Stephen Stills, the 80-year-old “Love the One You’re With” singer, is discussing how his journey to sobriety is benefiting the next stage of his career. Stills, who has been completely sober for the past three years, told Rolling Stone, “It gets me back to the kid I was before this madness started, pretty affable and friendly. Things were so special at the beginning of my career before I sold a single record. But when you add poison into that mix… I’m just glad I have my original personality back.”
Since retiring from touring in 2018, Stills has been performing a number of one-off gigs. Earlier this year, he took the stage at the Kia Forum alongside Dawes, Mike Campbell, and Graham Nash for the FireAid benefit concert. “FireAid helped me check and see if my thrusting and coagulating still worked,” he told the publication. “I’m getting a little more active now, so there’s a possibility [of touring again]. It depends on the kind of venues I can attract.”
Stills is also working on a memoir, although he admits he’s “going one word at a time” and is using old newspaper articles to help recall life events. “I’ve looked at the issues from my birthdays throughout the years. That’s been very helpful since it puts you in that timeframe and suddenly your memory opens up,” he said. “Brain cells holding hands at this age is a challenge. Things pop in sometimes and you find out you’re a decade off. It’s been a great tool. But I’m puttering with the book. I’ve found that the more things change, the more things stay the same. And I must say, it’s a lot easier doing this now that I’m sober.”
Stills’ next appearance is scheduled for singer-songwriter Judy Collins’ 85th birthday celebration at New York’s Town Hall on March 8.