Stephen Stills interviewed by Jim Ladd on Going Platinum, circa 1980

Here’s the complete interview of Stephen Stills being interviewed by legendary Los Angeles disc jockey Jim Ladd, circa 1980, on the television program Going Platinum. At this juncture, Stills was entering a new phase in his career, the CSNY mega-stardom of the 1970s had subsided, CSN, meanwhile, was on shaky ground due to David Crosby’s well-known drug issues. Soon after this interview, Stills would record the popular song Southern Cross, released on CSN's Daylight Again, giving the band a new dose of popularity.
On the live clips featured here, Stills is joined by his California Blues Band, which included:
- Mike Finnigan, - keyboards / vocals
- Joe Lala - percussion
- Trey Thompson - bass
- Billy Meeker - drums
- Michael Stergis - guitar
Meanwhile, Jim Ladd can still be heard on the radio today, hosting a program on Sirius XM. In 2005, Ladd was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

[@RustedTelevisione]

Doh! The credits at the end (along with a great rendition of Change Partners) got cut off of this video. If you want to see the full credits go to the 10 min mark of this video, to see the ending: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4vGgJ9pe8qEh5Y

[@TheSchemel]

During the period from Buffalo Springfield to the end of Manassas he was damn good. Captain Many Hands for sure.

[@RustedTelevisione]

RIP Jim Ladd. You were a total legend! ✌🏻❤️

[@DannyD714]

The voice of rock and roll radio. Rest in peace Lonesome L.A. Cowboy.

[@wendymartin8619]

Far and away probably the most rounded even maybe the best talented of the 3 could be 4 so very not truly given the credit or appreciated as he should have been given , then at least! Sad to see what's happened to him and accustic! Still a great musician

[@mathiszilinski258]

fantastic guitar player and i definitly love his fashion style during that periode....

[@GeoWhiz287]

When I first watched this video, and got to 6:37, where it starts to show the grassy seating area and young trees, I recognized the venue as the Concord Pavilion, five miles from where I grew up. It was the venue where my high school graduation was held, three years before this interview. I admit I was unreasonably excited. (The location was confirmed when I got to the ending credits.) Sadly, I am not in that audience, because 1980 was the first year I did not come home to Concord for the summer, after I went off to college.

[@marymaloney4866]

Love's a strong word, be kind to the one you're with.

[@gmtnosa00]

Finnigan... damn he's good

[@marcomiola9731]

Uno dei miei idoli fin da quando ero ragazzino...il primo da solista e il primo dei Manassas sono due capolavori...tra il 67 e il 73 Stills è stato uno dei migliori autori oltre che straordinario musicista.

[@lonniewoods7066]

So glad I got to see that

[@richardryan5826]

I first saw this program on a Los Angeles television station in the 1980's after the CSN version of Southern Cross had been a hit. I like the rendition, included here, of that song a little bit better. Thank you for posting the complete version of this superb episode R.T. I've been looking for it for many years. Cheers!

[@RustedTelevisione]

This is a pretty fascinating Stills document. Do you know if Jim Ladd did a lot of these types of TV interviews with musicians? It's hard to find a lot of info on when this ran and who else might have been a guest.

[@richardryan5826]

There is a collection of about 35 Jim Ladd interviews, or portions thereof, on the following web page: www.dialogues.org/interviews/jim-ladd/47263 . Also, if you perform a KZbin search for "jim ladd innerview" or "jim ladd interview," you will find many recordings of his interviews. Some of them are video interviews, but many of them are audio only (displaying one or more still pictures).

[@RustedTelevisione]

Richard Ryan thanks for the link to the Ladd archive. Some interesting stuff there. Regarding Going Platinum, which Stills was featured on, was that an ongoing series by Ladd in late 70s early 80s or was it simply a one-off featuring Stills? It was a well-produced documentary so I’m wondering if there are more like that out there somewhere.

[@richardryan5826]

To the best of my recollection, Going Platinum was a one-off; a series would have been nice, though.

[@RustedTelevisione]

Richard Ryan I will have to re-upload this video. Just realized it cut off all the credits and a very fine live rendition of Change Partners.

[@jazzbass5883]

This is not "the complete interview." I watched this on HBO in 1980. One quote stuck with me all these years and I do not see it here. Ladd asked/ribbed Stills about playing in Reno, saying something like, "well, if you want to f*** your fans..." Stills spat back, "F*** my fans?! F*** you, junior!" He went on to state (again, something like) "Bill Harrah is a friend of mine. I told him I would do a couple shows for him." I always wondered if Stills lost big money gambling at a casino and only played to pay off the debt(?).

[@phatato]

He was best looking with a beard

[@TheSchemel]

He looks like Mike Love during that period

[@MrOctober44]

Funny when he goes at into the crowd and about ten guys surround him like he's the president

[@anthonykimball7463]

Interview shot during the brief period when stills had facial hair.

[@davidmooney4428]

anybody know why Stephen is rocking a St. Louis cap the entire interview? anyone aware of an STL connection he may have?

[@rckblykitn]

I wonder the same thing every time I've seen this!!

[@sammyscotch9945]

Hey, when your real high you'll put anything on your head. He probably sees the video and wonders why the hell he had the STL hat on

[@rao4sos]

At a quick glance it's shorthand for Stills. STiLls

[@MrOctober44]

Probably because the Cardinals were really good at that point, a popular team. Nothing bedside that. 😁

[@RustedTelevisione]

Jim Ladd, back in 2005, getting his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2eceYJ8jLB9pc0

[@oliredbar]

does anyone knows the name of the song Stills plays at the end ?Thanks .

[@actorJSB]

Not 100% sure if you mean the song over the end credits (Change Partners) or the full acoustic number he [played for Jim Ladd, but the latter is Word Game, originally released on the Stephen Stills 2 album.

[@davidmoser3535]

Steve leave that cocaine be

[@MrOctober44]

That cocaine needs to leave Stephen behind

[@stormbringercoming8105]

Is it me or is Jim Ladd a tad full of himself?

[@billjim334]

How? He’s just asking questions

[@RustedTelevisione]

I think it’s you ✌🏻

[@electricearth1101]

hes native american and native americans were often misunderstood. they atleast used to be pretty serious people and to a foreigner they might sound overconfident or even sarcastic at times. its a tone thing.