Star 'critical' after transplant - David Crosby

Author: Ben Macintyre
Journal: The Times
Date: November 22 1994

David Crosby, veteran star of the rock group Crosby, Stills & Nash, was 'critical' in a Los Angeles hospital last night after a seven-hour liver transplant operation.

Crosby, 53, suffered chronic liver damage as a result of decades of drug abuse, his publicist, Elliot Mintz, said.

The transplant was performed on Sunday night at the University of California Medical Centre, and doctors said they were 'optimistic' about his chances of recovery. The organ donor was not identified. Despite severe physical pain, Crosby performed with Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Woodstock '94 concert in August, but in recent weeks his condition deteriorated sharply. He was admitted to hospital on November 2.

Stephen Stills, Crosby's fellow band member, said he was overjoyed about the operation. Mr Mintz said: "There can be no question about it that substance abuse did, in fact, contribute to the condition of David's liver. He wrote about it ... he never held back.