Interview: Stephen Stills Talks Guitars, CSN, Jimi Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield, & more
27 June 2012, Short Hills, New Jersey
Photo by Joe Bosso
(Click photo to enlarge)
The recent news regarding Stephen Stills upcoming box set "Carry On" has prompted a bit of renewed well deserved interest in Stills career and legacy.
From a very detailed interview with Stephen Stills in 2012 on MusicRadar by Joe Bosso, Stills talks guitars, CSN, classic songs, Jimi Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield and many other topics.
MusicRadar: In Buffalo Springfield, how did you and Neil work out your guitar parts, your language together?More on interview with Stephen Stills on MusicRadar by Joe Bosso.
Stephen Stills: "By looking at each other and emulating each other. We'd copy each other, and by doing that we'd meet in the middle. He was much better than I was at first, although I had a better stroke for rhythm. But he was instrumental in teaching me how to play lead, showing me positions and stuff."
Also, see Stephen Stills upcoming box set "Carry On".
Labels: stephen stills
by thrasher@PermaLink: 1/24/2013 07:58:00 AM
13 comments
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13 Comments:
Great voice & songwriter(long ago) but no where on the level of Neil - not even close...
Cocaine ruined Stills & he's lucky to even 'still' be above ground...Eldorado had the truth spelled out on the 1st track...
I'd dare say Stills is more talented than Neil. Not better, just more talented.
Sometimes I wonder if the "muse" is just an excuse Neil uses because there was too much pressure to live up to his early work? So he didn't even try! Gotta follow the muse man!
I'm loving his book but he comes across as being selfish and insecure at times. But there's no denying his greatness and I'm glad he survived his artery bursting. I didn't realize how close we came to losing him! He might be a quirky guy but I'm glad he is who he is and that he's still out there moving forward!
Much love for Stills tool. Long may they both run!!!
It's better to burn out, than to fade away.
Neil continues to light up the sky, while Steven is recurgitating his old material, as good as it was/is, it's nothing very recent. If you've got a good collection of CSN/BS/Manasas you already have the 'stuff'. I don't think a 4 box set will be that revealing.
Stills may be the better guitarist, but he's nowhere near the force that Neil Young is or ever was, he's said so himself. CSN is a great ballad band, harmony, etc, that soothes the soul. Neil is a freaking storm that moves the oceans of your spirit, there is no escaping him when he's all over it.
The muse is not an excuse, it's the blood and guts and guide for the explosions that come out. It's like standing in 80 mph winds trying to stand still. Doesn't work. No defense against it. It's the giant undertow. Surrender may be the only reaction to escape the madness it's bringing.
There's alot of Stills I like, but overall it pales in comparison to the depths and the expanse that Neil has done. There's few even close.
"Much love for Stills tool" ha ha. Classic example of a Freudian slip right there!! Too funny.
I wonder where Stills or Young would have ended up without each other?! Serious question. Neil obviously has the bigger catalog, but that shouldn't diminish the gold that Stills mined. Neil put out a lot of crap along the way too so are we talking volume or substance? Cause they've both got plenty of substance! Stills is probably lighting up some substance right now!
If I had to pick one for my desert island, of course it would be Neil, but Stephen has created plenty of magic on his own! I'm glad I was around to see both of them!!
1966-1972 Stills put Neil in the shadows for musical output MANASSAS v HARVEST? I rest my case. Of course Stills has diminished whilst Neil has survived and made some truly great music. I just think Neil could've done with someone like Stills saying after the recording of Landing On The Water..'Neil that's not very good old mate'.
Ya know what...I have always loved the back and forth repartee between Stephen and Neil, and remember this, it all started in Fort William, oh so many years ago. I have most everything produced by both artists (along with David and Graham) and I, for one, will buy Carry On (vinyl, please?!) as I did PP. Stephen may have been wasted on the way, but from what I hear the money will come in handy for him these days. I am happy to contribute to him for all the great moments in music and art he has given us all! Stephen LIVES!
We just luv, man...we just luv ya!
Thanks to Willie and Joel for all your hard work and and to Neil, as I'm sure he had a few 'behind the scenes' influences on this marvellous project.
Now...if only we could 'hear' Toast...Homegrown...Trunk Show,...need I Carry ON?!
Peace and Love
Billie in Calgary
Manassas gets a lot of airplay to this day on Sirius DeepTracks. Earl Bailey (program director) certainly loves Steven, but the "volume" of music Manassas put out is mostly mediocre at best, according to the Test of Time.
Manassas was just a small part of the total volume of Stills work. And one thing that CAN be said of Stephen Stills, just about ALL of his work stands up, and this is according to the test of time. I'm not sure you can say that about Neil?
Folks, folks, please, this is NOT a competition between the two great artists. One must understand that each is great in their own way. Manassas, SS and SS2 are great in their own way and I believe it still stands up to day, just like Zuma, TFA, TNT stands up to this day. IMHO they both 'get it' and have shown us all the possibilities of how music can bring us together...not build a wall or drive a wedge between us. Let us appreciate how each is different but the same in the end. Their music will live on for those of us who lived thru those days with them.
Peace and Love to all
Billie in Calgary
@SONY & Billie in Calgary - some good words for some good men.
thanks
Neil, Stephen, both did some great music and deserve our respect for their contributions. Just remember to listen to them on vinyl for full effect.
To Anonymous @10.27
Well, I think we CAN say that about Neil, standing up to the test of time.
While I admire Stills' work I think that across their careers that Neil's work is more varied, entertaining, thoughtful and will create a longer-lasting legacy.
But hey, this is a NY site, which is why I am here.
To TonyACT....I basically agree with your last sentence, but I find it somewhat difficult to speak of Neil without including Stephen. The meeting in the parking lot of rent-a-wreck on Sunset will forever be in the lore of rock 'n roll and that single event catapulted both to the careers they both dreamed of, oh so long ago. As time dims memories for some, their art and music reminds us of their greatness, both individually and together.
P.S....TW is a NY site, to be sure, and a great site it is too, only wish those folks responsible for Stephen's website would keep things a bit more up to date, ahhh but such is life....
Billie in Calgary
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