Roger McGuinn has shut down the notion of a reunion from The Byrds with David Crosby, with fans left wondering if such an event may ever happen.
Back in 1964, Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, and Gene Clark all came together to help form The Byrds. A highly influential group, the band released 12 albums in the following nine years, with McGuinn serving as the only constant member throughout their initial run.
Following Crosby’s departure from the group in 1967, he went on to form Crosby, Stills & Nash with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, which resulted in yet another phenomenal group within the music world.
However, just last month saw the premiere of Remember My Name, a Cameron Crowe-directed documentary about Crosby that discusses his career, highlights, lowlights, and touches upon personal relationships.
One quote from the film was picked up by Relix, where Crosby discusses how many of his former bandmates no longer have a relationship with him.
“I still have friends, but all of the guys I made music with won’t even talk to me,” Crosby is quoted as saying.
“One of them hating my guts could be an accident. But [Roger] McGuinn, [Graham] Nash, Neil [Young] and Stephen [Stills] all really dislike me, strongly. I don’t know quite how to undo it.”
News of this quote soon spread, leading to brief exchanging of words between Crosby and Roger McGuinn on Twitter over the weekend.
Hey @thedavidcrosby you’re saying I won’t talk to you and hate you. That’s just not true! pic.twitter.com/EQwbeSmVKO
— Roger McGuinn (@RogerMcGuinn) August 3, 2019
Thanks Roger ….must have got you mixed up with those other guys …so ..want to do a couple of Byrd’s dates ?
I’ll just sing harmony …no talking ….? https://t.co/RIH0syosFj— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) August 3, 2019
Taking to Twitter, Roger McGuinn called out to David Crosby, pointing towards the quote in the film and claiming that, “you’re saying I won’t talk to you and hate you. That’s just not true!”
Crosby was quick to respond, apologising for the quote, and even using the opportunity to suggest a reunion from The Byrds.
“Thanks Roger ….must have got you mixed up with those other guys,” he explained. “So ..want to do a couple of Byrd’s dates? I’ll just sing harmony …no talking ….?”
While McGuinn didn’t respond to this question, Rolling Stone reached out to a representative for comment, receiving a response that effectively shut down any hope of a reunion in the future.
“Neither Roger or Chris [Hillman] entertain the idea of a Byrds reunion,” the statement explained. “Roger was just tired of David crying about being hated.
“DC is not hated but that doesn’t mean anyone wants to work with him.”
The last time that The Byrds performed together was in 2000, when Crosby, McGuinn, and Hillman held an impromptu reunion in Los Angeles. Since then, all talks of more shows have been struck down by Crosby or McGuinn, with neither appearing too optimistic about such an event.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2013, David Crosby noted that “[Roger is] just not interested in a Byrds reunion.”
“It’s a shame because he and Chris and I could do it. It would be great fun, but I got tired of asking him,” he explained.
“I must have asked him at least 10 times and he always says no…And to me a reunion wouldn’t be about the money. I honestly don’t even think it would even by that big of a money deal.”
While it looks incredibly unlikely that a reunion from The Byrds will ever occur, it won’t stop fans – and David Crosby, it seems – from holding out hope.