Wild Tales

A Rock & Roll Life

By: Graham Nash

Narrated by: Graham Nash

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

From Graham Nash - the legendary musician and founding member of the iconic bands Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Hollies - comes a candid and riveting autobiography that belongs on the reading list of every classic rock fan.

Graham Nash's songs defined a generation and helped shape the history of rock and roll - he’s written over 200 songs, including such classic hits as "Carrie Anne," “On A Carousel,” "Simple Man," "Our House," “Marrakesh Express,” and "Teach Your Children." From the opening salvos of the British Rock Revolution to the last shudders of Woodstock, he has rocked and rolled wherever music mattered. Now Graham is ready to tell his story: his lower-class childhood in post-war England, his early days in the British Invasion group The Hollies; becoming the lover and muse of Joni Mitchell during the halcyon years, when both produced their most introspective and important work; meeting Stephen Stills and David Crosby and reaching superstardom with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and his enduring career as a solo musician and political activist. Nash has valuable insights into a world and time many think they know from the outside but few have experienced at its epicenter, and equally wonderful anecdotes about the people around him: the Beatles, the Stones, Hendrix, Cass Elliot, Dylan, and other rock luminaries.

From London to Laurel Canyon and beyond, Wild Tales is a revealing look back at an extraordinary life - with all the highs and the lows; the love, the sex, and the jealousy; the politics; the drugs; the insanity - and the sanity - of a magical era of music.

©2013 Graham Nash (P)2013 Random House Audio

Reliving my life through his story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you love early rock and roll you'll love this book. It is right up there with the very best of them.

Loved this wild ride!

This was a standout memoir. I was engrossed from the minute I pressed play. Aside from the amazing content, which is a given if you know anything about this artist, the writing itself is actually high quality and Graham was able to create vivid imagery to enhance his narrative. The author's narration was phenomenal as well, and this was especially critical when reading lyrics; Nash's ability to sing his lyrics rather than recite them brought this book to life. One of the most captivating audiobooks I've listened to - 10 out of 10.

Nash, The Sweet Voice Of Reason In a Difficult but Talented Group

I think we all have our favorites in CSN (you can't justly include Neil Young because his participation, while greatly beneficial, was like that of a capricious butterfly, darting in and out), and I admit that my favorite is Stephen Stills,I feel his talents are very underappreciated. I have no idea how difficult he is to work with, but I know someone who worked with Crosby professionally and I fail to see how Stills could be more difficult than THAT, so to me it seems incredibly short sighted and unfair! I have seen all of the documentaries and read all of the books,and it bothers me to hear all of these stories where Stephen wasn't included. He's clearly a protectionist and apparently has an ego, but his contribution is so amazing! I enjoyed Nash's honesty about his humble beginnings and the struggles of his parents. His mention of Radio Luxembourg, The Everly Brothers (loved the story from his boyhood meeting of them!) , John Sebastian, Cass Elliott, and Ahmet Ertegun are such COMMON influences in up and coming rockers in the 60's-the only things not mentioned were possibly The Band, Bob Dylan, and Fred Neil! I enjoyed the book and the fact that the author narrated. I love his passion for politics and the environment(I'd love to hear his take on tRUMP!) and the story of his rise to fame is a good one, he's very talented and down to earth. Here's where this book went south for me just a little bit. I was anticipating the story of why his marriage ended, and what happened between him and Crosby that was so bad that he will never speak to him again. This book ends with Nash extolling the many virtues of his wife Susan and his best friend David Crosby, when, in truth, he left his wife for a woman young enough to be his daughter(reportedly with a strong resemblance to a young Joni Mitchell), and he has vowed to never speak to Crosby again. Considering that Crosby's frankly outspoken remarks about Neil Young divorcing Peggy after decades of marriage and marrying Darryl Hannah were pretty harsh, he's made it very clear that he's pretty judgmental about men "upgrading" to newer models, often literally. My hunch is that this is related. While it's not kind to put someone who has been there for you on blast and to be that outspoken and judgmental about their personal life, that IS who Crosby is and has always been, and to be that unforgiving now when he's down on his luck and in poor health, this is a choice Nash is going to regret. Anyway, perhaps this needed addendum will be in the next book, very disappointed that these subjects weren't addressed.

Very cool!

some fascinating stories and little known facts directly from one of the Worlds finest musical talents. well worth a listen.

Great stories

Best part of book is that you are hearing it in the 1st person. Just having Graham narrating made it that much better. One thing I was surprised about was there was not one mention of Jim Morrison, no iterations between them. You are an rock n roll icon mr. Nash

Lots of details of the 60's Laurel Canyon crowd

I finished most of it, but had to bail very near the end when Nash, a hard-wired liberal, physically joined the Occupy Wall Street radicals. As I grew up in the same era, I well remember each historical event he recounts and every contentious iteration of CSNY. I especially enjoyed the details and explanations of the stories behind the story, like his certainty that Cass Elliot died from drugs because he had known her to still be using, even though the official cause of death was heart failure . What I had to wade through was his condemning finger wagging at anyone who does not ascribe to his politics, causes, and beliefs. If I ever do a re-listen, I will fast forward through those parts. In a nutshell, I reasonably enjoyed this listen.

The Best of the Recent Rock Biographies

After listening to Keith Richard's and Clapton's bios in addition to Billy Crystal's, I liked Nash's the best. Nash was always the most articulate of Crosby Stills & Nash. Which is remarkable for a guy who never completed high school. He doesn't waste lot of time discussing his drug use like in Keith Richard's bio, nor does he spend a lot of time bragging about his children and worrying about his imminent demise like Billy Crystal. lnstead, Nash gives us the condensed version of what we came for, which is his rise to rock and roll stardom 1st through the Hollies and then with Crosby Stills & Nash. It's a remarkable story. How the Hollies 1st big U.S. hit Bustop was written by the 14 yr. old Graham Gouldman, and how Nash was blown away when the kid performed it for him. And the 1st time he sung together with Crosby and Stills at Joni Mitchell's house. He also brings us up to date with his current pursuits.

What made the audiobook for me was that it was read by Nash himself, a really nice personal touch.

Full disclosure

Not everyone allows the reader into his heart and soul. Graham did just that. Hope you enjoy reading about a life well lived in full self expression! With gratitude for your courage and commitment!

Amazingly!

I think this is one of the best biographies I have listened to or read.
It is without doubt, an amazing experience listening to the author read the text, in particular because only he can read the verse to his own songs with conviction.
I really loved this book.
What an amazing artist!
I can only recommend it highly!

Good story, but he's a wimp

What made the experience of listening to Wild Tales the most enjoyable?

Story of how music was made at that time

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the story overall, but found him rather annoying...it seems as though he often mooched off of his women, always moving in with them and sponging. He also was such a sycophant to David Crosby, a man who by his own account, was a pig toward women and total egomaniac. Those parts were rather revolting to hear about, especially since he reads them like they were no big deal without seeing how disgusting they were.