Byrds

BYRDS. American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they managed for only a short period in the mid-60s to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like the Beatles / Beach Boys and the Rolling Stones. they are today considered by critics to be one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. Their signature blend of clear harmony singing along with McGuinn's distinctive twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar sound on songs like "Mr Tambourine Man" (1965) was immediately absorbed into the vocabulary of popular music and has continued to be influential up to the present day. The original five-piece lineup of the Byrds consisted of ; Jim McGuinn / Gene Clark / David Crosby / Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. However, this version of the band was relatively short-lived and by early 1966, Clark had left due to problems associated with anxiety and his increasing isolation within the group. The Byrds continued as a quartet until late 1967, when Crosby and Clarke also departed the band. Gene Clark died on May 24th 1991 aged just 46. Michael Clarke died from liver failure aged just 47 on December 19th 1993.