(New York) Singer Neil Young paid tribute to late folk rock pioneer David Crosby on Friday, putting their famous feuds aside to salute the “soul” of their supergroup, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
“Soul of CSNY, David’s voice and energy were at the heart of our band. His great songs represented what we believed in and it was always fun and exciting when we could play together,” the 77-year-old American-Canadian singer-songwriter wrote on his website.
Thursday, the announcement of the death of his eldest four years, David Crosby, considered a pioneer of folk rock, has prompted many tributes in the world of music.
Feuds between Crosby and Neil Young, as well as with Graham Nash and at times Stephen Stills, were notorious and have been cited as the cause of the supergroup’s multiple breakups.
Their last appearance as a quartet was in 2013 at a charity concert. Young and Crosby had then fallen out again, in part due to disparaging comments from Crosby about Neil Young’s girlfriend. David Crosby had tried to apologize afterwards, in vain.
“I think CSNY was a really, really good thing. I’m very proud of it. And I think it’s over,” Crosby told AFP in 2021.
“We had so many good times, especially the early years […] Thank you David for your spirit and your songs, I love you. I remember the best times, ”insisted Neil Young on Friday.
Thursday, Graham Nash had also put the disputes aside to pay tribute to the singer: “David was not afraid of anything, in life and in music”. “He leaves a huge void in this world, as a personality and as a talent,” he added.