horse always blows your hair back. Authentic balls-out rock instead of faux blues from a confused diva.

– Jim Caliguri

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Jack White

Name: John Anthony Gillis

Age: 37

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan.

Height: 6 feet, 2 inches

Other Bands: The White Stripes, the Raconteurs, the Dead Weather

Career High Point: White Stripes' Elephant, 2003

Biggest Fuck You to the Music Industry: Third Man Records

Essential Concert Film: Under Great White Northern Lights (2009)

Number of Grammys: Six

Local Connection: Produced White Denim's Live at Third Man Records

Notable Austin Gig: White Stripes, SXSW 2001

Number of Albums: 11 studio

Important Collaborator: Danger Mouse, Alicia Keys, Wanda Jackson, Stephen Colbert

Inspired Cover: "Death Letter" (Son House), "Love Is Blindness" (U2), "Conquest" (Corky Robbins), "You Know That I Know" (Hank Williams), "Goodnight, Irene" (Leadbelly)

Duet: "Portland Oregon" with Loretta Lynn

Best Forgotten: Trying to get into White's SXSW 2012 showcase

Song He Has To Play: "Seven Nation Army"

Song He Shouldn't Play: "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"

Favorite Guitar: 1965 JB Hutto Montgomery Airline

Longest Solo: "Ball and Biscuit," White Stripes

Go-To Hat: Trilby or pork pie

Band Members: It's complicated

Supermodel Girlfriends: Renée Zellweger, Karen Elson (divorced)

Why One Over the Other? Jack White might be the last real rock star, touring with two complete bands: the Buzzards, a powerful all-male ensemble, and the Peacocks, a softer and more Americana-hued all-female group.

– Austin Powell