Byrds: Requiem for the Timeless: 1

by Johnny Rogan

This is the definitive biography of the American group whose hits included 'Tambourine Man' and 'Eight Miles High'. Author Johnny Rogan interviews all the original members, producers, managers, publicists and groupies. A fascinating read.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

1200 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2011

Reviews

[Allan Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a monster of a book and not one likely to be read by the casual reader. But for fans of The Byrds this is essential reading.

This is the author's third volume on the band, and his devotion to the cause has alsi resulted in him being able to get great access to all the participants over the years. This is not to the detriment of the content as all involved receive praise and criticism in equal measure.

The book contains excellent appendices covering sources, and discography (official, bootleg and video). Many of the source notes are quite substantial and interesting and my one criticism would be that the existence of a note is not indicated in the text. I'd have happily switched back and forth while reading the book.

[Paul Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when it was published in 2011 and remember goggling at the cover where it says "Volume 1". Wait - this book is 1200 pages long - and you're telling me there's a Volume 2? Yes, there was one, eventually, in 2017, also over 1000 pages.

Johnny Rogan's Byrds mania began fairly modestly with a first version in 1980 called Timeless Flight. That was a mere 160 pages! The second edition came out ten years later and was 304 pages. Seven years after that we got Timeless Flight Revisited : The Sequel - what an ungainly title - all 735 pages of it - surely long enough to tell the story of the (complicated) Byrds? But Johnny muttered under his breath "you ain't seen nothin' yet" and carried on typing.

He was a pioneer of the epic encyclopedic strand of rock writing which, maybe, was kicked off by Peter Guralnick in 1994 with his over 1000-page two-part Elvis biography. In 2013 we gratefully received Mark Lewisohn's part-one-of-three Beatles biography - ordinary edition 944 pages, extended edition 1700 pages - years covered: up to 1962. Then a few weeks ago came The McCartney Legacy Vol One 1969-73 by Kozinn and Sinclair - 700 large pages of small print. These are just the ones I have noticed.

Is all this detail really necessary? Well, it will be way too much for some and just about right for some others. I loved the convoluted Byrds story, every page, and Johnny tells it very well. I think we live in a golden age of biography.

I do remember thinking "I won't bother with Volume 2, it's just about the dead Byrds, not so interesting". But then I bought it last month.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, and fascinating if encyclopedic study of the history of the Byrds, individually and collectively. For hard core fans only.

[Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP ROGAN

[Arno Burgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Elaborate description of the band and the era. Rich language combined with clear information.