Not sure if anyone was dedicated to being that guy as long or at the same level as David Crosby: decades being that guy: band killer, friendship ender, high-end harmonizer, the squeaky wheel that helped get to the finish line, uniter, divider, unbearable know-it-all, dude with a big heart and bigger ego, man absolutely committed to rocking the same ‘stache for decades (years upon years where trends began and ended, seasons turned turned turned, hippies became yuppies, pot got legalized, Neil Young put out 97 solo albums, Graham Nash remained an asshole, Stephen Stills did whatever Stephen Stills does, brown hairs turned white and Croz rocked that goddamned mustache), and for being part of more than a handful of songs that ranged from stunning to sublime, iconic to eternal, and for all the bridges burned and opportunities wasted and the blessing of more lives than a cat, he was THAT GUY.
As it happens, I just watched the documentary Remember My Name the other night (!), and recommend it: lots of amazing stories, confirmation that Dennis Hopper modeled his “look” in Easy Rider after Croz and, proving he was both a good actor and a natural, managed to be even more insufferable than Crosby. By the end, Nash, Stills, and especially Young would have nothing to do with him, and he apologized, publicly, many times, and practically begged for reconciliation. He looked back at the wreckage of his relationships, admitted fault, took blame for all of it, and answered the key question without hesitation: if you could do it all over again and have lasting friendships and harmony but no music, would you? He looks at the camera, repeats the question: “No Music? No way.”
He was that guy. He knew who he was. And he left a legacy that is part of our culture. Hard to do anything but tip the hat in appreciation and with respect. Rest easy, Croz, you earned it.
A sampler for the uninitiated and/or unconvinced.
Super ahead of its time, totally groundbreaking, and absolutely kills, still, on every level.
RESPECT THE ‘STACHE!
(Intermission: Not for nothing, but if Crosby doesn’t do that, Miles doesn’t do this.)
HIPPIES. DON’T. DIE.
There are underground classics and there are underground classics. This one is buried 100 feet beneath those. Listen carefully and realize how many musicians / albums this one influenced.
