David Crosby Changes Mind on Touring: ‘I Think I’m Going Back Out to Play Live’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
David Crosby (Photo via his Facebook page)
David Crosby made it official in an interview on May 5, 2022: After nearly 60 years of relentless touring, from clubs to stadiums, he’s retiring from the road.
After being asked, “Are you going to tour anymore?” Crosby put it bluntly: “No.”
“I’m not, because I’m 80. It’s because I’m old,” he said. “Being on a bus tour is a daunting task. It’s very hard. It takes it out of you. I’m too old to do it anymore. I don’t have the stamina; I don’t have the strength.”
Seven months later, Croz seems to have had a change of heart. In a tweet posted at 12:34 a.m. PT on Dec. 15, he wrote, “So I played with some friends the day before yesterday and spent today sing (sic) with two really good friends and ……hmmmmmm….dare I say it? …I think I’m starting yet another band and going back out to play live…”
So I played with some friends the day before yesterday and spent today sing with two really good friends and ……hmmmmmm….dare I say it ? …I think I’m starting yet another band and going back out to play live ……
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) December 15, 2022
We’ll never know. Crosby died in January 2023.
On Dec. 9, Crosby released a live album, recorded with the Lighthouse Band in 2018. He turned 81 on Aug. 14.
His earlier bout with COVID also took a toll on him.
“It has been awful,” he said back in that May 2022 interview. “COVID is a very weird disease. It makes you feel absolutely freaking awful,” he said. “It has been thoroughly unpleasant…it’s no fun at all. You want to avoid it if you possibly can.”
The discussion was part of an extensive interview that Best Classic Bands arranged between Crosby and a high school journalism class in Golden, Colo.
Crosby has enjoyed an unprecedented career renaissance that began in 2014 with the release of his fourth solo album, simply titled Croz. Since then, he has released four more solo projects, collaborating with a variety of musicians and singers: Lighthouse (2016), Sky Trails (2017), Here if You Listen (2018) and 2021’s For Free.
Crosby’s six-decade career has included co-founding such culture-defining bands as The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (both of whom have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame); collaborating with the likes of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, and Carole King, and gaining entrée into the illustrious Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Listen to the title track from For Free, Crosby’s most recent release. The track is a cover of a song written by his old friend, Joni Mitchell.
Related: Links for 100s of classic rock tours
34 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSay what you want about Crosby (and God knows there’s a lot to say, both pro and con), but the man has made some remarkable music that has stood the test of time. For that we should all be grateful.
Agreed. I saw Crosby – Nash for the last time in 2008 when they were both still on top of their game. A great night of music. Adios David, your music will last forever.
I saw him in New Orleans a couple of years ago during his Sky Trails tour. Still on top of his game. Marvelous show
Absolutely some great tunes
A life so jam packed it’s impossible to describe
We saw David in 2019 when he opened his summer tour in Camden, NJ. His voice was still solid gold. Of the set he performed 8 classics just as crisp as 45 years ago. Crosby will always remain my favorite lyricist and male vocalist.
Dang. Sure wanted to see him one last time. The only two of CSNY still out touring are Graham & Stephen. Will make immediate plans to look up both of them now. Bless you David, for all of the lovely decades sir!
Graham and Stephen could do some things together. Graham has the utmost respect for Stephen and they made so much great music together
I guess David sold his house? Because in 2020, he was saying that since he couldn’t tour (because of the Pandemic), that he would lose his house.
And now, two years, he is voluntarily quitting touring.
Croz sold his publishing rights to his catalogue so no need to sell house.
I forgot about that. Thanks.
I don’t think it’s all that voluntary. He loved playing shows. He just can’t do it anymore.
He sold his catalog to survive.
I feel so bad about you having Covid. I hope you can recover…absolutely awful and fucked..
At least he only said he was retiring from touring. He did not say was retiring from live performance. Perhaps he will still perform locally or in a residence type stint. I certainly hope the last time I saw Croz perform, isn’t “thee” last time.
“If you think you’re too old to r n r , then you ARE !”
[LEMMY quote]
Don’t blame you in the least , Croz. Hell, I retired at 63. Glad to have seen you — C,S,N.
I had the honour at being at a Crosby,Stills and Nash concert in 2003. It was the best. I wish David a speedy recovery from Covid and that he can enjoy retirement. I would truly like to write him a letter. Unfortunately, don’t have his address. Wishing you well David Crosby!
Come together and bury the hatchet because quite soon, one of you will be gone.
sad news, as David Crosby sings great, plays great, always has interesting things to say…he is one of my TOP FAVORITES, and his voice is so unique, and beautiful! Have loved him from his time w/ the BYRDS, and everything since! I pray for his good health and happiness, and hope he might still sing, make records, and know how much he is loved! esp by me!
Me too. I’ve loved him since The Catacombs coffee house on Ft Lauderdale beach.
(Long, long ago)
THANK YOU, For all the WONDERFUL MUSIC DAVID CROSBY. I have all your Albums, LPs and then I have them in 8 Track, and Cassettes, and of course CDs.
If I Could Only Remember My Name, My all time favorite. Got to see you in Concert 7 times, twice w/ CSNY, twice w/ Crosby Nash. And three times w/ CSN.
I believe the man is a “living legend”. He is NOT afraid to speak out against the madness. Happy retirement David. I hope this won’t be the last we from you!
While retiring from touring is understandable, it’s pretty remarkable that after all those decades of pomp and contributing a cancer to any band he was associated with, Crosby ended up vindicating himself by creating a stream of music that finally validated who he portended to be all along. He’s turned out to be not just a strange and volatile component of our generation’s music, but also an essential one.
Yes! Bless you David! It has been a privilege to share the planet with you!
Yes, I really don’t care about his personality, just the incredible songs he has written and recorded, he is a giant of the music industry, very under rated, without his distinctive jazz influences, CSN would have been just another country folk rock band like so many west coast outfits
I always kinda liked him.. Texas prison straightened him out alot. He shoulda just stuck to pot.. the cocaine made him crazy…and lastly, he is right about COVID..it is weird and it does hang on to you.. the cough just hangs on.. worse thing is you can’t sleep.
David Crosby is “a living legend”. Nothing else matters!
80! David, frame ur mudical and philosophical life by doing a A Concert for Earth with CS&N. Bring all the old stuff to bear
R. It’s more relevant t h as n ever. Anyway, thanks for everything we rushing you’ve fine musically
Retirement from bus tours, not music!
Dear David,
Thank you for the joy your music has contributed to the soundtrack of my life. I hope you keep creating.
Hugs from your distant cousin in southern Ohio
He has certainly earned his retirement, still, I am sad that the day has come. I would have loved to have seen him perform some of the songs from “For Free” with a full band!
Love you David! Your music played a large part in my love of music and holds a special place in my heart! You will be missed and I want to thank you for all the incredible music! Please take care! Jamie
Well, nobody EVER claimed he was the most stable guy. But it’s obvious that he loves music, and performing has apparently gotten back in his blood in these last years, after such a long hiatus from CSN&Y, and even the Crosby/Nash years. Do it as long as you’re able, Man, or at least as long as you think you can. All your fans will be so grateful.