David Crosby: Remember My Name

An intimate conversation with the man about music, HIS music, family, CSN, CSNY, personal weaknesses, prison, & personal growth. He discusses his passions and his values. Includes interesting portrayals of associated musicians, friends, ex-friends, ex-lovers....it is all so interesting.

You're getting a solid overview of his career and some moments where he mentions his regrets over what he's done, he'll say "I was awful, etc:" but not give many specific examples of how, apart from just general drug use and unreliability Still, it's well made, if only from one side. It would have been nice to hear from others too.

I watched this documentary about one of the gods of folk rock, musican David Crosby, twice in a row; I never do that with a movie. The first time I watched it, I didn't like it. I couldn't see the forest for trees. Basically, the first run through made me feel sad. I was emotionally affected by witnessing this pioneer of iconic music, master of harmonies, a creative genius in my opinion, as he lamented, (in the twilight of his life), his estrangments from friend-partners and fellow legends that he created treasured classics with that moved the world.

I didn't like seeing another one of my musical heroes and activism role model, Graham Nash, lash out in anger and palpable pain. I didn't like this movie; the whole thing felt depressing and uncomfortable.

So, why did I watch it again?

Because I suspected there was a lot more value to this conversation than the initial kneejerk reaction I had let me appreciate. I respect and admire Cameron Crowe as an interviewer of my favorite rock icons and of master filmmaker Billy Wilder too. I like Cameron immensely as a person, and trusted he would handle this film about David Crosby with care, in his capable hands. And of course, I love David's music and choose to give a fresh view to his words about his life.

Unlike many other documentaries, this one gives the strongest voice directly to David, the subject, rather than being populated with talking heads filling the air with their "expert" commentaries. Crosby took this opportunity to review his life in an honest, poignant, heartbreaking, joyous, and creative way.

As a child, his father never showed him any love. He lived through music, was a pioneer of sound, admitted that he could not live without music, which he would reluctantly choose above all else, to the surprise of his loving, devoted wife, Jan Dance, who shared some raw and touching personal reflections of her own. David wondered if his absolute need for music made him selfish. His gifts are necessary for his survival, and perhaps for many of his fans as well.

On the second view, I was struck by the music. This is the music I love; the music of my childhood, my life, my heart. Additionally, in the last few years Crosby has reinvented his career with a group of young musicans to supply harmony to his wonderful words; he turned out four albums chock full of his talented, transportive brand of magic. His muse apparenly stronger than ever; his perseverence through the ravages visited upon his body and soul solidly shines.

The arc of David Crosby's career included the pinnacle of collaborative artistic perfection and arguably some of the most stunning harmonies that have ever soared on this crazy cosmic sphere. Likewise, his career and life went careening out of control through his weaknesses, addictions, drugs, anger, angst, and ego. His health and relationships suffered terribly from these strains. How dare he be human?

Jackson Browne shares the story of an intervention he helped stage for David at one of low points of this life journey. It was notably unsuccessful, thus, former friend, Graham Nash, is furious and fumes at this loss and betrayal. How, if, or why to reconcile any form of relationship is up to them. I mourn the pain they have endured, and I get lost in the celebration of the music. As the credits rolled again, I came away without judgement and revisited the absolute privilege of being a fan.

"David Crosby: Remember My Name" (2019 documentary; 95 min.) is a documentary about the life and times of the (in)famous musician, a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young). As the movie opens, Crosby is telling a story from back in the day when they were playing a gig in Chicago. Let's just say, it involves drugs (of course!). Along the way we learn that he is now 76 (when this was filmed in 2017), and that he regrets having wasted so much time "smashed on drugs" (Crosby's words). He is getting ready for another tour (as a solo artist). "I love singing but I hate leaving (home)", Crosby confesses. "Me no music? Never. I NEED to tour." At this point we are less than 10 min. into the movie.

Couple of comments: even though the film is technically directed by a certain A.J. Eaton, Cameron Crowe's fingers are all over this, including as producer and also having interviewed Crosby back in 1974, when he was all of 17 (that interview comes up in this documentary). The basic premise of the film is as simple as it is revealing: let the man talk, and add archive clips where there are available (easier said than done). Crosby turns out to be a master story teller, and he does not mince words, including about himself. "I have been selfish and I've hurt a lot of people", Crosby admits. Byrds band mate Roger McGuinn puts it this way: "Insufferable", wow. Along the way, we get treated to an outstanding amount of audio and video clips of his music. Quite a collection when you line it up like that. I enjoyed this documentary overall, and feel it is a nice companion to the "Echo in the Canyon" documentary from earlier this year.

"David Crosby: Remember My Name" premiered to immediate acclaim at this year's Sundance film festival. It currently has a near-perfect 98% "certified fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I don't think I would rate it quite that high. The documentary opened the weekend before last at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati and I finally had a chance to check it out. The Tuesday evening screening where I saw this at was attended okay (about 10 people). If you are a fan of David Crosby or interested in rock music history, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

David Crosby is a two-time inductee into the Rock Hall Of Fame and, without question, into its Hall of F'Ups*. Crosby has a singing voice that can harmonize with the best of them, but, just as frequently, that same mouth can spout asinine and downright offensive utterances aimed not only to his enemies, but to those closest to him. AJ Eaton's Documentary does a competent job providing an overview of Crosby's career and personal life from his beginnings, through his fame with the Byrds, Crosby, Stills, Nash (and sometimes, Young) and then his long long fall into being mostly forgotten by the mainstream (although he still tours and records music). Much of the archival footage is familiar, but, there are enough home movies and other ephemera to keep it interesting. Somewhat curiously, Crosby's solo work is given little detailed attention outside the album which gives the movie it's title: Remember My Name**. There are interviews with a few friends and his long-suffering wife Jan, but, other critical people are seen only in archival recordings (including, especially, the other members of CSNY).

The heart of the Doc are intimate filmed discussions between Crosby and filmmaker Cameron Crowe, who interviewed Crosby back when he was a teen in the early 70s. Within those interviews all of the positives/negatives, engaging/off-putting and most important of all: honest/evasive poles of Crosby's personality come to the fore. There are some painfully poignant moments in the discussions where the musician talks frankly about the people in his life that he has lost and/or alienated. At one point he admits that essentially nobody he collaborated with musically over the decades will even speak to him now. Crosby is keenly aware of his mortality, and seems genuine when he marvels at his good fortune to simply be alive when so many in his orbit have passed on via the same vices he is guilty of. At the same time, the Doc never captures the anger and rage that the artist infamous for. I'm not sure if its because of Director Eaton's reluctance or a failure of Crowe to press him further. Too often, Crosby is allowed to simply deflect. It's frustrating for the viewer, but then again, its unsurprising.

DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME is an interesting exercise, if a bit self-limiting. Still, Crosby's tenacity has to be admired. He's completed another album since this Doc was filmed and was still touring as of this writing. A survivor.

* In typical Crosby fashion, he states that he wants to be inducted a third time in order to 'spite' Eric Clapton (the only person with three inductions)

** This may not be surprising since Crosby rues that he is the only member of CSNY to have never had a 'solo' hit.