How Many Times Has David Crosby Been Arrested?
Singer and songwriter David Crosby has been a member of more than one iconic rock band. In the 1960s, he was a member of The Byrds before the other band members fired him in 1967. He more famously went on to become a part of Crosby, Stills, and Nash (via Far Out) and was a member of the group when it became Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with Neil Young on board by 1969. Almost as well known as their song catalogue is the turmoil within the band itself. Crosby explained, "If you give a bunch of very young guys millions of dollars and get them high as kites and let them loose, it's just sort of inevitable" (via Ultimate Classic Rock).
Decades after the success of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crosby revealed more about his role in the band's conflicts in an interview with Howard Stern. Specifically, he discussed his drug-related arrest and subsequent prison sentence as a near-breaking point for the band.
David Crosby has been arrested twice
In April of 1982, David Crosby was arrested for cocaine possession and for carrying a .45-caliber handgun. Rock Celebrities explains that Crosby's drug addiction was no recent development by the 1980s. The cocaine use leading up to his arrest was another significant reason as to why Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young broke up. Crosby's imprisonment was the nail in the coffin. He cited it as what "pretty much destroyed" the band (via Guitar.com).
Crosby served five months in prison and stated that he was no longer taking drugs upon his release in 1986 (via L.A. Times). Despite the fact that his time in prison was key to helping him kick his drug addiction, this was not Crosby's last run-in with the law. In 2004, The New York Times reported that he was arrested for drugs and weapons again, this time with marijuana, a loaded pistol, and two knives all found in his bag at a New York City hotel.
After two arrests and a reputation spanning six decades, David Crosby now lives a simpler life and as shown by his 2019 documentary "David Crosby: Remember My Name," he wishes to reconcile with his former bandmates. However, at the time of the documentary's production, none of them have spoken to him.