Anniversary of Buffalo Springfield's Last Stand

05/05/2011
. On this day in 1968, Buffalo Springfield played their last show. Richie Furay formed Poco, Neil Young began a solo career and Stephen Stills teamed up with David Crosby and Graham Nash in Crosby, Stills and Nash. Gibson takes a look back: Buffalo Springfield ended almost as fast as it began. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers � best-known for their 1967 hit "For What It's Worth" � lasted a mere 25 months. And, in that short run, the lineup was in a constant state of flux, with members being deported, not showing up for gigs and being replaced by others. On this day in 1968, the band played their final show.

Two years earlier, Buffalo Springfield had come together a bit haphazardly. With their most recent band (led by Rick James!) having just fallen apart, guitarist Neil Young and bassist Bruce Palmer traveled to Los Angeles to see if they could find singer-guitarist Stephen Stills � whom Young had met in 1965. Unable to find him, the pair were about to leave for San Francisco when they got stuck in traffic on Sunset Boulevard. Stills and his friend and bandmate Richie Furay were stuck at the same intersection, and recognized Young's car � a black 1953 Pontiac hearse. Thanks to a quick U-turn by Furay, the four musicians met up and decided to start a band.

Soon after, they brought on country music drummer Dewey Martin and took their band name from a steamroller made by the Buffalo-Springfield Roller Company. They made their live debut on April 11, 1966 at the Troubadour, then toured with The Byrds and made a name for themselves as a must-see live act during a residency at the Whiskey a Go Go. more on this story

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