 After the tour wound down in late 1985 , Clark returned to his solo career , leaving Michael Clarke to soldier on with a band that was now billed as " A Tribute to The Byrds " ( although again , it was often shortened to the Byrds by promoters ) . Gene Clark returned to the group following the release of his and Carla Olsen 's So Rebellious a Lover album , and the tribute band continued to work on and off from 1987 to 1988 . Author Johnny Rogan has noted that most die @-@ hard fans of the Byrds were mortified by the existence of this ersatz version of the group , while Byrds expert Tim Connors has commented that " no chapter in the history of the Byrds caused as much consternation and controversy among fans . " 
