Neil Young Will Never Repair Things With David Crosby: ‘I Can Hold a Grudge With the Best of Them’
Neil Young and David Crosby have a lot in common. The two iconic artists were some of the most popular singers/songwriters of the ’70s and ’80s, touring around the world with various groups and as solo artists. Young and Crosby also worked together for years, as part of the group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The two had a devastating falling-out, however, and these days, Young is still not inclined to work with the artist who helped to define his musical legacy.
David Crosby got his musical start with The Byrds
Crosby was born in 1941, and from a very early age, became active in the music industry. In 1964, Crosby became one of the founding members of the group The Byrds, writing and recording hit songs throughout the mid-60s and beyond.
The Byrds worked closely with big-name pop artists like Bob Dylan. But, by 1967, Crosby was on his way out of the group that he helped to found.
As Crosby later detailed: “They threw me out of The Byrds because I was an a–hole. We held together for a pretty long time. Bands tend to devolve. They evolve to the point where they’re exciting and new and good. After that, they work their way downhill until it’s, ‘Turn on the smoke machine and play your hits.'”
Neil Young and David Crosby worked together in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Not long after leaving The Byrds, Crosby formed Crosby, Stills & Nash, a folk-rock supergroup. Eventually, the three artists were joined on touring dates by Young, one of the biggest up-and-coming songwriters of the day.
Throughout the ’70s, the group, commonly known as CSN, released multiple hit records and singles, including songs like “In My Dreams.”
While CSN’s most active period as a group was in the ’70s, in the decades since the artists have reunited multiple times for tours and concerts. In recent years, however, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have been defunct, not performing or touring together since 2015.
David Crosby and Neil Young have feuded for years
It’s an open secret that Crosby and Young have had a long-running feud. While the real reasons for the feud remain known only to the two legendary performers, a 2014 incident where Crosby called out Young’s girlfriend at the time as a “purely poisonous predator” could definitely have been a contributing factor. In the days following the headline-making incident, Crosby revealed that he had contacted Young to apologize, but had not received any response.
Five years after the drama surrounding the two former bandmates, Crosby detailed in an interview with TheWrap that he’s open to getting Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young back together again: “I want to work with all four of us. That’s what I want to do. I’ll take more blame than anybody for being a s—head to my friends in that group.”
How does Neil Young feel about David Crosby these days?
Young has remained mostly silent about the issues that he’s had with Crosby. However, in 2019, he chatted with the AARP about his new music, revealing in the process where his relationship with Crosby stands.
When asked if a reunion with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is possible, Young stated: “He (Crosby) made a lot of great music for a long time. I don’t know what happened with David. I got nothing to say. I love Stephen. I love Graham. If a reunion happens, it would be a surprise. I won’t close the door on anything. I can hold a grudge with the best of them but only if there’s a reason for it.”
It seems as though, for now, both iconic musicians will remain at odds.
