Stephen Stills Shares Insights on His Transformative Sobriety Journey
The legendary 80-year-old musician known for his iconic song “Love the One You’re With,” Stephen Stills, has recently opened up about how his three-year sobriety journey is positively influencing the next exciting chapter of his career. In an enlightening interview with Rolling Stone, he expressed, “It gets me back to the kid I was before this madness started, pretty affable and friendly.” He reminisced about the magical moments at the start of his career when he had not yet sold a single record, highlighting how the introduction of substances altered his path. With newfound clarity and vitality, he joyfully stated, “I’m just glad I have my original personality back.”
Over the past few years, Stills has returned to performing through a series of special one-off gigs after stepping back from touring in 2018. Earlier in the year, he graced the stage at the Kia Forum for the star-studded FireAid benefit concert alongside esteemed artists like Dawes, Mike Campbell, and Graham Nash. Reflecting on his experience, he humorously noted, “FireAid helped me check and see if my thrusting and coagulating still worked.” As he begins to feel more active, he hinted at the possibility of touring again, stating, “It depends on the kind of venues I can attract,” showcasing his eagerness to reconnect with fans through live performances.
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In a candid discussion, Stills shared that he is in the process of writing a memoir, albeit at a slow pace, describing it as “going one word at a time.” To jog his memory about significant life events, he is meticulously reviewing old newspaper articles. He remarked, “I’ve looked at the issues from my birthdays throughout the years. That’s been very helpful since it puts you in that timeframe and suddenly your memories open up.” He humorously noted the challenges of recalling events at his age, saying, “Brain cells holding hands at this age is a challenge.” Despite these hurdles, he finds comfort in the process, realizing that “the more things change, the more things stay the same.” Stills noted that writing is much more manageable now that he is sober, indicating a profound connection between his well-being and creativity.
Looking ahead, the talented star’s next performance is set for a very special occasion—the 85th birthday celebration of renowned singer-songwriter Judy Collins at New York’s Town Hall on March 8. This event promises to be a memorable gathering, celebrating the artistic contributions of Collins while featuring Stills’ remarkable talent once again on stage.
