I think it was Roger that once said " it would be like Dinosaurs on Parade"
Although I have wished for more of their music I'm sure if I had the independent ability of picking the folks I wanted to work with...I'd do it....especially with the clock ticking. If I made those kind of choices I would always be looking for another job. I'm glad that Roger has gotten to the point in his life where he can do that.
What's The Chance Of A Byrds Reunion?
I don't buy that part of the argument, any more than using Biblical excuses to hide behind...not like anyone expects to see 19 year-old kids with puddin' basin haircuts.
Andres Segovia played into his 90's, Bill Monroe into his mid-80's, BB King is 70-something & still playing...McGuinn's still out there playing Byrds music, Rickenbacker & all.
"I just don't want to do it, period," should suffice, & that's his right to say so. Maybe Byrds fans are a particularly rabid lot & won't take a simple "no" for an answer...?
bw
Andres Segovia played into his 90's, Bill Monroe into his mid-80's, BB King is 70-something & still playing...McGuinn's still out there playing Byrds music, Rickenbacker & all.
"I just don't want to do it, period," should suffice, & that's his right to say so. Maybe Byrds fans are a particularly rabid lot & won't take a simple "no" for an answer...?
bw
"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face."
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firstbassman
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From my very limited experience, I will state the obvious – famous artists just don’t see this question the same way that we as fans do.
As fans, we remember how great the music was and how great it made us feel at the time. And we would love to capture that feeling again. Or, in some cases, are curious to see what new things the artists might create now.
And most of us have continued to listen to that music (and in some cases also play it too) all through these years. It is still a part of our lives.
From talking to (and corresponding with) a few famous musical artists, I’ve come away with the impression that, at best, they look upon their past as a fond wisp of youthful adventure and, at worst, as a tortuous tedium of long sleepless trips, corrupt managers and insufferable band mates.
When some recent Airplane CDs were re-mixed and re-issued, Casady told me he hadn’t listened to any of that stuff in over twenty years. (Heck, I listen to it every week!)
Roger and Camilla hop in their van, drive to the gig, no bandmates to argue with, no hassles and they get to keep all the money. Why try to attempt a reunion? If I was in McGuinn’s shoes, I’d probably make the same choice. Though, as a fan, I’d wish otherwise.
NOTE: I know McGuinn and Hillman are going to be at the same place sometime next year. Don’t know if at same time. Stay tuned. But don’t get your hopes up.
As fans, we remember how great the music was and how great it made us feel at the time. And we would love to capture that feeling again. Or, in some cases, are curious to see what new things the artists might create now.
And most of us have continued to listen to that music (and in some cases also play it too) all through these years. It is still a part of our lives.
From talking to (and corresponding with) a few famous musical artists, I’ve come away with the impression that, at best, they look upon their past as a fond wisp of youthful adventure and, at worst, as a tortuous tedium of long sleepless trips, corrupt managers and insufferable band mates.
When some recent Airplane CDs were re-mixed and re-issued, Casady told me he hadn’t listened to any of that stuff in over twenty years. (Heck, I listen to it every week!)
Roger and Camilla hop in their van, drive to the gig, no bandmates to argue with, no hassles and they get to keep all the money. Why try to attempt a reunion? If I was in McGuinn’s shoes, I’d probably make the same choice. Though, as a fan, I’d wish otherwise.
NOTE: I know McGuinn and Hillman are going to be at the same place sometime next year. Don’t know if at same time. Stay tuned. But don’t get your hopes up.
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studiotwosession
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The weird thing is, if enough $ is involved, the Eagles will get back together.
Maybe the money's not big enough. Far's doing new material goes, that's a lot of work, to put out something decent where something decent would be expected. Albums take months to record. If band members living in different parts of the country, and are happy with what they have, why work so hard? Who, at that age, who has a decent home, wants to spend that kind of time away from it?
Maybe the money's not big enough. Far's doing new material goes, that's a lot of work, to put out something decent where something decent would be expected. Albums take months to record. If band members living in different parts of the country, and are happy with what they have, why work so hard? Who, at that age, who has a decent home, wants to spend that kind of time away from it?
This is off the record
That was part of the story with me, Glenn. Two of the fellows in the band I wrote about lived in Florida, and still do, to my knowledge. I live in Kansas. Pretty big piece of real estate between the two locations. And it's safe to say there ain't enough money in folk music to interest me in a reunion.
JimK
JimK
Well you may not agree with the age part, but think about it...34 years since a BYRDS re-union? That one didn't work too well according to Roger.Hmmm,it's not like the Stones where you've aged with the times...( I was referring to the BYDRS rather than Roger's solo performances)and I can tell ya if I were in Roger's shoes I would give a lot of second thoughts of risking the past with the present. Sort of of makeover? Also, the religious thing is up to him.
Reality checks in life are like Sound Checks, we need to do them more often.
Actually they've reunited a few times since the Asylum Lp (which is actually a pretty good record, certainly better than the last few "official" Byrds Lps), including live shows in the late 80's during the trademark dispute with Clarke, the Roy Orbison tribute, the new tracks for the 1990 boxset, the R&RHoF, & most recently in 2000 at the Santa Moncia Civic Auditorium at a benefit for Fred Walecki, owner of Westwood Music (with Ethan Johns, son of legendary producer Glyn Johns, on drums).
bw
bw
"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face."
I see a difference between getting together for a few isolated gigs over something like a 20 year period, and a real real reunion. In my imagination, a reunion implies some sort of permanence, with a recording deal and plans for touring, etc., etc.
So I wouldn't call playing at the R&R HoF, the Santa Monica Civic Center et al a reunion, as much as a publicity show for a cause. Like John Lennon said at an interview when the Beatles made their dissolution official "We were just a rock 'n' roll band. You still have all the records if all you want to do is reminisce."
Excuse me, I'm going to practice my McGuinn licks now.
JimK
So I wouldn't call playing at the R&R HoF, the Santa Monica Civic Center et al a reunion, as much as a publicity show for a cause. Like John Lennon said at an interview when the Beatles made their dissolution official "We were just a rock 'n' roll band. You still have all the records if all you want to do is reminisce."
Excuse me, I'm going to practice my McGuinn licks now.
JimK
Semantics. If it swims like a duck, whether its one lap around the lake or two, it's still a duck.
A reunion is a reunion is a reunion, whether for a day, a week, or a year, one concert, a series of concerts, or 4 new tracks for the boxset (though I found those to be a disappointment...too much interference from the front office to make it sound "current," always a big mistake).
I wouldn't be worried about it being a "reheated souffle," the Byrds are a different kind of band. Their music transcends things like 60's fashion...they have the same sense of timelessness that Neil Young has -- cool in any era. And as musicians & singers, all three are still on top of their game.
Of course the very bottom line is if McGuinn doesn't want to do it, that's totally his call.
bw
A reunion is a reunion is a reunion, whether for a day, a week, or a year, one concert, a series of concerts, or 4 new tracks for the boxset (though I found those to be a disappointment...too much interference from the front office to make it sound "current," always a big mistake).
I wouldn't be worried about it being a "reheated souffle," the Byrds are a different kind of band. Their music transcends things like 60's fashion...they have the same sense of timelessness that Neil Young has -- cool in any era. And as musicians & singers, all three are still on top of their game.
Of course the very bottom line is if McGuinn doesn't want to do it, that's totally his call.
bw
"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face."
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firstbassman
- Advanced Member
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- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:00 am
Re: What's The Chance Of A Byrds Reunion?
For what it's worth, while surfing around, came across this portion of an interview:
Once a Byrd, always a Byrd? Is a reunion a possibility?
McGuinn: I'm happy to leave the Byrds as a great memory. My Christian faith prevents me from being a business partner with one of the surviving members of the Byrds: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14).
Once a Byrd, always a Byrd? Is a reunion a possibility?
McGuinn: I'm happy to leave the Byrds as a great memory. My Christian faith prevents me from being a business partner with one of the surviving members of the Byrds: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14).
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beefandbones
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- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:27 am
Re: What's The Chance Of A Byrds Reunion?
Wait, Michael Clarke's estate owned the "Byrds" name? How did that happen?
Re: What's The Chance Of A Byrds Reunion?
Michael Clarke (or, more likely, his manager, Steve Green) simply filed for the Byrds trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office around 1988 when touring as "The 20th Anniversary of The Byrds" or whatever. "The Byrds" had previously been owned by Roger McGuinn, but he let the trademark lapse (you need to renew trademarks every 10 years), hoping to "retire" the name. Clarke got the trademark, then around '89 Crosby, Hillman and McGuinn sued him to regain control of it. They lost. Some years ago, David Crosby bought the name from Clarke's estate and now owns it.beefandbones wrote:Wait, Michael Clarke's estate owned the "Byrds" name? How did that happen?