"King of Country Rock" - Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers founder Chris Hillman - Visits Load Out
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- “The man who invented country rock.” Those are the words of the late Tom Petty about the most recent guest on The Load Out Music Podcast.
One would guess that if you co-founded a band once called the “British Beatles;” if you started another band named for delicious burritos that can fly and is considered the first ever country-rock band; and if you had a string of hit songs stretching from the 1960s through the mid-90s - that you might think you’re kind of a big deal. Right? Not if you are Chris Hillman.
Yes, you might not know his name. It may not drop off the tip of your tongue. But it should. Hillman was enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 after a 30+ year career in the Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, Souther-Hillman-Furay, McGuinn-Clark-Hillman, The Desert Rose Band and simply as Chris Hillman.
Now 77, Hillman is not only the author of a remarkable career in music, but the excellent autobiography, “Time Between: My Life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother and Beyond.” The book retells and reflects on his professional and personal journey, a lifelong discomfort with being thought of as the “king of country-rock music,” the dark despair of dealing with his father’s suicide, stealing Levi’s from May Company, kicking people out of bands and being kicked out of bands, the drugs- and alcohol-fueled implosion of the legendary Gram Parsons, his love affair with his wife Connie, a deep spiritual relationship with God, riding horses, hanging with David Crosby and Stephen Stills and more.
For those interested in the history of popular music and the spur in the road where country music diverged down the duel pathways of pop country and outlaw country - it’s an episode of The Load Out Music Podcast that is not to be missed.
Enjoy!
Chris Hillman is a true gift. Great musician, great human being.
Chris is one of the most amazing musicians that has ever walked the planet. So so humble!
I’m 58 yrs old, and remember seeing FBB albums in the bargain bin at my local record shop as a youngster. Didn’t pay much attention. Flash forward 40 years, “Gilded Palace” comes up on my Spotify suggestion feed, and I thought..what the hell. I now regret passing over that terrific album all those years ago.
Never too old to learn!
I did pretty much same
The quiet Byrd... whenever you see the Byrds performance on t.v he was standing
in the background doing his thing!
Great musician and man.
Long live the Music and Legacy of The Byrds 🎤🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🥁
And The Desert Rose Band!
I just bought Chris’ book and cannot put it down!!
I am surprised by all the similarities in our younger lives.
Great book by an amazing husband,father and musician. If you have not bought one I highly recommend getting it. You will not be disappointed!
My Dad was Chris's Luthier/repairman...I met him a few times thru my Dad and he was just so totally cool with me...Love the Byrds and FBB
I love this man. There was a time when he was angry, but I can understand where he is coming from.
What a hero!
He has done so much great stuff, yet all he heard for years was "That Gram was the greatest ever, you sure are lucky to have known him!" When it was Chris who was and is the greatest. Although I can not help but love Gram Parsons also.
What a great interview!
@@tenbroeck1958 They had different skills and personalities. Both great but in different ways.
What a great interview. Chris is so articulate. I love hearing about all his band as memories. So talented, but yet so humble. ❤️
Loved the first Byrds album back in 65 I guess it was. I was 15. I still remember McGuinn saying on Shindig "The Byrds is coming" in that twangy voice.
I was 16 then.
Chris is a terrific bass player. I loved his bass sound. 50 years later I still try to emulate his sound and style. I recently saw Chris and Roger with Marty Stuart and the Superlatives backing them up. It made me cry...tears of joy.
It’s always nice when people who have worked really hard and earn success are also nice people. Great interview.
Chris Hillman is the real deal.
He was great in the band Manassas.
What a treasure it is to have this interview of such an important person in our history of Rock N Roll. I'm reading his book, TIME BETWEEN, currently. Chris' mentor, as a boy and was Hop-a -long Cassidy . And that is a great indicator to the integrity and rare selflessness that Chris displays.
The writer of " Have You Seen Her Face", Chris became a fine songwriter about the time of the Byrds "Younger Than Yesterday' LP. I STILL can't believe "Have YSHF" peaked around number 70 or so on the Billboard Top 100. I've been outraged about that since 1967. Shouldn't I have gotten over that by now?
Have You Seen Her Face is my favorite Byrds single.
Thank you, Chris for mentioning Poco. I heard an interview with Richie Furay that he had actually let Gram Parsons audition for Poco, but Richie said he didn't want him. Can you imagine either way what would have happened if Gram was in Poco?
'Crazy Eyes' was Furay's tribute to Parsons.
This is one of the best interviews I’ve heard in ages, even though the interviewer, like so many, is way too fixated on Gram whilst completely overlooking the contributions of Gene Clark, who wrote Feel A Whole Lot Better, I Knew I’d Want You, and wrote the majority of lyrics and melody to Eight Miiles High. Chris Hillman’s bass intro to the latter is the most iconic ever. In fact, Chris is the most multi-talented of the band, playing guitar, bass, and mandolin. He’s superb at all of them and a most gracious interview.
Mr. Hillman's bass solo introducing EIGHT MILES HIGH is, in my opinion, the greatest intro in rock history.
"Eight Mile High" is on my "Favorites" playlist on my iPhone, and it gets played on my car's Apple Carplay all the time.
Yeah, but you must add in what David, Jim(!) and Michael give to that intro to continue buildup of such a legendary sound.
Chris is allowed an opinion. It's his right. He was there. Great interview.
rip gram and the burrito brothers rock
Hillman helped Gram Parsons form the Burritos, give Gram his credit
Were you there? 😂
@@ColeWheeler4Lyfe well said!!
As a young kid who had recently lost his own dad, I heard a song recorded by a group called the Byrds entitled Mr Tambourine Man…I would play that record repeatability to hear that bass line at the tag of the tune! I thought it was the coolest thing I had heard!
Great interview, really well done. Flying Burrito Brothers and Manassas, amazing music.
Chris has always remained my favorite musician . What a legacy he has left us!
Byrds or birds they all sing beautifully.. perfect pitch!!!
Jay Luciano...The Byrds 🎼🎶🎶🎶🎤🎸🎸🎸🥁
Ronnie Wood was in a band named The Birds.
@@michaelrose5614 True Michael, but not to be confused with the highly influential Columbia Records recording band " The Byrds"
@@dennisdemark8151 l certainly know who The Byrds are l have seen both Crosby 3 times and Hillman once in concert.
@@michaelrose5614 That's great Mike, I have seen Mcguinn
In concert in 1994 and drummer , the late Michael Clarke in concert in 1990 and the main songwriter the late Gene Clark in 1987.
Long live the Music and Legacy of The Byrds!
Long live Chris Hillman and the Music and Legacy of The Byrds 🎼🎶🎸🥁
There is hardly a week goes by when this mans music doesnt play through my system
Hillman is the man. It's no coincidence that every band was better when Hillman was there.
Gene CLARK had a huge hand in that
@@joebloggs8636 In Flying Burrito Brothers? In Manassas? In Desert Rose Band? I love Gene Clark, but my point was everywhere Hillman went, a band was pretty awesome.
Country Rock ... my favorite genre of music. Nice to see Chris wearing a cross. This is the time to be a Christian, as time is running out.
I remember this guy was pitched as one of the best mandolin players anywhere, while playing bass for The Byrds. Our lives seem to have been rather similar ... for me, it was my older brother who was my mentor, and my world fell apart when my parents divorced ...
What a terrific interview. God bless, Chris Hillman. (Thank you, Aaron and the Load Out Podcast!)
What a great interview…
I grew up in the Los Angeles area, and in 1977 when an incarnation of the Byrds appeared my friends and I used to go see them. That was McGuinn, Clark and Hillman. Some really beautiful nights. They sounded like the late Byrds mixed with the early version in their song selection. Ahhhhhh Then in January of 1990 I believe the Bryds reformed with MCGuinn, Hillman and Crosby, and I saw them in Ventura, CA. They played 3 shows and that was it. I feel very lucky to have seen any incarnation of the Byrds with Roger and Chris. Thank both of you, I'll never forget.
Great interview! Thank you!
Great interview
Saw him play solo at a small music hall in Eugene, Oregon around 1976 or so. Great show and was always a fan, especially his time with SHF band.
Gene Clark and Doug Dillard were the ones that brought " country rock" to the forefront....
Legend and Loved! Thank you for the wonderful tunes and memories.
One of my true heroes thank you Chris!
I love Chris Hillman and I'm so glad that he lived through the crazy era, then went on to form the Dessert Rose Band and had yet another phase of big success. What a humble man. When I hear Turn, Turn, Turn I sometimes get tears in my eyes. One of my top 10 favorite artists.
I feel you TenBroeck.
God Bless you Chris - love all your music great career. Love listening to all your journeys Byrds to present . I am just discovering FBB and post Byrds music🎸
This should have way more views. The Mount Rushmore of bassists: Phil Lesh, Geezer Butler, Chris Hillman, Paul McCartney.
Don't forget John Entwistle
Jack Bruce anyone?
The Beat Farmers were from San Diego / Riverside
and they never received the recognition they deserved
for those incrediblly well written songs
Chris your singing on Farther Along on Deluxe is inspirational.. it makes me want to try my hand again in a group and with some singing.. and I suck at singing.
I was a Byrds fan from the start, 1965, age 15, when MTM was my first album purchase, even before I got a phonograph. But I really got to appreciate Chris after Crosby's "Everybody's Been Burned," where Chris went off the chain with a track-long bass solo. He really hit his stride from YTY onward, and came out of the shadows to become a creative artist in his own right. I respect his profession of his Christian faith, and I thoroughly enjoyed this interview.
I love it, "Make friends with yourself". Good advice, well distilled into 4 words.
Awesome 👌 👏 👍
Live at the Avalon is a superb document. Owsley soundboard, incredible set, everyone wins!
Love his music room 💕
Chris Hillman he is a good guy
Have always liked Chris and whatever he was playing!
My favorite FBB show is from the Festival Express back in 1970 best version of Cody Cody that bass playing was exquisite
GREAT INTERVIEW! Thank you so much for this!
Gram Parsons is the founder & king of Country Rock. He's the one who brought it to them.
why does country rock have to have a single KING or FOUNDER?
Two words: Satisfied Mind
Really like Chris Hillman and enjoyed this interview . would liked to have heard a little about his time in the band the Hillmen with the Louvin brothers and Don Parmely . Anyway thanks for doing this interesting interview .
I've always been a fan.
Great life lessons here. You can see how in life there are "catalysts or mentors" who can be important in shaping what you become.
Seems like a nice guy.loved him with the byrds.
Legend🙌🏻
Love his music.
So wonderful…thank you Aaron 🙏
Wow , what a cool dude
I used to work with Chris's brother Dick Hillman at Continental airlines.
Interviewer is a real a trip and that is puting it mildly.
Respect.
Great Interview !
I remember watching his group open for Hag
Nice guy!!
Great to find out that he is an Orthodox Christian! ☦️☦️☦️
Great interview. I do take issue with a couple of things . Poco in my opinion was the creme de la creme not only as great players,great singers,great harmony,and GREAT SONGS ! I think Epic destroyed Poco.
Next .
Chris didn’t mention Souther,Hillman, Furay band . Fallen In Love should have been a hit .
Richie ,and me were talking about starting a group about fifteen to twenty years ago .
He ran by me other musicians he thought would work well . Chris Hillman was one he brought up a couple of times .
True story . I love Richie’s writing,and singing both are much underrated ,and he plays a very good rhythm guitar player .
@9:30 real bluegrass fan's understand the California influence on the genre. From Clarence, Roland and Eric White to Herb (father) Larry, Tony, Ronnie and Wyatt Rice to The Dillard's, David Grisman all the way to Billy Constables and even the Grateful Dead influence... it changed the 2nd generation of Bluegrass all together.
Chris was part of it, he didn't 'invent' country rock, gene clark with gosden bros and doug dillard just beat him to it, but they were all part of it!
I completely agree about GENE CLARK
Think Poco w/ Richie Furay and Rusty Young were pushing the same buttons at the same time spilling out of the Buffalo Springfield.
Tremendous interview. Hillman is a legend whose musical fingerprints are all over the place in a number of rock/country/bluegrass genres. I don't sense an anger toward Gram Parsons that many seem to pick up. To me, it's more of a resignation to the fact that the situation couldn't go on as it was. I don't think Chris gives himself enough credit for how influential The Flying Burrito Brothers were; they were truly pathfinders. I imagine it was a bit chaotic within the group, but it was hardly a trainwreck. As a diehard fan, I often wonder how a third album would have sounded had Parsons been able to keep it together. Another disappointment (and it's minor) is that Hillman never mentions his two late-1970s solo albums, Slipping Away and Clear Sailing. Interesting albums on which Hillman's vocals really soared. But all in all, I love listening to Chris talk about his career.
The Burritos were fantastic. Chris has at times expressed a lot of anger towards Gram, saying he was a cancer on the band and hitting him. However, they were young, and Gram was very troubled and at times difficult. I get the frustration; I've worked with difficult people too. Time and maturity tend to change us. When I listen to Chris sing harmony I wonder if he has perfect pitch; always dead-on.
77 years old ? Damn!
The king is Gram Parsons
I wish someone would ask him more about the SHF band. I came across an old interview with Chris in which referred to it as 'an exercise in terror.' I presume he was referring to drummer Jim Gordon's gradually worsening insanity during the band's tour.
I could listen to Chris talk about any subject at all, like to take another bike ride with him, yet I won’t be going to Tennessee and I doubt he wants to come here to north Idaho. Course if he did, he should bring Connie and we could ride or go sailing here on Pend Oreille. Didn’t know his dad had taken his life, my dad and my brother both did that as well and know how Chris must have hurt from it, I think I knew why my dad did what he did, and I know for certain why my brother did, they each had what I call a valid reason……I just don’t have that kind of nerve.
Hope you have kept in touch with Monte and Judy, as well as Bobbie and Tammie. Take care and g_d bless
Nice interview. I think you meant to say, "One would guess that if you co-founded a band once called the “American Beatles;”
Well said, Chris. It was just country music. It was done by guys who looked like hippies (long hair), but it was just basically country music.
Love this guy. It's funny, as time goes by, that third FBB album has become my favorite (sometimes, lol). To me, the Eagles don't sound like the Gram Parsons FBB, they sound like that third album. Regardless of what the critics say, that was a great album.
At 28:34 Chris mentions another band who came out just after them and that they were a great band, but who is he talking about? I'd love to hear them!
Google Poco (band)
Clarence White’s wife sold his Bender B Telecaster guitar to Marty Stuart who honors Clarence every time he performs.
I would imagine that the original 1849 gold rush brought southerners and their southern music influence into CA as well
crusty dudes from Georgia and Cornwall and Wales and New Brunswick probably rocked some tunes out in the diggings
put their picks down and strummed some strings
beat some spoons and tin cans
Proper
No one person invented country rock. Gram Parsons gets a lot of credit, but Chris Hillman was doing this before it became a thing. I love Parsons and Hillman. Of course when I say country rock, that music is MORE country than country music these days,
Gene Clark
ps Lazy Day from Festival Express *pumps*
The interviewer looks a lot like Amir Arison, the FBI computer geek on "The Blacklist" TV series.
Interesting interview with a few revelations and stories that I had not heard before. I do agree with Chris Hillman that "Sweetheart..." was not The Byrds' best album, not by a long shot. It was pioneering in its forceful statement about country fusing with rock. But the songs were uneven in quality, and it doesn't come close to matching their earlier albums, including "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" that preceded it and had quite a lot of country influence in several songs as well.
If they had kept Gram Parsons' vocals in, Sweetheart would have been a lot better.
@@margaretross9150 Nonsense. His vocals are not superior to those of McGuinn or Hillman, but the main issue is the songs themselves.
@@timj9418 I don't know how anyone can listen to Roger singing A Christian Life and say that it's good. He sounds like Elmer Fudd and says he would do it differently now he is a Christian. Gram's vocal was totally sincere.
Let him talk, dude.
Should have been a better friend to Gram
Definitely abirdwatcher but about the rest if us that are hillclimbers man!
I get what your saying about Gram, Chris and he couldn't be Hank Williams if he didn't struggle with a trust fund, but no, Gram struggled and had heart and most importantly, he delivered. He delivered with making the music, soulful that most cannot. Song, money doesn't matter, at least in his case. He did feel sorry and loss, so your oversimplification and grudge against Gram for not being in his band with Emmy Lou makes you bitter.
Well said. Chris can't get over the fact that although he himself is respected, Gram is loved, and it will be ever thus.
@Harry Bogaev "Set in amber." What a beautiful image!
Hillman's resentment towards Gram is well placed but not healthy. Chris's "problem" was he was always more country than urban. He was/is a serious musician and, to my mind, mastered the bass guitar to the same level as McCartney. Unfortunately for him The Byrds, along with producer Gary Usher, from 5D thru Notorious Byrd Bros were quickly evolving into a technologically driven studio band distilling many musical influences into their music, jazz to World music, really a precursor to music that would emerge from Britain mostly, a decade and a half later. Like The Beatles, their music could not at that time be duplicated in live performance. Anathema for a country/alt country player. Those original Byrds had the ability to take their creativity a lot further. Unfortunately they were undone by personal animosities they could not, or would not, overcome. Part of Gene Clark's genius was he was comfortable in any musical genre. Crosby was never country. He was a "futurist", and to a slightly lesser degree, so was McGuinn. Chris found great success in the musical space where he belonged and partnering with Gram, to me, was some kind of great reward for the time it lasted and nothing to hold a grudge about. McGuinn of course, insisting on keeping the group's name to the detriment of the legacy, couldn't decide if he and his musicians were alt country or arena rockers. They proved to be uncomfortable in both and succeeded in neither. Personally, even with Chris leaving after Notorious, the four remaining guys with session players could have continued the melding of technology with their vast musical creativity that would set The Byrds far, far ahead of all others in the field. Alas, very few rock groups establish solid personal relationships on the level of say REM. PS. Hillman provided so much towards making the original Byrds the iconic band they were and remain. Don't get me wrong on that!
@@davidmurray2539 Great analysis of my favourite band! I appreciate what a fine musician Chris is and what he's given us. Nice to see him so relaxed on stage now. However, he has tarnished his legacy with his nasty stories about Gram Parsons, who obviously suffered the results of a miserable childhood. Hillman's wife once asked him if he'd like to trade places with Gram. I'll keep trying to think positively about him.
@@margaretross9150 I'd read that Chris was in tears when he heard the final version of Hot Burrito #1. That's probably the truest picture of what he thought of Gram. Hillman always seemed the "sanest" of The Byrds. Shame he carries a grudge because together he and Gram created the best by far alt country album ever with The Burrito Bros' Gilded Palace of Sin. That's something you'd think he'd take great pride in and he couldn't have thought that with Gram's health sapping habits that he'd be around for the long haul.Take care, Margaret.
Gram Parsons
The comment at 2:12 was totally uncalled for. Mentioning his dad passing away would have sufficed. Shame on the interviewer for that.
Love Hillman but Furay started Country Rock.
😅Kmm😅 26:42 😅😅o 26:42
Intro left out SHF band!
Why didn’t he get drafted to go to Vietnam?
he's old AF!
HE IS NOT THE FOUNDER OF THE BYRDS .....
Why did his dad commit suicide?
I read it was a business setback.