Graham Nash says Neil Young can “really piss me off”

(Credits: Raph Pour-Hashemi / Tore Sætre)

Fri 11 April 2025 14:52, UK

Graham Nash has reflected on his relationship with former CSNY bandmate Neil Young who he described as a “wonderful musician” but admitted he “does things occasionally that really piss me off”.

Before Young’s arrival, the group was already operating as a trio, and Nash had no prior relationship with the Canadian singer-songwriter who had made his name in Buffalo Springfield before establishing a solo career.

In a new appearance on the Rockonteurs podcast, hosted by Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt, Nash recalled his frame of mind when Young was about to be brought into the fold, remembering thinking, “I know Neil’s a decent writer and I know he’s a decent singer, but I’ve never met him. 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.”

They then had breakfast in Manhattan, which went incredibly smoothly and Nash was sold that Young was perfect for the band, recalling, “And 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.”

Young’s talents elevated the band to the next level. However, he explained that Deja Vu should have been a Crosby, Stills and Nash album rather than CSNY, noting, “I mean, the truth is that, in a way, that Deja Vu album should have been the second Crosby, Stills and Nash record. 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.’”

The English singer continued: We only got two songs from Neil and he never played one note or sang a note on ‘Teach Your Children’ or ‘Our House’. 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.”

Nash then explained, despite his respect and appreciation for Young, how he can frequently rub him up the wrong way, adding, “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.”

Recalling one particular trait of Young’s that Nash didn’t admire was the Canadian’s desire to travel by himself rather than with the rest of the band, continuing, “He always travelled alone. He never travelled in the buses like me and David and Stephen on that entire 1974 tour. He never joined. He never travelled with us.”This summer, Young is set to headline Glastonbury Festival and BST Hyde Park in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Nash is currently on the road in North America and will play a series of dates in the UK and Europe later this year.