Graham Nash

From pop hitmaker in The Hollies to the Woodstock stage with Crosby, Stills & Nash, Graham Nash is one of the most successful – and thoughtful – British songwriters of all time. We met him to talk about Woodstock, Neil Young, old Martins and new songs

- Jamie Dickson

Graham Nash, one of the most important songwriters of the 60s, is in town as the star attraction of an Americana-themed season of gigs. It’s an oddly boomeranglike arc for the Blackpool-born artist, who first rose to fame with 60s hit-makers The Hollies, who were so prolific and successful that their songs spent 231 weeks in the UK singles charts during the 1960s. Nash’s impeccable ear for radio-ready melody made him the sharpest knife in that band’s creative drawer and he penned some of their biggest hits, including 1967’s Carrie Anne – a sugar-sweet slice of harmony vocal pop that shows why The Hollies were the era’s true rivals to The Beatles’ crown. But like many artists maturing in the late 60s, Nash was drawn west, across the Atlantic, to the kaleidoscopic revolution in pop culture that was happening in California. Joining forces with Stephen Stills and David Crosby, he became one pillar of the most magical vocal and songwriting partnerships in rock history. From Woodstock to the Marrakesh Express, his has been a dazzling journey across the map of rock music that Nash recounts with the modesty of a pilgrim not the bombast of a conqueror. Now in his seventh decade, he tells us what he’s learned about songwriting, soul-searching and guitar playing along the way.

How are you enjoying the tour at the moment, Graham?

“It’s almost over. After six weeks of travelling in different countries and different cities and different bus rides it gets a little crusty. The reason for the tour, of course, is the music and the music has been fine. I’m working with two great musicians, Todd Caldwell on the keyboard and Shane Fontayne on lead guitar.