Moviefone Editorial

Tag: david-crosby-remember-my-name

  • Cameron Crowe Making Joni Mitchell Movie

    Joni Mitchell in Martin Scorsese's 'The Last Waltz.'
    Joni Mitchell in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Last Waltz.’

    It’s been a quiet few years for Cameron Crowe in terms of narrative output on big or small screens. Though he had a great run from the time he wrote ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ (based on his own experiences going undercover at a high school), and created the hit movies ‘Say Anything’, ‘Singles’, ‘Jerry Maguire’, ‘Almost Famous’ and ‘Vanilla Sky’, he saw his most recent movie, ‘Aloha’ fail to connect with audiences and criticized for some dodgy racial elements (Emma Stone as a native Hawaiian just didn’t fly), and on TV, his Showtime series ‘Roadies’ (which trod similar ground to ‘Almost Famous’ but in the present day as opposed to the 1970s) was cancelled after one season.

    Now, though, after a more recent fallow period (more on that below), it appears he’s back with a new planned movie that means a lot to him.

    According to Above The Line’s Jeff Schneider, Crowe has been busy writing a film about legendary folk singer Joni Mitchell.

    While little concrete is known about the movie yet, it apparently stretches further than a conventional biopic, driven by Crowe’s close friendship with Mitchell, who he has known since he was a young journalist working for Rolling Stone magazine, which published his profile of her in 1979.

    Joni Mitchell in Martin Scorsese's 'The Last Waltz.'
    Joni Mitchell in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Last Waltz.’

    Joni Mitchell’s story

    The Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter was one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit and became known for her starkly personal lyrics and unconventional compositions which grew to incorporate pop and jazz elements. In her career, she has won 10 Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

    Her hits include ‘Both Sides Now’, ‘River’, ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ and ‘Woodstock’, while one of her albums, ‘Blue’, is considered among the greatest of all time.

    Mitchell suffered a brain aneurysm in 2015 but recovered enough to make a rare public appearance at Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party, escorted by Crowe.

    Writer, director and producer Cameron Crowe.
    Writer, director and producer Cameron Crowe.

    Related Article: David Crosby Dies at the Age of 81

    What has Cameron Crowe been up to since ‘Roadies’?

    Crowe hasn’t exactly been sitting around since ‘Aloha’ and ‘Roadies’, though –– he’s produced a documentary about David Crosby called ‘Remember My Name’ and directed the short Stevie Nicks: Show Them the Way’.

    And Crowe was also busy getting the stage musical based on ‘Almost Famous’, which is now playing on Broadway.

    He’s reportedly been at work on the Mitchell movie during pandemic but has yet to reveal what form it’ll take or whether various actors will be playing her in the course of the film. At 79, Mitchell remains as vital as ever, and is involved with the movie, which means Crowe should enjoy full access to her back catalogue and real insight into her life and career.

    With luck, this could bring Crowe back to make more movies, though as of right now, we don’t know where the new film is set up.

    Producer Cameron Crowe, David Crosby and director A. J. Eaton from 'David Crosby: Remember My Name.'
    (L to R) Producer Cameron Crowe, David Crosby and director A. J. Eaton from ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’

    Other Cameron Crowe Movies:

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  • David Crosby Dies at the Age of 81

    David Crosby from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary 'David Crosby: Remember My Name.'
    David Crosby from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’

    Singer/songwriter and famed guitarist David Crosby, who also made his mark on the world of movies, has died. He was 81.

    And his ties to Hollywood began from the start of his life, even if he largely chose music over film. Crosby was born in Los Angeles on August 14, 1941, the son of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby. He dropped out of drama school to pursue a career in music, touring the folk club circuit and recording as a member of the Les Baxter Balladeers. Crosby cut his first solo session in late 1963; early the following year he formed the Jet Set with Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark, and with the additions of bassist Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke, the group was rechristened The Byrds.

    Although McGuinn chiefly pioneered the Byrds’ trademark 12-string guitar sound, Crosby’s interest in jazz and Indian music also influenced their subsequent excursions into psychedelia. But he left the group after creative differences.

    After a stint as a solo artists, Crosby started jamming with ex-Buffalo Springfield singer/guitarist Stephen Stills. They were joined by ex-Hollies member Graham Nash; and Crosby, Stills & Nash’s 1969 debut LP pushed all three to greater fame. The addition of Stills’ former Buffalo Springfield bandmate Neil Young expanded the group to a four-piece, and in August of 1969 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) made just their second live appearance to date at the Woodstock Festival.

    They enjoyed huge success with their various albums, but Crosby also struggled with drug addiction (and was unfairly tagged as one of the poster children for excess and narcotics). He ended up in prison after fleeing rehab but eventually beat his demons and reconnected with his bandmates for regular tours while working with other musicians and working on solo projects. He also famously fathered a child for fellow musician Melissa Etheridge and her partner Julie Cypher and penned two memoirs.

    David Crosby from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary 'David Crosby: Remember My Name.'
    David Crosby from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’

    On the movie front, he was the subject of a documentary, ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name’, produced by Cameron Crowe and directed by AJ Eaton.

    Crosby’s music has graced many a movie soundtrack, but he also appeared in front of the camera a few times, including as a ‘70s hippie in ‘Backdraft’ and as Tickles in ‘Hook’.

    “It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed,” Graham Nash wrote. “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, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years. David was fearless in life and in music. He leaves behind a tremendous void as far as sheer personality and talent in this world. He spoke his mind, his heart, and his passion through his beautiful music and leaves an incredible legacy. These are the things that matter most. My heart is truly with his wife, Jan, his son, Django, and all of the people he has touched in this world.”

    Crosby is survived by his wife Jan Dance, their son Django, son James Raymond, and two daughters, Erika and Donovan, from previous relationships.

    David Crosby with The Byrds from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary 'David Crosby: Remember My Name.'
    David Crosby with The Byrds from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’
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  • Cameron Crowe Wanted to Do a David Bowie Documentary, Bowie Said ‘No’

    Cameron Crowe Wanted to Do a David Bowie Documentary, Bowie Said ‘No’

    British Lion Film Corporation

    Cameron Crowe wanted to do a memoir-style documentary about David Bowie very much like his current film “David Crosby: Remember My Name.”

    But, sadly, the rock star turned him down.

    Crowe told Variety, “I tried for Bowie, like about five years ago, maybe four. With the documentaries that we’ve done, the ethic has been to cut out the middleman and to let the artist talk to you and not have a cavalcade of talking heads. And if you get the artist at the right time, when they’re ready to talk — which, as you know well, is everything … Sometimes when they’re putting out a really uncommercial project, they’re ready to talk, to explain it to you.”

    He added, “I thought, ‘This is a great time for Bowie. He hasn’t come out with anything new yet. Maybe for the release of this next album, he’s ready to do that thing.’ Because similarly to Crosby, when I was ever around him, he was that honest. But he said no.”

    Bowie passed away in January 2016 at age 69. If you want to see a documentary about the music icon, there’s always  the 1973 concert film, “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.”

    Crowe said he’d also be interested in making the same kind of documentary with John Fogerty and Joni Mitchell.

    “David Crosby: Remember My Name” is in theaters now.

    [Via The Playlist, Variety]