Graham Nash: Not So Wild Tales
My musical choices always seems to come back to the singer-songwriter era. Those are some of the best years of my life. Late teens, early twenties. College. Adventures. Freedom. Lifetime friendships. So it's easy to see why I come back to those days and the music that brings such sweet memories.
Two weeks ago I found Graham Nash's book " Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life" at the library. Sounds like my kind of book. I'm his target audience.
With a title like that you figure you'll be reading about sex, drugs and r&r...and you'd be correct. The problem is you've read about it in every autobiography and tell-all book by the musicians from that era. The stories are the same. Only the names have changed.
Here's what we find out...
Nash wanted to be a musician from a very young age. So what..who didn't?
Nash lost his virginity at a very young age and was shocked and happy. Again, who wasn't. I think stories about that would make a better book.
David Crosby was a maniac. Stephen Stills was a musical genius but his drug and alcohol problems almost destroyed his talent and life. Neil Young was always more about himself than being part of a band. Again, tell us something we didn't know.
His relationship with Joni Mitchell ran hot, then hotter, then even hotter before the candle blew out. Their art trumped their love for each other.
The relationship with Crosby, Stills and sometimes Young was so volatile that group has only produced eight studio albums in forty-five years...and many think only the first two were any good.
I always thought that Nash was the stable member of the band. That he was the peacekeeper and the voice of reason. That was confirmed.
He was the go to guy whenever Crosby had troubles, which was often. Not as much for Stills but he was there for him too, if needed. He also had a lot of anger for them but music and his love for them kept bringing them together.
Don't get me wrong...Nash wasn't an angel. He indulged in all the traditional vices of the rock & roll lifestyle. He also has the things that keeps him grounded.
His marriage to second wife Susan is going on 37 years. They have three children and is a grandfather. " Our House " could have easily been written for this family instead of for Joni.
Sounds like a regular guy...with three homes in Los Angeles, a New York City apartment and a house in Kauai.
You're probably thinking enough already...wrap it up. Okay, here's my opinion. It's not a horrible book. It's full enough with sordid stories to keep it interesting. Get a copy from the library and save the $20. David Crosby has two books. Now that has to be some interesting reading!!
So sing along. You know the words...."Our house is a very, very, very fine house. With two cats in the yard. Life used to be so hard. Now everything is easy cuz of you.