The Musician Stephen Stills, a Fan Named Erica and a Heartfelt Five-Page Letter

Published on: 25 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 25 Oct, 2024

Stephen Stills in 1972. Wikipedia

By David Reading

An American author is attempting to piece together a puzzle involving the legendary musician Stephen Stills and a fan named Erica who came to Guildford from the Netherlands in the early 1970s.

At the centre of the story is a heartfelt five-page letter that Stills wrote to Erica in 1972, in response to a letter she had written to him.

At that time he wrote the letter, Stills was living at Brookfield House near Elstead, which had previously been owned by Ringo Starr and before that by the actor Peter Sellers. Stills had taken a temporary break from the group Crosby Stills Nash & Young and was recording a solo work at Brookfield House and in London.

Aerial view of Brookfield House, Elstead. Google

It appears that Erica was inspired to write to him after hearing about his life in Surrey and was astonished to receive a long, thoughtful reply.

Fast forward to 2024, and we have an American author living in Colorado anxious to track down Erica for her book about Stephen Stills – but with very little to go on.

Crosby Stills & Nash’s first album 1969. Wikipedia

She became aware of the letter to Erica after it came up for auction in 2013.

Melissa Davis told the Guildford Dragon: “My research project has led me to a piece of correspondence from the year 1972 and I am hoping I can trace it to the recipient or a family member.

“I only have her first name, Erica, and no surname. I do not have an address. My only information is that she moved to Guildford from Amsterdam in 1973 – possibly to make a connection with Stills – and worked within about ten miles from Elstead. I don’t know what she would have done for a job.”

Melissa is hoping there may be Guildford Dragon readers who can help in her quest.

She added: “The letter came to my attention when it was offered at auction by Bonham’s (the auctioneers) in 2013, but didn’t sell. Only the first page of the letter was available via Bonham’s and their representative was unable to provide any further information. My guess is that Erica was a fan, probably aged 18-25 in 1972, making her in her 70s today. She may well have returned to The Netherlands, moved to a different location in the UK or passed away by now. However, it is possible – and I am hopeful – that she did stay and settle and, if she has passed, may have family in the area who recognize at least some of the story.”

Stephen Stills’ letter to Erica. Image Bonhams

Stephen Stills’ letter to Erica begins: “Dear Erica, I feel compelled to answer your letter…This is due largely to compassion.”

He goes on to open up about his life including the words: “To escape I get drunk though not that often or simply watch a movie, study a piece of Bach or The Rolling Stones or Robert Johnson…I also read, consuming anything palatable from science fiction to Russian intellectual history.”

A footnote on the Bonhams website says that the vendor – Erica – became a huge fan of Stephen Stills after hearing his song “Four and Twenty”. After they had corresponded, she met him a few months later when he appeared in Amsterdam. After a further meeting in early 1973, she moved to England and worked near Guildford. But their paths did not cross again.

Melissa said: “The book I am writing has to do with Stills’ years living in the UK, including recording with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr while seeking to establish a life away from the LA music scene that was so destructive at that time.

“Interestingly, he wrote a song about the long-time gardener at Brookfield, ‘Johnny’s Garden’, that remains one of his most popular songs and made ‘Johnny’ a bit of a personality in music circles. In fact, it is now known that Sellers used the gardener for character development in his 1979 movie, Being There.”

If any Guildford Dragon reader can shed any light on the story of Erica and her time in the Guildford area, or about Stephen Stills when he lived in Surrey, please get in touch.