Graham Nash has openly discussed his complicated relationship with fellow musician Neil Young, shedding light on the dynamics that shaped their collaboration. The story dates back to 1969 when Crosby, Stills, and Nash (CSN), following the suggestion of record executive Ahmet Ertegun, decided to invite Young to join them as their fourth member. In a recent episode of The Rockonteurs podcast, Nash reminisced about their first meeting and the uncertainty he felt before welcoming Young into the group.

“I know Neil’s a decent writer and I know he’s a decent singer, but I’ve never met him,” Nash reflected, contemplating the potential of their friendship and collaboration. “I don’t know whether I can be his friend, whether I could tell him secrets, whether I could hang with him. I’ve got to meet this guy before we fucking invite him into this band.” This led to a breakfast meeting on Bleaker Street in Manhattan, where Nash found himself quickly charmed by Young’s wit and intelligence. “At the end of the breakfast, I’d have made him king of the world. He was funny. He was self-effacing. He was very smart.”

Impressed by Young’s undeniable talent and captivated by his engaging personality, Nash ultimately supported Young’s inclusion in the band. The first collaborative album from CSNY, titled Deja Vu, was released in 1970 and became a significant milestone in music history, achieving both commercial acclaim and critical success. While Young’s presence was celebrated, Nash expressed that the album would likely have thrived even without him, given the strength of their existing material.

READ MORE: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Combine for ‘Deja Vu’

“I mean, the truth is that, in a way, that Deja Vu album should have been the second Crosby, Stills, and Nash record,” Nash observed. “We already had ‘Almost Cut My Hair’. We already had ‘Teach Your Children.’ We already had ‘Our House.’ We already had ‘4 + 20.’ We already had ‘Carry On.’” This reflection highlights the band’s impressive catalog and the potential they had even before Young joined.

“We only got two songs from Neil, and he never played one note or sang a note on ‘Teach Your Children’ or ‘Our House,’” Nash continued. “So, in a way, the best thing that ever happened to CSN was Neil, and the worst thing that ever happened to CSN was Neil.” This duality captures the intricate relationship they shared, marked by both collaboration and conflict.

Neil Young’s Independent Travel Style Causes Tension

The constant clash of creative egos within CSNY led to an ever-evolving band dynamic. The group faced numerous periods of inactivity, beginning with their original breakup in 1970. Even after reuniting for a major stadium tour in 1974, Young frequently oscillated between joining and leaving the band, contributing to ongoing tensions.

READ MORE: Top 10 Crosby, Stills and Nash Songs

“I have great respect for Neil. I know he’s a wonderful musician, you know, but he does things occasionally that really piss me off,” Nash admitted, expressing his frustrations. He specifically highlighted Young’s penchant for traveling independently from the rest of the band as a particularly annoying habit.

“He always traveled alone,” Nash pointed out. “He never traveled in the buses like me and David and Stephen on that entire 1974 tour. He never joined. He never traveled with us.” This behavior exemplified the challenges in their collaboration, as Young’s desire for independence often clashed with the group’s collective spirit.

As of now, Nash is gearing up for his 2025 North American tour, which promises to keep him busy throughout the summer months. Meanwhile, Young is set to embark on his Love Earth world tour in Europe this June, with dates in the US slated to begin in August.