David Crosby was a hippie-rock legend who crashed down to earth due to feuds and drug issues

David Crosby was one of the most unconventional singers of the hippy era. He was a folk-rock pioneer who made his name with The Byrds, discovered Joni Mitchell, and reached his artistic zenith with the supergroup Crosby Stills & Nash. He passed away at the age of 81 after suffering from health issues for years. Furthermore, Crosby's rackety life had more than its fair share of fights, addiction issues, run-ins with the law, and failed romances despite dealing in divine harmonies and soothing music. He personified the patchouli-scented counter-culture scene with his shaggy, shoulder-length hair and walrus mustache. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image credit: Far Out Magazine[/caption] Additionally, he contributed to fostering the atmosphere of peace, love, and understanding that came up in defiance as the Vietnam War was raging and young Americans were being enlisted. Only the crazy Crosby would pen a song (Triad) about a ménage à trois based on the shenanigans at his Beverly Hills house and later judged "too controversial" by his fellow Byrds musicians. In addition, he contributed the line "rain grey town, known for its sound," describing London in the Swinging Sixties to the drug-related hit song Eight Miles High. A number of radio stations banned the song after hearing that it supported recreational drug use. Also read: US rock legend David Crosby passes away at 81

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For more than 50 years, David Crosby promoted cannabis use and even started a brand called Mighty Croz. He acknowledged, "All those hit songs, every one of them, I wrote them all on cannabis." Moreover, Crosby spent nine months in a Texas state prison after being convicted of drugs and weapons offenses, including possession of heroin and cocaine in the Eighties. And since the turn of the millennium, he has run into legal issues once more for drug and firearm offenses, and most recently, he entirely split from Graham Nash. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1222"] Image credit: Relix[/caption] But after the passing of his former bandmate, Nash had the final word: "I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been at times, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together." He added, "David was fearless in life and in music.”