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“A shameful waste”: The sad day in 1967 when David Crosby was kicked out of The Byrds
In October 1967, David Crosby was dismissed from The Byrds after tensions with Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman had become irreconcilable. The split mattered because Crosby’s distinctive harmonies and songwriting had helped define the group, while his departure cleared the path towards Crosby, Stills & Nash and a major new chapter in late-1960s rock.
The article attributes the breakdown to several disputes: Crosby’s controversial speeches at the Monterey Pop Festival, his decision to perform with Buffalo Springfield, and arguments over which songs The Byrds should record. His song ‘Triad’ was rejected, while disagreements over recording the Goffin–King song ‘Goin’ Back’ added to the friction; McGuinn and Hillman reportedly drove to Crosby’s Beverly Glen home to fire him.
In short
- Crosby was fired from The Byrds in October 1967.
- Festival remarks and songwriting disputes worsened band tensions.
- His exit led towards the formation of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Explained simply
The Byrds were an American rock band whose jangling guitar sound and close harmonies helped shape music in the 1960s. David Crosby was one of its singers and songwriters, alongside Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman.
By 1967, disagreements had grown over Crosby’s public remarks, performances with other bands and the songs the Byrds should record. The dispute included his song “Triad” and the choice of “Goin’ Back”, written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
Crosby’s departure changed the group’s line-up and ended a period in which his harmonies and writing had helped define its sound. He later joined Stephen Stills and Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills & Nash, another influential group of the era.