The Byrds were one of the defining bands of the 1960s. Their legacy may not have translated the same way the the legacies of the Beatles, Stones, and Beach Boys have, but they were the band that effectively broke folk rock into the mainstream.
They dominated the charts during the middle of the decade, and part of what made their sound so appealing was the vocal blend of members Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and David Crosby. These guys could really harmonize on record, even if they failed to do the same behind the scenes.
Crosby was a burgeoning songwriting talent during his time with the band, but Byrds producer Terry Melcher (the one Charles Manson wanted to murder) didn't care for his material, and prioritized the songs of McGuinn and lead writer Gene Clark.
David Crosby was fired from the Byrds in 1967
Crosby got writing credits on Byrds albums following Melcher and Clark's departures in 1966, but the tension did not subside. The rhythm guitarist started to become friendly with Buffalo Springfield and Stephen Stills, in particular, and he even played with them during the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. He found he had more chemistry with Stills.
Plus, the Byrds didn't care for the button pushing that Crosby was doing both on record and on stage. He was submitting risque songs like "Triad," about a threesome, and going on rants about the death of JFK during concerts. McGuinn, Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke went to Crosby's house and fired him from the band in 1967.
They cited his erratic behavior as the cause, and years later, Crosby admitted to being a difficult band member. "I was a very egotistical kid, and I was trying to get all the attention I possibly could," he told Mojo in 2018. Crosby went on to find even greater success with his Buffalo Springfield buddy in the band Crosby, Stills and Nash.
He reunited with the band in 1973 and 1991
The Byrds continued on without Crosby. They released a highly influential country rock album with the singer's replacement, Gram Parsons, in 1968, but their commercial success waned in comparison to Crosby, Stills, and Nash. The latter trio had interpersonal issues of their own, however, and much to the surprise of everyone, Crosby reunited with the Byrds in 1973.
The rhythm guitarist, who had since become a superstar, agreed to reunite with his old band as long as he could produce the album. The self-titled album also brought back Gene Clark. It was anticipated by rock fans, but viewed as a disappointment upon its release. It wound up being the very last album in the Byrds catalog.
The original members, including Crosby, performed together one last time in 1991, when the Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Crosby died in 2023 at age 83. McGuinn and Chris Hillman remain active.