Story

Though not overly familiar with all of their work, I know enough to realise CSN are legends and influential musicians and once again a friend of mine is a big fan so I wanted to try my best to meet and get a painting signed for him.

I had a difficult time painting this portrait, perhaps because I knew I was on a deadline to get it complete in time.

I waited at the venue in December 07 and the first to arrive after around 2 hours was David Crosby, I’d been told that Crosby was pretty tough and didn’t like doing autographs having told another friend of mine, “ I don’t do that anymore “. Turns out he still doesn’t. When Crosby pulled up in the car, we flashed records and the painting to get his attention, but the car reversed away from us taking Crosby to a rear entrance where it was impossible for us to get close. To our disappointment we chose to wait incase he decided to come back out to us….all five of us, not too many fans to be afraid of is it?

Time passed and then Stills & Nash arrived together, getting out of the van they walked straight over to us and calmly signed autographs whilst we took photos, once they were done, we jokingly asked them to send David out to sign for us. They just laughed as if knowing that would never happen.

Still, ha ha, Still waiting we tried our luck, minutes to go before the shows beginning we happened to notice Crosby standing by the stage door looking at now, just 2 of us left waiting. I begged and called to him, pleading for just one autograph, he watched me beg and then simply shook his head gesturing “no” and walked away. I don’t know why, but usually in this situation I would be annoyed, but I wasn’t, it kind of made me smile, I think I was enjoying the fight to get him.

Once the show started I left and figured I would try again later but this time at the hotel. I got to the hotel and watched for the arrival, again Crosby was the first to arrive, I ran inside to meet him and called his name showing the painting now signed by Stills & Nash, I was again begging, even suggesting he just write a comment or draw a line if you have to ! The whole time walking he was ignoring me and my friend, no one else was around, he reached the elevator and as the doors opened he simply said “ No ‘ and the whole event was over. There was nothing more to do, but knowing I’d gotten so close and did my absolute best was rewarding enough. Good luck to any of you should someone out there meet him and get that prized autograph, I unfortunately have to add him to my list of, “ too hard to get “ rock star autographs. He takes third place.