Buffalo Springfield Reunion
We just hang out. We sing a song together. We eat lunch, we pray together, and we visit. It is the greatest thing.
[ Joe ] Man. I’ d love to be part of it.
[ WM ] As a teenager in Southern California, I saw so many incredible bands in the sixties, and like every other potential drummer at the time, I saw Ringo on The Ed Sullivan Show in‘ 64. And I thought, that’ s it! That’ s what I want to do! Things were so much different back then because there was very little concert security. You could go to a show early and visit the artists and your heroes backstage and even go to soundcheck, visit with them in their dressing rooms. And that’ s how I met Richie Furay. I was in high school and Buffalo Springfield was my favorite band. Years later, he asked me to play on his solo record and then be in his band, which I did. But when the Springfield reunion happened a while back, I was thinking about you because I’ d followed you for years, and I wondered,“ How does Joe feel about getting that gig? I was so happy for you.
[ Joe ] That blew my mind. Sadly, we lost Dewey Martin, their drummer, and Bruce Palmer, their bass player. And so, Neil’ s bass player was Rick Rosas. He passed away in 2014. And I had been with Stephen( Stills) forever. Stephen brought me in, and I knew Neil because we recorded the Long May You Run album, and I did two CSNY albums. And so, he knew me. We knew each other.
But this was really one of the greatest opportunities in my life. I loved the Buffalo Springfield. I was in a band in Kent in 1969, and we were almost like the first Buffalo Springfield tribute band( laughs). We played so much of their music. It was so great. Any band could play that music live back then, and it was great. And so, when I got the call, Stephen said,“ Hey, you want to do some gigs?” I went,“ Yeah, yeah, yeah. When do we go?” I figured it was his solo thing. And Stephen said,“ Yeah, we’ re going to rehearse at Neil’ s.” I said,“ Neil’ s? What are you talking about?” Stephen said,“ Yeah, we’ re doing the Buffalo Springfield.” I was like,“ What? Does Neil( Young) know about this? He said,“ Yeah, he’ s cool with it. You’ re going to be the drummer. And Rick is the bass player.” I was thrilled.
The worst thing that just infuriated me was that we rehearsed for three weeks. They sold out every show that was booked in a half hour. Every show was sold out once they got posted. And then Neil bailed after our seventh show. And it was like why? It was one of the greatest experiences. The band was unbelievable. It was really good.
And we did six shows on the West Coast. Then our seventh show was Bonnaroo. 250,000 people! And we were the headline, and it was like after that, they had booked 30 shows for the Fall. I remember it like it was yesterday. The Bonnaroo gig was around June 11 th. Anyway, Neil had some obligations for the summer, but he said, we’ re getting back together in the Fall. We then got 30 dates booked. But Neil bailed. It didn’ t make much sense, but what are going to do without Neil? We can’ t do it. But I got to tell you for a split second there, that band was
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