Townes Van Zant was well known here in Austin, and depending on who you talked to and when, you’d hear VASTLY different stories.
Van Zant never did ANYTHING halfway. At a live show, he was either phenomenal or godawful. Everyone who ever went to see him came back saying either, “Townes Van Zant is the most awesome performer I’ve ever seen,” or “The guy was drunk or stoned, mumbled the words, and walked off the stage in the middle of his set… what an a-hole.”
He could be a sweet guy who effortlessly charmed people, and he could be a selfish, surly SOB who betrayed and pushed away every genuine friend he had.
His songs were so great that he was constantly on the verge of being the Next Big Thing… but every time it came close to happening, he’d do something stupid or destructive, and blow it.