Wooden Nickel Speciale

Wooden Nickeel era la gloriosa fanzine italiana di Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, fondata da Francesco Lucarelli, Mauro Cosia e Stefano Frollano, fu pubblicata per la prima volta in una tiratura limitata di sole 15 copie nel dicembre del 1983 e solo successivamente redatta anche in inglese e pubblicata in una tiratura più ampia. Il nome fu preso a prestito dal titolo del bootleg del concerto di CSN&Y al Monterey Folk Festival del September 1969. Ho scoperto questa fanzine indirettamente, infatti mentre ero alla ricerca di materiale per un mio articolo sono approdato al sito Crosby, Stills and Nash @ suitelorraine.com (da cui sono tratte tutte le immagini qui riportate) e ho avuto modo di vedere le splendide copertine e qualche inserto (che riporto in alcune pagine con collegamento ipertestuale) di questa fanzine. Purtroppo all'epoca io ero un bambino e non ho mai avuto modo di tenere tra le mani queste preziose pubblicazioni, oggi probabilmente diventare un appetibile pasto per i collezionisti, e forse non sapevo nemmeno chi fossero CSN&Y, ma sono sicuro che ai molti fan di allora farà piacere fare un salto nel passatoIo. I fan italiani di CSN&Y devono molto a questa fanzine, infatti nell'epoca in cui internet e i suoi fan-site non esistevano, questo tipo di riviste monografiche, aiutavano gli appassionati ad essere sempre aggiornati su quanto i loro beniamini stessero facendo al di là dell'oceano. Infatti le notizie dagli USA arrivavano con ritardo o semplicemente venivano tralasciate dai giornali troppo impegnati all'epoca così come adesso a correre dietro all'ultimo cantante arrivato da chissà dove a spaccare le classifiche per qualche settimana. Quello delle fanzine era un fenomeno assai diffuso sia in Italia che all'estero, acquistarle e collaborare con loro era un modo come un altro per sentirsi vicino ad altri fan e quindi parte di quelle che oggi chiamano net-comunity. La prima cosa che ho notato quardando le pagine del sito di CSN&Y at suitelorrain è che dietro ogni pagina c'è un lavoro immenso, non quantificabile in termini di passione e dedizione, e lo si può capire già dal fatto che all'epoca le notizie circolavano con molta più difficoltà e con molta minor velocità. Queste pagine vogliono essere un piccolo ma sentito omaggio al lavoro di Stefano, Francesco e Mauro che all'epoca resero meno dura la vita dei fan...

Qui trovate alcune copertine

Cover photo credits:#02. Stephen Stills - drawing by Francesco Lucarelli ©
#03. David Crosby - cover not credited
#04. Stephen Stills - by Umberto Martuscelli © 07/15/80 Milano
#05. Neil Young - by Linda Woods ©
#06. Graham Nash - cover not credited
#07. Stephen Stills - by Umberto Martuscelli © 07/15/80 Milano, Artwork by Massimo Lopez#08. Neil Young - 11/09/73 Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©#09&10. Crosby & Nash - 09/17/74 @ Wembley, Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©#11&12. Crosby & Nash - Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©
#14. Neil Young - Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©
#15. Neil Young - 04/29/87 Roma from the Wooden Nickel private collection. Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©
#16. Stephen Stills - UIC Pavilion Chicago by Dave Tulsky © 1985
#17. Billy Talbot - Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©#18&19. CSNY - by Paul Wultz © November 1969 Hawaii
#20.David Crosby - by Stefano Frollano © May 23rd, 1989 Roma
#.21 Neil Young - by Steve Babineau © 1992

Wooden Nickel - The CSNY Italian Fanzine
Numero 3

I went to this show: See Lorraine's shows HERE


Italian Rust Never Sleeps Ad

Back of magazine

Wooden Nickel - The CSNY Italian Fanzine
Numero #15

The WOODEN NICKEL POSSE ©
with a little dash of Crazy Horse!Francesco Lucarelli, Billy Talbot, Stefano Frollano, Ralph Molina, Mauro Coscia

photo by Ramiro ©

It was not until after the show, that I realized the song that I passed off as a NEW Stills tune,
was actually "Hollis Brown," a BOB DYLAN song.Forgive me Bob - Stephen does a hell of a cover though.
And by the way, why didn't he get the slot on the 30th Anniversary show @ The Garden????

Wooden Nickel - The CSNY Italian Fanzine

Numero 6

Wooden Nickel - The CSNY Italian Fanzine
Numero 9/10

Stephen Stills concert review by Gareth Lewis and Scott Jones©

Wooden Nickel - The CSNY Italian Fanzine
numero 11/12 HighlightsCrosby & Nash - Cover Artwork by Massimo Lopez ©

Inside photo on the back of the cover
Richie Havens and Stephen Stills 1980Photo by Umberto Martuscelli © in Milan Italy

****

FEATURED ARTICLE

handbill art by Keith Haring©from the L. Kaczorowski collection ©

Madison Square Garden NYC
October 31st, 1986

Originally published in WOODEN NICKEL #11/12
by Lorraine Kaczorowski(prossimamente la traduzione)

October 31st is a day of celebration in America called Halloween; all hallows day, the eve of All Saints Day. People get dressed up in costumes and go to parties. It is also a day of tricks and treats, and many suprises. This past Halloween did not go by without a few treats and surprises for me.

David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash performed at a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on October 31st, 1986.

The benefit was to raise money to fight the war on drugs, especially crack, (the most potent form of cocaine), here in New York. CSN was among an all star group of performers; latin musician Rueben Blades, Santana, rap group Run DMC, the Allman Brothers, Mick Taylor, Paul Butterfield, Olatunji and his Drums of Passion, and Felix Cavaliere.

CSN’s performance was anxiously awaited. They played to a gleeful crowd who gave them a standing ovation as they hit the stage. Each artist was limited to a short set. CSN opened with “Wasted on the Way,” into “Change Partners,” “You Don’t Have to Cry,” “Long Time Gone,” “Guinnevere,” “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” and “Teach Your Children.”

This set was performed acoustic only; without any other musicians backing them up. The harmonies throughout were very dynamic. The version of
”Long Time Gone,” was driving and superb; all three were playing acoustic guitars for this song.
I really was moved, lifted by the rhythm of the guitars and Stephen’s melodic leads intertwined within the piece. There was a good amount of fresh improvisational leads from Stephen here.

Graham said during the show that they didn’t intend to play “Guinnevere,” but they did because they felt the crowd would be receptive and respectfully quite for David’s song - and we were.

I also think that Graham knew David would be filled with confidence and good feelings about himself from a good musical performance and positive audience feedback. These are two things that he was lacking when he was in Texas.... What came out of my speculation was a good version of the song with Graham on harmonica.

“The Suite” was also sprinkled with good leads by Stephen that breathed new life into this song. But the best part of the show was yet to come... At the end of this six hour show there was a group jam. Guess who came out to play? Stephen on electric guitar, Graham, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Mick Taylor, Carlos Santana, Butch Trucks, Dan Toler, Felix Cavaliere, Olatunji and his drums of Passion all exchanging riffs, and having a good time.

The reason I say this was the best part of the show for me is that I never get to see Stephen Stills do what he loves to do the best, jamming on guitar, and having spontaneous interactions with other musicians. I have seen him perform so many times solo or with CSN, but never in this loose context.

Towards the end of this mini-jam, the percussionists were going wild with a great beat; at which point Stephen put down his guitar and started playing the bongo drums, singing and dancing.
Participating in this high energy gave me such a joy.

That was my Halloween treat.

Wooden Nickel - The CSNY Italian Fanzine
Numero 17

Tour song grid for Stills Young 1976(The order and times each song was played)