 The original five @-@ piece line @-@ up of the Byrds consisted of Jim McGuinn ( lead guitar , vocals ) , Gene Clark ( tambourine , vocals ) , David Crosby ( rhythm guitar , vocals ) , Chris Hillman ( bass guitar , vocals ) , and Michael Clarke ( drums ) . However , this version of the band was relatively short @-@ lived and by early 1966 , Clark had left due to problems associated with anxiety and his increasing isolation within the group . The Byrds continued as a quartet until late 1967 , when Crosby and Clarke also departed the band . McGuinn and Hillman decided to recruit new members , including country rock pioneer Gram Parsons , but by late 1968 , Hillman and Parsons had also exited the band . McGuinn , who by this time had changed his name to Roger after a flirtation with the Subud religion , elected to rebuild the band 's membership and between 1968 and 1973 , he helmed a new incarnation of the Byrds , featuring guitarist Clarence White among others . McGuinn disbanded the then current line @-@ up in early 1973 , to make way for a reunion of the original quintet . The Byrds ' final album was released in March 1973 , with the reunited group disbanding soon afterwards . 
