The Byrds Look Through Their Back Pages in Stunning New Photo Book (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Anyone who clicked on this article knows that the Byrds are one of the greatest and most influential rock groups of all time: They weren’t only influenced by the Beatles, they influenced them; they showed the world that Bob Dylan songs could rock; and via their own songs like “Eight Miles High,” “So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star,” “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” and “Time Between,” they paved the way for countless artists that followed, from jangle-pop to psychedelia to country rock.

Well, fans are getting the Byrds history they’ve always dreamed of with BMG Books’ stunning “The Byrds: 1964-67” — out Sept.

20 — which is a comprehensive oral history and a gorgeous coffee-table photo book all in one: The editors basically licensed virtually every known photo of the group from the era, sat down with surviving founding members Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and Chris Hillman and got them to share their memories of the moments, the band, the era, each other and lots more. (The book follows the group as it gradually goes from a quintet to a quartet to a trio, and leaves off before Gram Parsons’ arrival in 1968, which launched a whole new chapter of the Byrds.) It’s an inspired approach that we’d love to see many more artists follow — see below for several excerpts that give a taste of the book, followed by info on the multiple editions of the book. On March 26, 1965, shortly before the release of the “Mr.

Tambourine Man” single, Bob Dylan showed up at Ciro’s, the Hollywood club that launched the Byrds, and ended up onstage with them. David: Dylan came down a lot.