David Crosby Dead at 81

David Crosby, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who sang for The Byrds before co-founding a supergroup with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash — later adding Neil Young — has died. He was 81. His wife Jan announced the news today.

“It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” she said in a statement. “He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve...


Crosby rose to fame as a singer and guitarist for The Byrds, the influential Los Angeles-based folk-rock band that melded a groundbreaking guitar sound with eloquent melodies. He spent four years with the group from 1964-68, singing on its many hits including the chart-topping covers “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

Those also were the titles of The Byrds’ first two LPs, with Mr. Tambourine Man reaching the U.S. Top 10.

Also featuring Gene Clark, Rogen McGuinn and Chris Hillman, The Byrds were a major influence on the burgeoning L.A. folk-rock scene that would help feed the country-rock genre epitomized by the Lauren Canyon acts of the late ’60s and early 1970s and such groups as Eagles and The Flying Burrito Brothers, the latter also featuring Hillman.

He teamed with fellow Lauren Canyon denizens Stills and Nash to form Crosby, Stills & Nash, whose eponymous 1969 debut album went Top 10. Featuring sparkling, often magical harmonies, the disc included such classic tracks as “Suite: Judy BLue Eyes” and “Marrakech Express” — both of which were Top 30 pop hits — and the LP has has sold more than 4 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Joined in 1970 by Canada expat and Buffalo Springfield alum Young, the now-quartet would score three consecutive No. 1 albums: studio set Déjà Vu (1970), the live 4-Way Street (1971) and compilation disc So Far (1974). The debut disc remains one of rock’s most treasured albums, spawning such stone classics as “Teach Your Children,” “Ohio,” “Our House” and the Joni Mitchell cover “Woodstock.” Mitchell would open on the group’s first concert tour.

Crosby put out his first solo album in 1971, with If Only I Could Remember My Name reaching No. 12 on the Billboard 200, and the various members of CSN&Y carried on with separate careers. Crosby and Nash teamed as Graham Nash/David Crosby for a pair of Top 10 albums in 1972 and 1975, with 1976’s Whistling Down the Wire making the Top 30.

Crosby, Stills & Nash re-formed for 1977’s CSN, which spent four weeks at No. 2 and generated the trio’s first Top 10 single in “Just a Song Before I Go.” It also went quadruple-platinum. Their next set, 1981’s Replay, failed to click, but the next year’s follow-up, Daylight Again, brought them back into public favor, peaking at No. 8 and including their second Top 10 single in “Wasted on the Way.”
 
Ahead of releasing his latest solo effort, David Crosby has spoken out in a new interview about his tumultuous relationships with the other members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, explaining there's next to zero chance of the group ever reuniting due to some serious old-man drama.

In an interview with The Howard Stern Show, Crosby explained that the other members of CSNY — specifically Neil Young and Graham Nash — will likely never speak to him again.

"Neil's got a legitimate beef because I dissed his girlfriend. I get it. I apologized for it with you — you helped me do that," Crosby told Stern. "Nash kind of seems to think that I'm responsible for everything wrong since the Korean War, which is weird, but it's okay."

Despite recent rumours about being completely ostracized by all three members of the group, Crosby claimed that he and Stephen Stills are cool.

Crosby added: "I've got a lot of hero worship for Stills. He was the best guy in the band. He is the best guitar player, the best singer, and wrote all the hits and was stunning on stage. Every time the guy touches a guitar, everything swings right away."

While Crosby sees no chance of reconciliation between the four members of the band, he did say that he wishes Young, Nash and Stills all the best.

"I have no beef with any of them, man. I hope they're all okay. I am a little surprised that they're not putting out music, but… whatever they're doing, I hope they're happy."

He continued: "All of that drama stuff, it's a pain in the butt and it doesn't make music. I'm not looking for them to absolve me of my idiocy. You gotta understand, man, I let all three of those guys down totally by becoming a junkie… and for that, I've apologized a million times."
 
hollydolly said:
Ahead of releasing his latest solo effort, David Crosby has spoken out in a new interview about his tumultuous relationships with the other members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, explaining there's next to zero chance of the group ever reuniting due to some serious old-man drama.

In an interview with The Howard Stern Show, Crosby explained that the other members of CSNY — specifically Neil Young and Graham Nash — will likely never speak to him again.

"Neil's got a legitimate beef because I dissed his girlfriend. I get it. I apologized for it with you — you helped me do that," Crosby told Stern. "Nash kind of seems to think that I'm responsible for everything wrong since the Korean War, which is weird, but it's okay."

Despite recent rumours about being completely ostracized by all three members of the group, Crosby claimed that he and Stephen Stills are cool.

Crosby added: "I've got a lot of hero worship for Stills. He was the best guy in the band. He is the best guitar player, the best singer, and wrote all the hits and was stunning on stage. Every time the guy touches a guitar, everything swings right away."

While Crosby sees no chance of reconciliation between the four members of the band, he did say that he wishes Young, Nash and Stills all the best.

"I have no beef with any of them, man. I hope they're all okay. I am a little surprised that they're not putting out music, but… whatever they're doing, I hope they're happy."

He continued: "All of that drama stuff, it's a pain in the butt and it doesn't make music. I'm not looking for them to absolve me of my idiocy. You gotta understand, man, I let all three of those guys down totally by becoming a junkie… and for that, I've apologized a million times."
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Now there will never be a reunion for sure unless it's in heaven. After the news of Crosby's death I have been thinking that we are going to see a lot of the great rock n roll stars pass in the next few years. Makes me worried about some of them.
 
Ruthanne said:
Now there will never be a reunion for sure unless it's in heaven. After the news of Crosby's death I have been thinking that we are going to see a lot of the great rock n roll stars pass in the next few years. Makes me worried about some of them.
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that's the pity of having them as the best rock and roll Era ever.. the 60's and 70's...

When Bowie Died.. I kinda felt that it was the beginning of the end tbh... everytime I see Elton John, I think how old and ill he looks...
 
hollydolly said:
that's the pity of having them as the best rock and roll Era ever.. the 60's and 70's...

When Bowie Died.. I kinda felt that it was the beginning of the end tbh... everytime I see Elton John, I think how old and ill he looks...
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You are right. I was just thinking of Bowie after I posted and he was the beginning one to pass of the greats.
 
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