David Crosby: Remember My Name

"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.

Greetings again from the darkness. Headliners for the eternal Rock 'n Roll question, "Is he still alive?" are Keith Richards and the subject of this documentary, David Crosby. The two men epitomize the 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll' battle cry. Director A.J. Eaton and Producer Cameron Crowe team up to allow Crosby to tell his own story. It's been 45 years since Crowe (whose story as an upstart reporter was the basis of ALMOST FAMOUS) first interviewed Crosby for Rolling Stone magazine, and this time Crosby is 75 years old and looking back on a life maybe not so well lived.

There is a mythology to the 1960's and David Crosby WAS the 1960's. He was a pop star who spoke his mind about politics and social issues ... often to the detriment of his popularity or status within a band. The film states he has 'been at the forefront of rock music for 5 decades", and while it's true he experienced tremendous success with The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, and later Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (Crosby considers those two separate bands), he has also spent an inordinate amount of time on the sidelines - fired from bands, strung out on drugs, and even serving jail time.

Most of the interviews we see are clips from the past. This includes Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, and Chris Hillman. Roger McGuinn appears to be the only one who agreed to go on camera for the documentary. Crosby explains this by saying most everyone he created music with "hates" him and won't talk to him ... because he was an "a**hole". Alienating 50 years of friends and collaborators is not an easy thing to own up to, but Crosby comes across as quite reflective during his time on camera speaking with Crowe.

Floyd Crosby, David's father, was an Oscar winning cinematographer known for TABU: A STORY OF THE SOUTH SEAS (1931) and HIGH NOON (1952). The two were not close, but Crosby says his mother showed her love quite often. It's fascinating to follow Crosby as he narrates the journey of his life: going sailing after being kicked out The Byrds, hanging with Mama Cass, discovering and loving Joni Mitchell, doing most every possible drug, and suffering health issues that include 8 stents in his heart, a liver transplant, and life as a diabetic. It's mesmerizing to hear Crosby tell the story of Neil Young writing "Ohio" almost immediately after the Kent State massacre. We even meet Crosby's wife Jan and see their lovely California home, replete with dogs and horses. Perhaps the most entertaining segment is when Crosby heads back to Laurel Canyon and visits "Our House" where Crosby, Stills and Nash were born with a 40 seconds take in the kitchen.

The only bit more amazing than Crosby still being alive is that stunningly pure voice has never failed him. It's a voice that has appeared on so many records over the years, and now in this 70's, Crosby has experienced a musical rebirth. The film would make a nice companion to the recently released documentary ECHO IN THE CANYON, but mostly it plays not like a story of redemption, but rather a farewell and apology letter. It's quite possible that's exactly the note Crosby wanted to hit.

David Crosby, music legend of the 1960s and 1970s looks back at his professional and personal life.

Many people are amazed that he is still alive, including himself. He has survived heroin and cocaine addiction, several heart attacks and still lives with diabetes. He is very frank in the interviews and he talks about his failed love affairs and feuds with band members.

He first hit it big with the folk rock group The Byrds. Former group members Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman appear briefly to speak about their dealing with Crosby. The original line up also included Gene Clark. The Byrds had a great sound with McGuinn's jangling 12 string electric guitar and soaring three part harmony singing by McGuinn, Crosby and Clark. Crosby's beautiful tenor voice was a huge part of it. There is a scene in the film of Crosby talking on stage about conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination. McGuinn explains that he didn't want the Byrds to get into politics, so it was decided that Crosby would be fired from the group. The Byrds' beautiful harmony singing would never be the same after Crosby left.

We see Crosby speaking of life after the Byrds, spending it mostly on his newly acquired sail boat. He also talks about his love for Joni Mitchell, friendship with Cass Elliot and disdain for Jim Morrison. When he sees a photo of The Doors, he sneers "Morrison, what a dork!" He gets back into music when he joins Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of The Hollies as a super group (the first one, Crosby says). The group appears at Woodstock and record several big selling albums, the trio also become a quartet at times with Neil Young. Once again Crosby is part of a great harmony singing group.

The last part of the film shows things unraveling for Crosby. His drug addiction and rages get him into trouble with the law. The FBI is searching for him on drug and weapons charges. He turns himself in and spends time in prison. He seems to now be sober and would reunite at times with Stills, Nash and/or Young. However while he says he is sober he seems to still have problems with anger and volatility. In just the past few years he has offended former band mates Nash and Young so much that they refuse to perform with or speak to him.

The end shows his touring on his own, as well as recording several solo albums. As of this writing he is still alive and kicking, though it's kind of bittersweet since he is still making music but appears to have lost all of his friends.

Ok film and it deserves a lot of credit for not falling into hagiography. Some interesting tails and perspectives. From my knowledge the CSN(Y) story is still largely untold so interesting to hear some if it told here.

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.