Cancellation explanations dont get much better than the one issued by the Golden Bear back in 1985 when David Crosby bowed out of a booking at the Huntington Beach club whose legacy is being saluted this weekend with shows Friday and Saturday featuring the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Byrds founding member Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, David Lindley, Jack Tempchin and others.
Crosby had been scheduled to do a solo date at the club at a time in his life that could charitably be called difficult. Hed received a five-year prison sentence after being convicted in Texas two years earlier of possessing cocaine and carrying a handgun in a nightclub, and was in the process of an appeal.
While waiting for that hearing to roll around, he was arrested in Mill Valley in Northern California for possessing a concealed weapon and narcotics paraphernalia, not long after receiving three years probation on a separate conviction for driving with a suspended license and drunk driving.
On the day of the Texas hearing on his appeal in that case, Crosby was a no-show, so the judge issued arrest warrants for the mustachioed rock star, prompting Crosby to pull out of his Golden Bear show.
I guess he doesnt feel safe playing, being a fugitive, the clubs manager explained at the time. Ahh, for the good old days of rock 'n' roll when take no prisoners meant more than just attitude.
