Heart of chrome: Neil Young suit fades away

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts can keep on rockin’ in the free world — at least under that name — after luxury fashion brand Chrome Hearts dropped its lawsuit against the rocker and his backing band, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

The fashion label sued Mr. Young and the band in September 2025, months after the group released its first album, Talkin to the Treesalleging it had not granted permission for Young to use the Chrome Hearts name. The brand, which has existed since the late 1980s, claimed the band’s name and merchandise could create marketplace confusion.

But before the dispute could really get its legal leather pants on, Chrome Hearts voluntarily dismissed the copyright infringement lawsuit Thursday, Rolling Stone reported, citing a court filing. The filing did not say whether the parties reached a settlement or whether the case simply lost its rhythm.

The whole episode has the makings of a rock-and-roll fashion collision: one side selling high-end style, the other selling songs, tours and merch under a name that apparently sounded a little too familiar in boutique circles.

According to Rolling Stone, Young and the Chrome Hearts kept using the name while the lawsuit was pending, played several gigs, released the live album As Time Explodes for Record Store Day and recently finished recording a second studio album. Young also canceled the band’s 2026 tour, though that appears to be a separate heartbreak.