Re: CSN ruined by overrated Canadian?
Drummer Chris said:
For some reason, Young is tied in with the band for either good, mediocre, or plain bad results....
I get the feeling from the 80's on especially, it is either a band or management desicion to give more of a spotlight to the boys so they can sell more records and concert tickets.
They've tried it on their own, and they've tried it with Neil and I have a feeling at times with Neil, the business has been plainly better.
Somehow, this scrappy, skinny scarecrow with the ragged wail guitar and voice adds something desirable to the "smoother 3"..
Go figure?
You're right - the addition of Neil Young was a marketing ploy rather than an 'artistic' decision or a meaningful collaboration - and Ahmet Ertegun came up with this idea the moment the first album CSN album took off. CSN agreed to it because they thought the Stills-Young 'guitar duel' would help their live sound at gigs such as Woodstock. Neil Young's motive? Well, his solo career wasn't really going anywhere - his recent album had lacklustre sales - and he wanted to exploit the success of CSN to get ahead. "I do like the money and it's going to make me alot of money," he said. Then he insisted on equal billing...and then his ego got out of control...and the chemistry of the band was ruined...and we didn't see another CSN album until eight years later - by which time it could be argued that CSN's time had passed.
It's a tragic tale....the greed of Young, Ertegun and Geffen/Roberts....combined with the insecurity of CSN. And before anyone says 'all musicians are greedy and love money'....well, Young was often described in the Laurel Canyon scene as a 'breadhead' and ruthless 'user' of people...in stark contrast to the idealism (however misguided) of the times.
Young was ahead of his time in one respect - he had an '80's' mentality even back in the 60s - and the CSNY story is the perfect example of this. Young rinsed CSN dry during their peak - and has traded off his association with the band ever since....and he's given CSN nothing in return...except perhaps some increased concert revenue....but even that is debatable because CSN concerts are always packed out.
Neil Young's career is full of stories like this one....it's all take, take, take. He is rock's most legendary succubi.
And the most frustrating aspect of this whole saga is why CSN didn't ever stand up to this guy and tell him to back right off.
