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On this day, March 20, 1968, there was a drug bust that helped break up Buffalo Springfield.
50 Years Ago: Drug Bust Helps Break Up Buffalo Springfield
An all-star rock 'n' roll bust went down on March 20, 1968, and the implications for music history were huge.
Seems Buffalo Springfield were hanging out at the home of Stephen Stills' then-girlfriend, nestled in California's Topanga Canyon, when Neil Young, Jim Messina, Richie Furay and Stills began a jam session with pal Eric Clapton. "They were partying ... the Marshall amps were stacked," friend Linda Stevens told Jimmy McDonough in the Neil Young biography Shakey. "Clapton and Stephen were playing so loud, the mountains were ringing. One of the neighbors didn't think it was so cool." ... Even as the police were called, band member Dewey Martin was leaving. He saw the patrol car headed toward them, but "it was too late to warn the band," Martin said. As the cops arrived, band members and friends tried valiantly to dispose of any illegal substance.
"Being the road manager, they handed it all to me," Chris Sarns said. "I tried to flush is down the toilet and the toilet backed up. The cops came running in the bathroom, and I'm sitting there looking at this pot floating around." ... Everyone there was arrested except Stills, who managed to crawl out of a window and escape. The rest were hauled off to jail where, according to Jim Messina, Clapton's long hair and clothes – including pink boots – amused the cops. "They set him out front of us to humiliate him," said Messina. "It was a time when long hair was not cool."
Stills, in the meantime, already had phoned attorneys for his friends. All those arrested were found guilty only of disturbing the peace. Both Clapton and Young avoided any deportation threat, while Sarns received a fine of $300 and a three-month probation. Yet bad vibes surrounding this drug bust have been blamed in part for Buffalo Springfield's eventual breakup. The band played their last concert just weeks later.
An all-star rock 'n' roll bust went down on March 20, 1968, and the implications for music history were huge.
Seems Buffalo Springfield were hanging out at the home of Stephen Stills' then-girlfriend, nestled in California's Topanga Canyon, when Neil Young, Jim Messina, Richie Furay and Stills began a jam session with pal Eric Clapton. "They were partying ... the Marshall amps were stacked," friend Linda Stevens told Jimmy McDonough in the Neil Young biography Shakey. "Clapton and Stephen were playing so loud, the mountains were ringing. One of the neighbors didn't think it was so cool." ... Even as the police were called, band member Dewey Martin was leaving. He saw the patrol car headed toward them, but "it was too late to warn the band," Martin said. As the cops arrived, band members and friends tried valiantly to dispose of any illegal substance.
"Being the road manager, they handed it all to me," Chris Sarns said. "I tried to flush is down the toilet and the toilet backed up. The cops came running in the bathroom, and I'm sitting there looking at this pot floating around." ... Everyone there was arrested except Stills, who managed to crawl out of a window and escape. The rest were hauled off to jail where, according to Jim Messina, Clapton's long hair and clothes – including pink boots – amused the cops. "They set him out front of us to humiliate him," said Messina. "It was a time when long hair was not cool."
Stills, in the meantime, already had phoned attorneys for his friends. All those arrested were found guilty only of disturbing the peace. Both Clapton and Young avoided any deportation threat, while Sarns received a fine of $300 and a three-month probation. Yet bad vibes surrounding this drug bust have been blamed in part for Buffalo Springfield's eventual breakup. The band played their last concert just weeks later.
I love this tune, "Mr. Soul." It's heard in Warren Beatty's film "Shampoo." I'll have to find another link to the clip.
CabinFeverReliever
Published on Jul 23, 2016
1967 - Hollywood Palace TV show. Hollywood Playhouse. Hollywood, CA. Neil Young (vocal, guitar); Stephen Stills (guitar); Richie Furay (guitar); Dewey Martin (1940 - 2009 drums); and road manager Dickie Davis (pretending to play bass on this appearance with pre-recorded music). Song written by Neil Young. Please support the music of the members of Buffalo Springfield. For bios, tour info, music, merchandise and more, visit: http://www.neilyoung.com/, http://www.stephenstills.com/, http://www.richiefuray.com/
Published on Jul 23, 2016
1967 - Hollywood Palace TV show. Hollywood Playhouse. Hollywood, CA. Neil Young (vocal, guitar); Stephen Stills (guitar); Richie Furay (guitar); Dewey Martin (1940 - 2009 drums); and road manager Dickie Davis (pretending to play bass on this appearance with pre-recorded music). Song written by Neil Young. Please support the music of the members of Buffalo Springfield. For bios, tour info, music, merchandise and more, visit: http://www.neilyoung.com/, http://www.stephenstills.com/, http://www.richiefuray.com/
Mon Mar 20, 2023: On this day, March 20, 1968, there was a drug bust that helped break up Buffalo Springfield.
Tue Mar 20, 2018: March 20, 1968: 50 Years Ago Today, Drug Bust Helps Break Up Buffalo Springfield
Hat tip, This Day In Rock, which is now defunct:
1968 – Eric Clapton is arrested in Los Angeles along with Neil Young, Richie Furay, and Jim Messina. The four are charged with “being in a place where it is suspected marijuana is being used.” Clapton is later found innocent, while the Buffalo Springfield guys receive a small fine.
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