As a songwriter Graham Nash has never been one to shy away from pointing out the inequalities in the world, letting his music introduce a different perspective.
As he prepares for a homecoming show in Manchester next week, he reflected on how there’s possibly more to comment on today than ever before.
“It’s amazing to me that songs I wrote decades ago are still incredibly relevant today,” he said. “Look at Immigration Man (a song he recorded with David Crosby in 1972) it’s going on here right now in America. All the military madness, there are more wars going on now than there ever were when I wrote it.”
You might think that would leave him feeling disillusioned, but at 83 the fire still burns and the belief is as strong as it ever was.
“Honestly,” he said. “I still believe we can change the world like I said in my song Chicago all those years ago.
“My wife Amy introduced me to a quote from Nina Simone in which she said that as an artist ‘no matter what you, do you have to show what’s going on in your life right now’ and I have very much taken that to heart.
“One of the reasons I came to the US in the first place over 50 years ago was that I wanted to vote; I wanted to express my criticism of what the country was doing particularly in our name. And once again I find that you have to reflect the times in which you live.
“I need to talk about what’s going on and what I see in my work. Nobody has to listen to me, nobody has to figure out if I have any answers but I do have a lot of questions.”
Graham, like many musicians, is a critic of the current Trump administration.
“If anybody wants to know exactly what’s going on in America right now listen to what Bruce Springsteen said at his show when he was in Manchester,” he said. (Springsteen spoke of an ‘unfit president’ and of a ‘corrupt administration’)
"He was speaking the truth from his heart.
“I do despair when I see what the Trump administration is doing to this country I do believe that a lot of people who voted for Trump and were worried about the price of eggs didn’t vote for what his administration is doing now.
“We’re seeing the lessening of democracy in this country and the rise of the autocrat. I do believe it is going to be very difficult to get away from Donald Trump.”
Graham Nash is truly one of music’s elder statesmen. From his early days with the Hollies to his time with Crosby Stills Nash and Young he has written songs which have become part of people’s lives.
And it these songs which he will be performing at his Evening of Songs and Stories show at the Bridgewater Hall.
“You have so many people who love music but don’t make music,” he said, “and they are kind of mystified where was your head when you wrote Teach Your Children or want to know what were you thinking about when you wrote Marrakesh Express so I tell them where I was, what I was thinking and why I wrote what I did.
“When I write and release a song I want people to really think about what I’m doing. I want them to think about what I’m saying.
“Time is really our only currency so I’m not interested in playing you a bad song just as I’m not interested in showing you a bad photograph.”
As well as being renowned for his music, Graham is also an acclaimed photographer.
It is often said that in times of discord that is when creative artists of all kinds come to the fore.
“I’d have to agree,” said Graham. “Troubled times act like a hotbed of creativity especially if you are open as I tend to be through 360 degrees both through my music and with my photography.
“I find that stressful times can make you really think about what’s going on.
“On my most recent album Now - released in 2023 - there are couple of songs on there Golden Idols and Stars and Stripes where once again I had to talk about what’s going on with me.”
The album is also noticeable for the song Buddy’s Back which features Allan Clarke from the Hollies on backing vocals
“That was a pleasure,” said Graham. “I’d not sung with him for many, many years. When he did a solo record he wanted me to sing on it which I was very happy to do. I think I sang on 10 of the 12 tracks. One of the songs was of our shared love for Buddy Holly so on his album he sings the lead and I join in the harmony and on my album I sing the lead and he harmonises.
“We sounded exactly as we did. Allan and I always had a very decent harmony. He’s my oldest friend; I’ve known him since I was six years old. To see the circles come round is amazing.”
Growing up as a boy in Salford, Graham is looking forward to returning to Manchester.
“It’s always very special to me,” he said. “Last time I was there I saw the theatre where I watched Bill Haley in 1957 perform a show that changed my life.”
Having made music since the Sixties, Graham is seeing a whole new audience discover his work.
“I think it’s great younger people are getting turned on to the music particularly in days where if you don’t have 20,000 dancers with you the song sucks.
“I’ve always maintained if I can touch your heart with just an acoustic guitar or my piano the song is well worth it.”
Graham Nash is at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on Thursday, October 16. Details from www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
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