Imagine a rock 'n' roll icon looking back on his storied career and admitting he wished he'd taken a wildly different musical detour – that's the surprising revelation from David Crosby about the band he regrets not joining. It's a story that captures the essence of 'what if,' and trust me, it might just make you rethink the paths legends like him could have taken. But here's where it gets controversial: Crosby, the man who helped define the California sound, believed his true calling lay elsewhere, sparking debates among fans about loyalty to one's roots versus chasing bold new horizons.
Credits: Far Out / Alamy
Published on Sat 25 October 2025 18:15, UK
People who lived the extraordinary life of David Crosby probably have little room for complaints. He revolutionized rock with The Byrds and then seized the chance to form another iconic supergroup with Crosby, Stills, and Nash – an opportunity that's only handed out to a select few in the music world. Yet, if Crosby had gotten his way, he envisioned even loftier ambitions beyond being the quintessential California folkie. For a short while, he seemed to embody the stereotypical 'California sound,' always on the hunt for fresh talent. While he mentored countless stars, Crosby clung to the belief that a stellar song thrives just as well stripped down to an acoustic guitar, without any fancy extras.
The Byrds shared that philosophy, but once you're strumming basic chords, the options for progression feel limited. Everyone craves expansion, and with Crosby's eclectic tastes, he wasn't destined to stick with jangly folk tunes indefinitely. He admired Bob Dylan deeply, but his ears had been tuned to jazz giants since childhood. To him, legends like John Coltrane and Miles Davis were on par with rock titans John Lennon or Paul McCartney. Listening to their improvisations was like witnessing pure magic unfold in real-time. He spotted similar enchantment in emerging artists, yet felt modern music's offerings paled compared to the genius of Steely Dan.
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker operated like musical alchemists, crafting near-flawless performances, and while Crosby respected their catalog, he insisted joining them would have outshone all his previous work. In an interview, he reflected, 'When we launched The Byrds, there were others around like Paul Revere & the Raiders – we're talking basic stuff, guys jumping on amps in uniforms. I mean, seriously. (Laughs). That's a whole different era. And then I hear Steely Dan. Man, do I wish I was in that band.' And this is the part most people miss: his solo work clearly pointed toward Steely Dan as the logical evolution. Fagen and Becker obsessed over perfection, and Crosby, who adored the vocal harmonies in CSN, found heavenly inspiration in the intricate instrumental layers on albums like Aja.
You can see this shift mirrored in other folk scene veterans. Blues and hard rock heavyweights gave way to jazz fusion pioneers – think Weather Report or Herbie Hancock blending improvisational wizardry with rock energy. While some chased fleeting trends, Joni Mitchell exemplified growth by advancing her sound on later albums, moving beyond the heartbreak anthems of Blue to more experimental territories. It's fascinating to ponder what Crosby might have contributed to Steely Dan. With his meticulous vocal care, he had the skill; even in his later years, his singing prowess shone, as in collaborations with David Gilmour. So, why couldn't he have created something even more epic with 'The Dan'?
But here's the twist that might divide opinions: Was Crosby's yearning for Steely Dan a betrayal of the folk-rock identity he helped build, or a smart recognition of his broader talents? Some fans argue it shows his adventurous spirit, while others see it as ungrateful – after all, The Byrds and CSN defined eras. What do you think? If you could advise Crosby, would you push him toward jazz fusion or encourage him to stick with his roots? Share your thoughts in the comments – do you agree his regret was justified, or is this just the musings of a restless genius?
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