A rock band formed by Stephen Stills in 1971, Manassas was one of the most talented bands of the period. Equally at home with Latin jams, rock, blues, country, folk, and bluegrass, they were also one of the most versatile outfits in rock history.

The nucleus of the band had already backed Stills on his July 1971 album, Stephen Stills 2. While working on the sessions for what was going to be Stills' third solo album, the chemistry of the musicians he gathered was so intense that before long they were a full-fledged band. For Chris Hillman and Al Perkins, it meant that they had to leave the Flying Burrito Brothers.

With an album completed, the group was still without a name but they still embarked on a small tour. At a train station in Manassas, VA, a picture of the group standing under a Manassas sign was taken, giving birth to their name and, conveniently, the name and cover of the double album released in May 1972.

Down The Road was released in 1973 and in September of that year the band split. Passarelli and Lala went to Stills' backing band. Harris, Perkins and Hillman joined the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.