(Stephen Stills is a man with a reputation. His pioneer efforts with the Buffalo Springfield served as a jumpingoff point for a multitude of projects: the Super Session album, various solo recordings and bands, and the off-on partnership of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. On the eve of this summer’s CSN&Y reunion, Stills agreed to one of the few interviews he’s granted in the last couple of years. It was taped at the Caribou Ranch in Colorado, where Stills is in the middle of cutting a new solo album with a new backup band, this one consisting of Russ Kunkel on drums, bassist Kenny Passarelli, Joe Lala on congas and guitarist Donnie Dacus. -Ed.)

What happened to the aborted CSN&Y reunion last year? Wasn’t the music jelling properly?