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= = = = The Clarence White era = = = =
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After Gram Parsons ' departure , McGuinn and Hillman decided to recruit noted session guitarist Clarence White as a full @-@ time member of the band in late July 1968 . White , who had contributed countrified guitar playing to every Byrds ' album since 1967 's Younger Than Yesterday , was brought in at Hillman 's sugg... |
The McGuinn – Hillman – White – Parsons line @-@ up was together for less than a month before Hillman quit to join Gram Parsons in forming the Flying Burrito Brothers . Hillman had become increasingly disenchanted with the Byrds since the South African débâcle and he was also frustrated by business manager Larry Spect... |
As the only original band member left , McGuinn elected to hire bassist John York as Hillman 's replacement . York had previously been a member of the Sir Douglas Quintet and had also worked as a session musician with Johnny Rivers and the Mamas & the Papas . In October 1968 , the new line @-@ up entered Columbia Stud... |
The album was released on March 5 , 1969 to generally positive reviews but in America became the lowest @-@ charting album of the Byrds ' career , peaking at number 153 on the Billboard album charts . However the album fared much better in the UK , where it attracted glowing reviews and reached number 15 . A number of... |
Following the release of Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde the band issued a version of Dylan 's " Lay Lady Lay " as a single in May 1969 , which failed to reverse the group 's commercial fortunes in the U.S. , reaching number 132 . The Byrds ' producer Bob Johnston took it upon himself to overdub a female choir onto the record an... |
Prior to the release of the Byrds ' next studio album , however , the band 's former producer Gary Usher managed to acquire a number of demo recordings from Dickson , dating from the group 's 1964 rehearsal sessions at World Pacific Studios . These recordings were subsequently issued as the Preflyte album on Usher 's ... |
Between June and August 1969 , the Byrds worked with Melcher to complete the Ballad of Easy Rider album . Musically the album consolidated and streamlined the band 's country rock sound , consisting mostly of cover versions and traditional material , with three self @-@ penned original songs . The first single to be r... |
Just prior to the release of Ballad of Easy Rider , the Byrds underwent yet another change in personnel when bassist John York was asked to leave the band in September 1969 . York had become disenchanted with his role in the Byrds and had voiced his reluctance to perform material that had been written and recorded by ... |
The latter @-@ day , post @-@ Sweetheart of the Rodeo version of the band , featuring McGuinn and White 's dual lead guitar work , toured relentlessly between 1969 and 1972 and was regarded by critics and audiences as much more accomplished in concert than any previous configuration of the Byrds had been . As a result... |
The two @-@ record ( Untitled ) album was released by the Byrds on September 14 , 1970 to positive reviews and strong sales , with many critics and fans regarding the album as a return to form for the band . Peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and number 11 in the UK , the album 's success continued th... |
The studio recordings featured on ( Untitled ) mostly consisted of newly written , self @-@ penned material , including a number of songs that had been composed by McGuinn and Broadway theatre impresario Jacques Levy for a planned country rock musical titled Gene Tryp that the pair were developing . Plans for the musi... |
The Byrds returned to the recording studio with Melcher sporadically between October 1970 and early March 1971 , in order to complete the follow @-@ up to ( Untitled ) , which would be released in June 1971 as Byrdmaniax . Unfortunately , the grueling pace of the band 's touring schedule at the time meant that they we... |
In May 1971 , just prior to the release of the Byrdmaniax album , the Byrds undertook a sell @-@ out tour of England and Europe , which included a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London that was released for the first time in 2008 as Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971 . The British and European press were unanimou... |
When the Byrdmaniax album was released on June 23 , 1971 it was received poorly by most critics and did much to undermine the new @-@ found popularity that the Byrds had enjoyed since the release of Ballad of Easy Rider . The response to the album from the American music press was particularly scathing , with a review... |
The Byrds moved quickly to record a self @-@ produced follow @-@ up to Byrdmaniax , in an attempt to stem the criticism that the album was receiving in the music press and as a reaction to their own dislike of Melcher 's overproduction . Johnny Rogan has speculated that the Byrds ' decision to produce their next album... |
In October 1971 , CBS Records in the UK issued The Byrds ' Greatest Hits Volume II to capitalize on the group 's recent appearance at the Lincoln Folk Festival and perhaps as a reaction to the chart failure suffered by Byrdmaniax . Unfortunately , the compilation album also failed to reach the UK charts , while contem... |
On November 17 , 1971 , less than five months after the release of Byrdmaniax , the Byrds issued their eleventh studio album , Farther Along . The album was met with slightly more enthusiastic reviews than its predecessor but nevertheless , only managed to climb to number 152 on the Billboard Top LPs chart , while fai... |
Following the release of Farther Along , the Byrds continued to tour throughout 1972 , but no new album or single release was forthcoming . In July of that year , Gene Parsons was fired from the group for a number of reasons , including McGuinn 's growing dissatisfaction with his drumming , disagreements that he and M... |
Following Guerin 's departure , he was temporarily replaced for live performances by session drummer Dennis Dragon . The band underwent a further personnel change following a February 10 , 1973 show in Ithaca , New York , when Skip Battin was dismissed by McGuinn , who had capriciously decided that the bassist 's play... |
= = = Reunions = = =
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= = = = 1972 – 73 reunion = = = =
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The five original members of the Byrds reunited briefly during late 1972 , while McGuinn was still undertaking selected concerts with the Columbia Records version of the group . Discussions regarding a reunion between Roger McGuinn , Gene Clark , David Crosby , Chris Hillman , and Michael Clarke had taken place as ear... |
Following completion of the album recording sessions , Crosby persuaded McGuinn to dissolve the Columbia version of the Byrds , who were still touring at that time . Crosby had long been vocal regarding his displeasure over McGuinn 's decision to recruit new band members following his dismissal from the group in 1967 ... |
The reunion album , titled simply Byrds , was released on March 7 , 1973 to mixed reviews . As a result , a planned tour in support of the album failed to materialize . Among the album 's shortcomings , critics made note of a lack of sonic unity and the absence of the Byrds ' signature jangly guitar sound . Nonetheles... |
The negative critical reception that Byrds received in the music press resulted in the band losing faith in the idea of an ongoing series of reunions . In the years following its release , all five band members were openly critical of the album , with the general consensus being that the material included on it was we... |
Following the reunion of 1972 / 1973 , the Byrds remained disbanded throughout the rest of the decade . Roger McGuinn turned his attention to establishing his own career , releasing a series of solo albums between 1973 and 1977 , and making a high @-@ profile appearance with Bob Dylan 's Rolling Thunder Revue . Chris ... |
= = = = Ersatz Byrds and further reunions ( 1989 – 91 ; 2000 ) = = = =
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In 1984 , Gene Clark approached McGuinn , Crosby , and Hillman in an attempt to reform the Byrds in time for the 20th anniversary of the release of the " Mr. Tambourine Man " single in 1985 . None of these three original members were interested in the venture and so Clark instead assembled a group of musicians and fri... |
After the tour wound down in late 1985 , Clark returned to his solo career , leaving Michael Clarke to soldier on with a band that was now billed as " A Tribute to The Byrds " ( although again , it was often shortened to the Byrds by promoters ) . Gene Clark returned to the group following the release of his and Carla... |
In June 1988 , McGuinn , Crosby and Hillman appeared at a concert celebrating the reopening of the Ash Grove folk club in Los Angeles . Although they were billed as solo artists , the three musicians did come together for an on @-@ stage reunion during the show , performing a string of Byrds hits including " Mr. Tambo... |
In retaliation against Clarke 's trademark application , McGuinn , Crosby and Hillman submitted their own counter @-@ claim to gain ownership of the band 's name . McGuinn had actually attempted to trademark the Byrds name himself during the 1970s , in order to prevent its misuse , but his application had been turned ... |
The reunion concerts were a resounding success but with Michael Clarke continuing to tour with his Byrds tribute , McGuinn , Crosby and Hillman filed a lawsuit against the drummer in the spring of 1989 , suing him for allegedly false advertising , unfair competition and deceptive trade practices , as well as seeking a... |
On January 16 , 1991 , the five original members of the Byrds put aside their differences to appear together at the Waldorf @-@ Astoria Hotel in New York City for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . The ceremony honored the original line @-@ up of Roger McGuinn , Gene Clark , David Crosby , Chris Hil... |
Following Clarke 's death , Terry Jones Rogers resurrected the Byrds tribute act , with guitarist Scott Nienhaus and former Byrds Skip Battin and Gene Parsons on bass and drums respectively . Performing under the banner of The Byrds Celebration , the tribute group toured extensively throughout the remainder of the 199... |
McGuinn , Crosby and Hillman all returned to their individual solo careers following the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony . However , the Byrds did reunite for a third time on August 8 , 2000 , to give an impromptu , one @-@ off performance at a tribute concert for Fred Walecki , the owner of a Los Angeles music eq... |
During the 2000s , two more ex @-@ members of the Byrds died when drummer Kevin Kelley succumbed of natural causes in 2002 and bassist Skip Battin , who was suffering from Alzheimer 's disease , died at his home in 2003 . Former members Gene Parsons and John York both remain active and continue to perform and record v... |
To date , the Fred Walecki tribute concert appearance in 2000 represents the last time that the Byrds have performed together . However , Hillman and Crosby have both expressed an interest in working with McGuinn again on future Byrds projects , but the lead guitarist and head Byrd remains adamant that he is not inter... |
= = = Legacy = = =
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Since the band 's 1960s heyday , the influence of the Byrds on successive generations of rock and pop musicians has grown steadily , with acts such as the Eagles , Big Star , Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers , R.E.M. , the Bangles , the Smiths , and innumerable alternative rock bands of the post @-@ punk era all exhibiti... |
In his book The Great Rock Discography , music researcher Martin C. Strong describes the Byrds ' cover of " Mr. Tambourine Man " as " a timeless slice of hypnotic , bittersweet pop " and a record that " did nothing less than change the course of pop / rock history . " Author and musician Bob Stanley , writing in his 2... |
In his book Riot on Sunset Strip : Rock ' n ' Roll 's Last Stand in 60s Hollywood , music historian Domenic Priore attempts to sum up the band 's influence by noting , " Few of The Byrds ' contemporaries can claim to have made such a subversive impact on popular culture . The band had a much larger , more positive imp... |
In 2004 , Rolling Stone magazine ranked the Byrds at number 45 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time .
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= = Members = =
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Original members
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Roger McGuinn – lead guitar , banjo , Moog synthesizer , vocals ( 1964 – 73 , 1989 – 91 , 2000 )
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Gene Clark – tambourine , rhythm guitar , harmonica , vocals ( 1964 – 66 , 1967 , 1972 – 73 , 1991 )
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David Crosby – rhythm guitar , vocals ( 1964 – 67 , 1972 – 73 , 1989 – 91 , 2000 )
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Michael Clarke – drums ( 1964 – 67 , 1972 – 73 , 1991 )
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Chris Hillman – bass guitar , rhythm guitar , mandolin , vocals ( 1964 – 68 , 1972 – 73 , 1989 – 91 , 2000 )
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Subsequent members
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Kevin Kelley – drums ( 1968 )
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Gram Parsons – rhythm guitar , piano , organ , vocals ( 1968 )
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Clarence White – lead guitar , mandolin , vocals ( 1968 – 73 )
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Gene Parsons – drums , banjo , harmonica , pedal steel guitar , rhythm guitar , vocals ( 1968 – 72 )
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John York – bass guitar , vocals ( 1968 – 69 )
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Skip Battin – bass guitar , piano , vocals ( 1969 – 73 )
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Membership timeline ( 1964 – 73 )
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= = Discography = =
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Mr. Tambourine Man ( 1965 )
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Turn ! Turn ! Turn ! ( 1965 )
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Fifth Dimension ( 1966 )
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Younger Than Yesterday ( 1967 )
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The Notorious Byrd Brothers ( 1968 )
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Sweetheart of the Rodeo ( 1968 )
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Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde ( 1969 )
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Ballad of Easy Rider ( 1969 )
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( Untitled ) ( 1970 )
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Byrdmaniax ( 1971 )
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Farther Along ( 1971 )
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Byrds ( 1973 )
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= Otto Becher =
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Rear Admiral Otto Humphrey Becher , CBE , DSO , DSC & Bar ( 13 September 1908 – 15 June 1977 ) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) . Born in Harvey , Western Australia , Becher entered the Royal Australian Naval College in 1922 . After graduating in 1926 , he was posted to a series of staff and t... |
A lieutenant commander at the outbreak of the Second World War , Becher assisted in the extraction of Allied troops from the Namsos region of Norway while aboard the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire , and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross . Following service in the Mediterranean theatre , he returned to A... |
At the war 's end Becher was posted to the Navy Office and later to the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney ; in 1951 he was given command of the destroyer HMAS Warramunga . Warramunga formed part of Australia 's contribution to the United Nations forces engaged in the Korean War ; Becher was promoted to captain and awarded ... |
= = Early life and career = =
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Otto Becher was born in Harvey , Western Australia , on 13 September 1908 , to Francis Joseph Becher , an orchardist , and Antonia Amalie ( née Vetter ) . On 1 January 1922 , at the age of thirteen , he enrolled in the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay , where he performed well both academically and at spor... |
Becher was promoted to acting sub @-@ lieutenant in September 1928 ; the rank was made substantive the following March . He returned to Australia in January 1930 and was raised to lieutenant , gaining further seafaring experience over the next two years on HMAS Australia and HMAS Canberra . Deciding to specialise in g... |
From May 1934 to June 1935 , Becher was posted to the gunnery school at the shore establishment HMAS Cerberus in Victoria . He later completed two years aboard HMAS Canberra as intelligence officer , and in 1937 was transferred to HMAS Stuart for flotilla duties . Promoted to lieutenant commander on 16 June 1938 , Bec... |
= = Second World War = =
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