Graham Nash - Wild Tales, A Rock & Roll Life

 

Graham Nash is, of course, one the the founding member of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, as well as a prolific and creative solo performer. This autobiography takes us from his incredibly humble beginnings in a British ghetto to super-stardom and beyond.

The book opens with Nash at a crossroads - on his way to LA with plans to leave the Hollies, his wife and his country, all of which he does as he falls in love with Joni Mitchell, and starts works with David Crosby and Steven Stills - all over one weekend! But long before all of that, we get a picture of his youth as a poor Northern Brit with next to no luxuries and not many necessities. But at six years old he meets Allan Clarke, who he will later form the Hollies with, and they immediately start making music together - initially simply singing, then playing skiffle and eventually, harmonies-based rock'n'roll with duets like the Everly Brothers and the Louvin Brothers as influences.

I always say that I love reading about those who grew up during the start of r'n'r in the 50's and became part of the movement in the 60's - the times were exciting beyond words and the music made was truly magic. The music scene was exploding and there were places to play everywhere for upcoming groups - especially if they were any good and supposedly, Graham and Allan's new project was. I never really thought about where they got their name, but a new line up needed a title for a gig and they were almost the Deadbeats - hardly indicative of their sound - before they decided to dedicate themselves to one of their favorite singers, Buddy Holly!

After an incredible string of hits, Graham got bored with the teenybopper scene (although the fame, fortune and women must have been nice - not to mention the general respect from other musicians) and he wanted to get more experimental. He had been expanding his mind with drugs, something the other Hollies did not participate in, generally, and wanted to do more. He became friends with David Crosby, who had by then split with the Byrds and through him, Steven Stills, who had also left Buffalo Springfield and the rest is musical history.

I wasn't sure of the entire chronology, but Neil Young joined immediately after the CSN record was completed and they did their first two live shows with Neil - the second being at Woodstock! Work on Deja Vu began right away, as well, with a copious amount of cocaine screwing with their heads, despite making another fabulous record. They played some shows, but took a break to clear their heads pretty much as soon as they were finished with the album. As it tends to do, the drugs'n'excess took their toll and while the group never officially broke up and they did some extravagant shows/tours, it was difficult for them to really work together. 

The excesses become fairly grotesque, especially Crosby's free-basing, and they all move in different directions although they always end up back together - sometimes strictly for the music, sometimes simply for financial reasons. But Nash, ever the hippie with his heart in the right place, is integral in setting up and playing innumerable benefits and branches out into other artistic endeavours, particularly his early love for photography, but also music and painting and, of course, his family.

The man truly does seem like a good person - despite wallowing in an over-the-top rock stardom - and he tells his story well. While he's not my fave musician, he has been involved in so much of the music that I grew up with and he has written some terrific tunes. Truly enjoyable and recommended for anyone who loves this style of music.