In 1968, when Waddy Wachtel moved from New York to Los Angeles, one of his first friendships in the new city was with the emerging group Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Wachtel, who had arrived with his band Twice Nicely, recalls how David Crosby asked him how he would feel about a band formation that included Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. Wachtel’s response was immediate and enthusiastic: “Are you kidding? I don’t have to think about that — you’re gonna be the biggest band in the world!”
Soon after, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Twice Nicely were renting rehearsal rooms at the same time at SIR Studios in L.A. This arrangement allowed Wachtel to browse Stephen Stills’ impressive guitar collection. It was there that he found the 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard, which he would later play throughout his career with artists like Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks. The guitar became one of the most cherished pieces in his collection.
Wachtel recounts the moment, “Crosby, Stills & Nash were in the other room, and one day, I looked in and the room was surrounded by guitars, all along the walls.” The Les Pauls caught his attention, prompting him to ask Stephen Stills if he would consider selling one. Stills’ response was a generous offer: “Why don’t we switch rooms tonight, and you can try out any one you want and pick one.”
Wachtel couldn’t have been more thrilled. “How great is that, right? That’s what was so amazing when I moved here — the camaraderie. The shared musical warmth was really amazing,” he recalls. The evening was spent rehearsing in CS&N’s room, and Wachtel ultimately chose the sunburst Les Paul. Stills sold it to him for $350, which, adjusted for inflation, is about $2,700 in 2025. Although it wasn’t a small amount of money at the time, it was far less than what a 1960 Les Paul Standard would be worth today.
Years later, during a session for Graham Nash, Stills approached Wachtel with a surprising question. “Hey Waddy, I want to know who sold you that Les Paul you play — ‘cause whoever sold it to you stole it from me.”
Wachtel immediately pointed at Stills and replied, “You sold it to me, man. You, personally.” The two shared a huge laugh, with Stills acknowledging, “I did… Yeah, I did.”
A more recent chapter in the story unfolded during the FireAid concert on January 30, 2025, which raised funds for those affected by wildfires in Los Angeles. Wachtel performed with Stevie Nicks, while Stills and Nash appeared as guests with Dawes. The following day, Wachtel’s guitar tech was having dinner next to Stephen Stills, who shared a poignant thought: “I still regret selling him that guitar, although I know it’s in the best hands it can be in.” Wachtel found this remark “really sweet.”
In 2014, Gibson Custom honored the connection by creating a limited edition Les Paul for Wachtel: the Collector’s Choice #14 Waddy Wachtel 1960 Les Paul Standard. Wachtel now keeps his original Les Paul safely at home, while he continues to use the new one on stage.
But the story doesn’t end with the guitar. Early in his time on the West Coast, David Crosby gave Wachtel some valuable advice about his band Twice Nicely. “David took me aside one day and said, ‘Waddy, you know you’re the only one in that band, right?’” Wachtel admits that he didn’t want to hear it, but knew it was true. Shortly afterward, he broke up the band and began meeting some exceptional musicians.
This led Wachtel to pursue session work. He realized, “I thought, I can do that. I learn songs quickly. I have a good sense of how to accompany a song.” Soon, he was playing sessions with some of the top musicians in the industry.
Wachtel’s career skyrocketed. He became known for his work as a player, producer, and bandleader, with credits including Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Warren Zevon, Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Dolly Parton, and many more. However, it was his long-standing relationship with Stevie Nicks that brought him widespread recognition.
Wachtel began working with Nicks in 1973 on the Buckingham Nicks album, which featured the two along with other session musicians. The record became the launching point for Fleetwood Mac when Mick Fleetwood sought to replace guitarist Bob Welch. Wachtel continued his collaboration with Nicks when she launched her solo career in 1981 with Bella Donna.
“After we finished her first solo record, she asked me to come onboard as the band leader,” Wachtel explains. “It was really easy to understand each other and rock and roll together. We instantly had this bond onstage. We knew how to be with each other. We have a closeness on and offstage that’s rare and very special.”
Aside from his work with Nicks, Wachtel has remained active in session work, often joking about the addictive nature of employment. He’s also part of the Immediate Family, an all-star band formed in 2018 with Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Russell Kunkel, and Steve Postell. The band has released two albums and a documentary film, Immediate Family.
Although the band’s schedule has put things “on hold,” Wachtel mentions that they are working on a new collection of songs that reflect the group’s extensive careers. “Everybody’s working — which is almost always the case, fortunately,” Wachtel says. “We’ve always considered ourselves band guys — that’s why we instantly knew how to play together. We’re band dudes. Each one of us had a particular way of laying their stuff on the table for the other guys to see and hear. We always wanted to be that band, and when we got a chance to do it, we jumped at it. And we’ll always be up for it when everyone’s available.”
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