Geffen had already begun to have doubts about his business relations with the singer after Crosby talked him into financing a movie in which "a tribe of nomads arrives at a campsite, spends a night and a day, and moves on, leaving the environment lovingly unblemished". The script was written by Crosby and an equally stoned partner. Geffen perceived at once that the film would be something less than a blockbuster, and pulled the plug on it even as Crosby was scouting locations.

But this sort of thing was quite mild compared to the hilarity of Crosby's hard drug phase, which followed his soft drug phase. Marijuana gave way to cocaine, and cocaine led to the breakdown of the barrier between his nostrils. As a precautionary measure, Crosby switched to freebase cocaine, which is smoked rather than snorted. This effort at health protection was in vain, however, as freebase turned out to be one of the most addictive substances on earth, demanding tribute from its hapless user virtually round the clock. So fierce was his desire to get the stuff into his lungs that he excused himself from a crisis intervention featuring such stars as Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, and Grace Slick, to go to the back room to be alone with his pipe.

And, with a propane torch for the odd procedure which turns ordinary cocaine into "freebase" Crosby slipped many times, leaving his body not "lovingly unblemished", but rather covered with burns and impetigo. By the eighties he was consuming thousands of dollars worth a day of the drug, and his life became a dizzing round of nightclubs, treatment centers, airplane rides (paying no attention to the illumination of the No Smoking sign), and binges with the ever-present torch and pipe in operation even while driving. "'I'm the best no-hands knee-steering driver in the world,' he would reassure startled passengers."

That may have been true, but in 1982 he passed out from coke overload while on his way to a demonstration at a nuclear power plant, and smashed into the center divider of the San Diego Freeway, and was busted by the Man. Here is laid bare the dilemma of the addict/activist: in order to save the people from radiation, he must at the same time endanger the people by driving while comatose. Law enforcement, after a couple more such incidents, decided he was a clear and present danger.

Yet he hung on for another 4 years, struggling to live as a functioning addict, even as his friends abandon him and the long arm of the law reaches ever closer. Obdurate to the point of psychosis, Crosby continues to cling to his guitar and torch and pipe until he has nowhere to turn but the nearest police station to make a clean breast of things. He finally kicks his addiction for good, not in the plush confines of Betty Ford, but in a solitary confinement box in a Texas prison, and emerges about a year later, with a greater knowledge of himself and of mattress fabrication procedures.

If there ever was a story about which the phrase "cautionary tale" is not a cliche, this is it. I'm surprised Geffen hasn't made it into a blockbuster.

10 of 11 found the following review helpful:

How did he do that?  Mar 05, 1999

I have repeatedly encouraged young readers who desire to "step into" the reality of the 70's to read this book. It should be a prerequisite for anyone seeking a career in drugs, sex, and rock n roll, or anyone who questions what they missed being born later. David Crosby is an incredible talent and an incredible survivor. This book approaches very closely doing that justice.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

How Low Can You Go??  Jan 12, 1998

David Crosby hits rock bottom in this painfully honest autobiography of him and (later on) his wife, and their downward spiral into freebase hell. He sinks so low that you stop caring about him. Still a great read, and a definite warning about the stupidity of drugs.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Amazing -- A True American Story  Apr 07, 2008
By Todd and In Charge
This book is an amazing document about an amazing performer, born at the right time, in the right place, with the right set of talents needed to succeed (and fail, spectacularly).

If you are interested at all in American culture from the sixties to now, this is essential reading. Basically, David was born in Santa Barbara, grew up in the 50s loving sailing, cars, and women, later to be joined by music. He fell into the folk scenes then emerging in the early 60s, and by dint of personality and talent, worked his way into the Byrds, then CSN, then a sybaritic lifestyle that broke the mold.

Holy cow -- this is a highly entertaining, engrossing story of the American Dream gone good, gone bad, then gone good again. You will not put it down.

Hooray for the survivors, the dreamers, the lovers, the music-makers.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Thanks for being honest !  May 03, 2010
By Bruno Leunen
If you like CSNY or even part of them, you will love this book. As a longtime fan of music and talents, there are no doubts that David Crosby is talented. If the life of rock stars are ...rocky to say the least, boy, welcome to hell !!
Again an honest biography by a true star. Honesty beyond time as David Foster recall in his book .. It is also an insight of the life of a junkie.. David .. I am just glad you got out of it ..Keep on rocking in the free world as Jimmy Buffet would say !

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