David Crosby: Remember My Name

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.

A.J. Eaton's documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name surprises on many levels. Hitting me in the gut the way it did was unexpected. I found it to be one of the most cathartic nonfiction films I've ever seen. What opens the door to Crosby's own arrestingly honest assessment of his life is the purity of the rapport between musician and his questioner, Cameron Crowe. Decades of earned trust between these two reap beautiful, heartbreaking candor about: loves both quick and dead, inevitable regrets, calling bullshit when you see it, and repeatedly finding one's purpose renewed in the quiet spaces between tumult.

This is not some pat whitewash of a legend. The interviews are intimate and raw, and there seems almost an urgency in Crosby to say the things that are important to him while he still has breath. There are field trips to Laurel Canyon and to Kent State, mental trips to Woodstock and to the deck of his beloved schooner, and trips through time beautifully illustrated with exceptional archival footage. Along the way there's Graham, Stephen, and Neil... Joni and Jackson. The Byrds and Dylan too. But surprisingly absent are contemporary interviews with any of them, and one might imagine this film was made in a hermetically sealed ego-driven bubble, but it doesn't at all feel that way. The filmmakers have woven third-person recollections from older documentary productions with archival images and David's current-day interviews into a rough fabric of a full life, flawed and brilliant, and contentious as hell.

Nobody has more to say about Crosby being difficult than Crosby himself, and he's haunted by the fact that, "all the guys I made music with won't even talk to me." Yet when queried if he could do it all over and have more of a normal life, the question sounds absurd as soon as it hits the air. Through myriad ups and downs, both personal and professional, one thing has remained steadfast: Crosby's belief that his musical gift must be shared.

Seasoned with rare song demos and well-worn anthems, the film frequently puts the music center stage where it belongs, reminding us of its power to effect change in a broken world or in a broken soul.

One feels the pressures of time, miles, and a lifetime of abuse of the vessel. Particularly touching are the moments with David's wife Jan, who recognizes that every time he walks out the door could be his last. The spectre of mortality looms, and yes, there are reflections on the preciousness of time and a deep appreciation for a remarkable past, but this is a film rooted in the here and now - an appreciation of what's present, authentic, and lasting. It all combines into a mix of hopeful sadness as Crosby, 77, begins a tour with a fresh band, new songs, and bills to pay... vitally pretending that creating forward is easier than looking back.

I wholeheartedly recommend this film to my musician friends, practitioners of the arts, those who adore the great music of the 1960s-70s, and to all students of the real thing.

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.

Didn't know I'd be so moved by this doc. Wasn't that much of a Crosby, Stills and Nash fan and hardly knew anything about David Crosby. Not only was this a great introduction into his world in the center of the 60s and 70s rock n' roll, but this was a unique insight to a celebrity who's forthcoming and honest about what it's like to be in such a place and the effect it had on him. He's extremely up front of how he wasn't mentally prepared for such a journey and it effected the way he treated those who loved him, whether it be significant others or fellow musicians. You will never get this from a Kardashian. Director Eaton and producer Crowe really knew how to handle this gift of a subject.

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.