NEW YORK/OSLO (Dagbladet): The media writes Variety.
Crosby was known as one of the two members who founded the rock band the Byrds in 1964. He was the guitarist in the band until 1967, before he joined the group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The wife confirms the death in a statement to Variety.
– It is with great sadness that our beloved David Crosby has passed away, after a long illness. He was surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django, she writes.
Comedian (44) has died
– His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music…We will miss him dearly, the statement goes on to say.
In conclusion, the family asks for peace to grieve.
– Thanks for the love and prayers.
Long career
Crosby is as well known for his alternative guitar tunings, beautiful vocal harmonies and abstract lyrics as for his pacifist activism, brutal honesty and raucous life.
He first rose to fame with The Byrds, but was fired in 1967 after arguments with others in the band.
He then began jamming with Stephen Stills, who had had success with Buffalo Springfield. Then Graham Nash jumped in, and the three formed the supergroup that quickly made a name for themselves with hit songs such as “Suite: Jude Blue Eyes” and “Our House”.
David Crosby (77) thinks it is hard to be oppositional in the US at the moment, but is not giving up
Since then, Neil Young also joined the group, and they made several of the biggest songs of the 60s, such as the protest song “Ohio”, which was written after four students were shot and killed in connection with a protest against the Vietnam War. The group was characterized by internal disputes, and was disbanded several times.
Crosby has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: First as a member of The Byrds in 1991, and then as part of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997.
Bandmates in mourning
Bandmates Stephen Stills and Graham Nash are among many to express grief over Crosby’s passing.
Nash writes on Instagram that he feels “deep, heartfelt sadness”.
– I know that people tend to focus on how unstable our relationship has been at times. But what was always most important to me and David was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered and the close friendship we shared over all these long years, writes Nash.
– Death, grief and loss
– David and I barked together a lot, but it was mostly a fight, writes Stills, and adds that he was happy to have made peace with him. Furthermore, Stills refers to Crosby as “the glue that held us together as our song rose, like Icarus, towards the sun”.
– I am deeply saddened by his passing and I will miss him infinitely, writes Stills.
Several others remember Crosby, among them the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson.
– I don’t know what to say other than that I am devastated to hear about David Crosby. David was an incredible talent – such a good singer and songwriter. And a wonderful person.
Addiction
Crosby struggled for many decades with drug addiction and a number of health problems, but eventually became sober and underwent a liver transplant. However, he never put the cannabis away.
In his older days he worked with young artists, among them his son James.
Refses: – I am telling the truth
– Grateful for the time we had with David Crosby. We will miss him very much, writes Jason Isbell, who has worked with Crosby.
In recent years, Crosby has become an avid Twitter user. Fans have been able to amuse themselves with frequent and often humorous posts, including reviews of people’s cannabis cigarettes.
He often answered questions from fans, talked about politics and made fun of posts he thought were particularly stupid. On the last day he was active on the platform, January 18, he responded to a message from someone discussing who gets into heaven.
– I’ve heard it’s quite overrated there… Cloudy, Crosby wrote.
