David Crosby’s music has "saved [his] butt" following the death of his biological son Beckett.
The 78-year-old rocker was the sperm donor for Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher’s son – who died as a result of a drug addiction at the age of 21 last month – and he admitted his passing "blew [him] out of the water", but he’s since found solace in the recording studio.
He told Uncut magazine: "[Music has] saved my butt – again. I’m having a hard time in my life right now. I just lost a kid. That blew me out of the water, man. The country I love is in desperate throes.
"The truth is, man, I swear to God – I got two magics, my family and the music, and I’m reaching for them both real hard."
David is currently a member of CPR with his son James Raymond – who he reunited with in 1995 after putting him up for adoption in the 1960s – and guitarist Jeff Pevar, and he credits his offspring for reinvigorating his career.
He said: "Most people peter out in their sixties and seventies – and I would have too for sure.
"I knew the exact moment when I knew I could work with James. I gave him the words of ‘Morrison’ and said, ‘Here, try and write some music for this.’
"He came back with a cassette and I remember sitting in his tiny little Japanese pick-up, listening to the tape and knowing that my life was changing."
The former Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young star previously described Beckett’s death as a "test".
Responding to one Twitter user who described him as a "donor who played no part" in raising Beckett, he replied: "Not true."
A fan then sent a message of condolence over Beckett’s death.
They wrote: "While I know that you were a surrogate, I also know that you just lost a son. I’m sorry, I know you’ve had a rough year."
David replied: "Maybe it’s a test."