Neil Young Bassist Billy Talbot Suffers Mild Stroke
Billy Talbot, the bassist for Neil Young's frequent back-up band, Crazy Horse, has suffered a mild stroke. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The news comes as Young and Crazy Horse are about to begin a month-long European tour. Talbot's place on stage will be taken by Rick Rosas, a stalwart of the L.A. scene who has played with Young in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the reformed Buffalo Springfield, as well as in various Young solo bands. Known colloquially as "Rick the Bass Player," Rosas has also worked extensively with Joe Walsh, tours with Young's wife Pegi in her band, and has a weekly gig in a Los Angeles nightclub with many first-call session musicians.
The 70-year old Talbot has been a member of Crazy Horse since its beginnings in the early '60s, when Talbot, Danny Whitten and Ralph Molina were a doo-wop group called Danny & the Memories. They first worked with Young on his second post-Buffalo Springfield album, 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,' and have been with him intermittently ever since.
In 2004, Talbot released a solo album, 'Alive in the Spirit World,' and put out 'On the Road to Spearfish' last year.