"David was the catalyst of many things," wrote Young in a new statement.
Neil Young has penned a tribute to David Crosby in light of his passing on Thursday at the age of 81. The two performed together as part of the supergroup quartet, Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
“David is gone, but his music lives on,” Young wrote on his website Neil Young Archives. “The soul of CSNY, David’s voice and energy were at the heart of our band. His great songs stood for what we believed in and it was always fun and exciting when we got to play together. ‘Almost Cut My Hair’ and ‘Deja Vu,’ and so many other great songs he wrote were wonderful to jam on and [Stephen] Stills and I had a blast as he kept going on and on. His singing with Graham [Nash] was memorable, their duo spot a highlight of so many of our shows.
“We had so many great times, especially in the early years,” Young continued. “Crosby was a very supportive friend in my early life, as we bit off big pieces of our experience together. David was the catalyst of many things. My heart goes out to Jan and Django, his wife and son. Lots of love to you. Thanks David for your spirit and songs, Love you man. I remember the best times!
Not long before his death, the singer details the difficulty for musicians out of work right now, and a passionate email he recently wrote to Neil Young.
Other tributes to David Crosby
In a brutally honest interview, legendary American singer-songwriter David Crosby has called out his former bandmate, Neil Young, describing him the “most selfish person” he knows. In Crosby’s opinion, the members of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young were divided by “petty-assed bullshit.”
However, that didn’t stop Crosby from calling Young “probably the most self-centred, self-obsessed, selfish person I know. He only thinks about Neil, period. That’s the only person he’ll consider. We haven’t talked for a couple of years,” Crosby added. “And I’m not going to talk to him. I don’t want to talk to him. I’m not happy with him at all. To me, that’s all ancient history, man.”
But the gossip: they all hate David Crosby, and the feeling is mutual. Crosby calls Neil Young “Snotty,” says Young “hates my guts,” and that his relationship with Graham Nash cannot be repaired.
Crosby knows Young hates him because of what he’s said about Darryl Hannah, Young’s girlfriend since his wife Peggy died (he divorced her before she became ill). So gets that.
"Missing you already, Croz. Love to Jan…" ~ James
Photo with @TheBonnieRaitt: Jamie McCarthy/Wire Images
Photo with Kim & James: Lisa Kane#JT #JamesTaylor #DavidCrosby #SingerSongwriters #Legend pic.twitter.com/cVbgNH7Jmv— James Taylor (@JamesTaylor_com) January 20, 2023
Tom counted David Crosby as a friend and a hero. He visited often at his house in the valley. He was funny, provocative and electric with talent. His contribution to music will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and love to his family, bandmates and fans. pic.twitter.com/JsUOj2xT5R
— Tom Petty (@tompetty) January 19, 2023
Crosby's best vitriolic taunts.
Neil Young
“He’s probably the most self-centred, self-obsessed, selfish person I know. He only thinks about Neil, period. That’s the only person he’ll consider. Ever!” (2021)
Bob Dylan (of whom he was actually a huge fan)
“My first thought was, ‘Well sh-t, I can sing better than that!’” (2012)
Graham Nash
“He gave the impression of looking after me, but apparently that was all just trying to keep the money coming. But there you go. We haven’t talked for a couple of years. And I’m not going to talk to him. I don’t want to talk to him. I’m not happy with him at all. To me, that’s all ancient history, man.” (2021)
Iron Maiden
“Noise” (2022)
The Doors and Jim Morrison
“Basically sucked …guitar and drums pretty OK …keyboard was awful …his bass with left hand was abysmal, horrible …square wheel bad …and Morrison was no effing good as a singer or poet …poser …sorry.” (2019)
The Rolling Stones (said after 1969’s disastrous Altamont gig)
“I think the major mistake was taking what was essentially a party and turning it into an ego game and a star trip of The Rolling Stones, who… qualify in my book as snobs. I think they’re on a grotesque, negative ego trip, essentially, especially the two leaders.”
Ted Nugent
“He’s not good enough and he never will be ….a hack player and no singer at all ….could not write a decent song if his life depended on it.” (2018)
Nugent responded equally memorably: “Everybody knows that David Crosby is an evil rotten soulless punk that has criminally poisoned his bloated carcass his entire vapid life.”
Eddie Van Halen
“Meh” (2022, although he later apologised)
Kanye West
“Music? He’s an idiot and a poser. Has no talent at all.”
“Somebody needs to drive [West] over to Stevie Wonder’s house right now so he understands what a real [rock star] is. Send him all of Ray Charles’ catalogue so he can learn how to sing.” (the Telegraph)
Crosby says: Neil Young he’s usually really good. What can I say? I haven’t liked his writing lately so much. I keep waiting for a song that really makes me feel something. He set the bar very high, man: “Helpless”; “Country Girl”; “Old Man”; “A Man Needs a Maid”; “Cortez.” It’s Neil. He wrote a lot of great songs. So it’s tough for him. Everybody is always going to compare his work now to his work in the past. Same thing everybody does to all of us. And it’s hard to maintain a very high level. I’ve been very fortunate — I’m working with other people who are immensely talented.
