Michael Clarke (musician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Clarke was an American musician, best known as the drummer
for the 1960s rock
group The Byrds
from 1964 to 1967. He died in 1993, at age 47, from liver failure
, a direct result of more than three decades of heavy alcohol consumption
.
. His father was an artist and his mother was a musician. Clarke ran away from home when he was 17 years old and hitchiked
to California to become a musician. In legend, Clarke was said to have been discovered by Byrds' founder David Crosby
while playing bongos
on the beach
. In fact he was discovered by singer-songwriter Ivan Ulz
, in North Beach, San Francisco and was introduced to other group members by Ulz.
Clarke was not an accomplished musician prior to joining The Byrds. He had never played drums and, after joining The Byrds, not having a drum set, practiced on cardboard boxes and a tambourine. According to lead guitar
ist Roger McGuinn
's web site, Clarke was hired by McGuinn and Gene Clark
(no relation) for his resemblance to Rolling Stones
' guitarist Brian Jones
. Clarke's strength as a drummer is considered to be illustrated by his jazz-oriented playing on The Byrds' "Eight Miles High
", on the Fifth Dimension
album.
Unlike the other members of The Byrds, Clarke was not a songwriter. His compositional contributions with the band encompass co-writing credits for the songs "Captain Soul", from the Fifth Dimension album, and "Artificial Energy" from The Notorious Byrd Brothers
. He was also given an arrangement
co-credit for two traditional songs that appeared on Fifth Dimension: "Wild Mountain Thyme
" and "John Riley
" (although the latter is erroneously credited to Bob Gibson
and Ricky Neff on the album itself).
In August 1967, during the recording sessions
for The Notorious Byrd Brothers album, Clarke walked out of The Byrds and was temporarily replaced by session drummers
Jim Gordon
and Hal Blaine
. Clarke had recently become dissatisfied with his role in the band and didn't particularly like the new material that the songwriting members of the band were providing. However, Clarke continued to honor his live concert commitments with the band, appearing with them at a handful of shows during late August and early September 1967. Clarke returned from his self-imposed exile in time to contribute drums to the song "Artificial Energy" in early December 1967, but was subsequently fired from the band by McGuinn and bass player
Chris Hillman
once The Notorious Byrd Brothers album was completed.
After a short stint in Hawaii as a painter
and working in a hotel, Clarke played briefly with Gene Clark in Dillard and Clark, before following Hillman to The Flying Burrito Brothers
, after their first album. Clarke was with the Flying Burrito Brothers between 1969 and 1973, including appearing with the band at the infamous Altamont Free Concert, headlined by The Rolling Stones
, in 1969. During the 1974-1981 period, Clarke was a member of Firefall
, followed by a period as the drummer for Jerry Jeff Walker
, ending in 1982.
Between 1983 and 1985, Clarke joined former Byrds' singer Gene Clark
in The Firebyrds, a touring band which had been put together to promote Gene Clark's 1984 solo album Firebyrd. In 1985, following the breakup of The Firebyrds, Clarke and Clark again joined forces for a series of controversial shows billed as a "20th Anniversary Tribute to The Byrds". Other musicians involved in this project were John York
, another ex-Byrd from the late 1960s line-up of the group, ex-Firefall singer Rick Roberts
, ex-member of The Beach Boys
early 1970s line-up Blondie Chaplin
, and Rick Danko
, formerly of The Band
. Many clubs simply shortened the billing to The Byrds, and the pair soon found themselves involved in acrimonious court battles with Roger McGuinn
, David Crosby
, and Chris Hillman
over use of the group's name.
The Byrds set aside their differences long enough to appear together at their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in January 1991, where the original lineup played three songs together: "Mr. Tambourine Man
", "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better". Gene Clark died less than five months later, of a heart attack, on May 24, 1991.
From 1987 until his death in 1993, Clarke toured as The Byrds featuring Michael Clarke. Skip Battin
and John York
, who had played with Roger McGuinn in later versions of The Byrds, also played at various points in The Byrds featuring Michael Clarke. Following the failure of McGuinn, Crosby and Hillman to obtain an injunction against Clarke, it was generally accepted that Clarke's continuing usage of the name was tantamount to ownership, particularly when not used by any other group member and where other group members, particularly Roger McGuinn, had repeatedly denied any interest in performing again under The Byrds name. Roger McGuinn later acknowledged that ownership of the The Byrds name had likely passed to Michael Clarke's estate on Clarke's death.
Clarke's health declined from a lifetime of hard drinking. After a number of hospital
stays, he died of liver failure at the age of 47 at his Treasure Island, Florida
home.
During his final days, Clarke had expressed a wish to appear on television
in the hope of alerting children to the dangers of alcoholism
. Following his wishes, Clarke's girlfriend Susan Paul started a foundation in Clarke's name, called the Campaign for Alcohol-free Kids.
In 1994, a year after his death, Clarke's paintings were published in Dick Gautier and Jim McMullan's book, Musicians As Artists.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the 1960s rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
from 1964 to 1967. He died in 1993, at age 47, from liver failure
Liver failure
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease , and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage . The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis...
, a direct result of more than three decades of heavy alcohol consumption
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
Biography
Clarke was born Michael James Dick in Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. His father was an artist and his mother was a musician. Clarke ran away from home when he was 17 years old and hitchiked
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a means of transportation that is gained by asking people, usually strangers, for a ride in their automobile or other road vehicle to travel a distance that may either be short or long...
to California to become a musician. In legend, Clarke was said to have been discovered by Byrds' founder David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
while playing bongos
Bongo drum
Bongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
on the beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
. In fact he was discovered by singer-songwriter Ivan Ulz
Ivan Ulz
Ivan Ulz is an American songwriter.-History:After writing and recording his first song, A Letter to Hayley in 1962, Ulz decided to pursue a songwriting career...
, in North Beach, San Francisco and was introduced to other group members by Ulz.
Clarke was not an accomplished musician prior to joining The Byrds. He had never played drums and, after joining The Byrds, not having a drum set, practiced on cardboard boxes and a tambourine. According to lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
's web site, Clarke was hired by McGuinn and Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
(no relation) for his resemblance to Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' guitarist Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones , known as Brian Jones, was an English musician and a founding member of the Rolling Stones....
. Clarke's strength as a drummer is considered to be illustrated by his jazz-oriented playing on The Byrds' "Eight Miles High
Eight Miles High
"Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band The Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn, and David Crosby and first released as a single on March 14, 1966 . The single managed to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 30 of the UK Singles Chart...
", on the Fifth Dimension
Fifth Dimension (album)
Fifth Dimension is the third album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in July 1966 on Columbia Records . Most of the album was recorded following the February 1966 departure of the band's principal songwriter Gene Clark...
album.
Unlike the other members of The Byrds, Clarke was not a songwriter. His compositional contributions with the band encompass co-writing credits for the songs "Captain Soul", from the Fifth Dimension album, and "Artificial Energy" from The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Notorious Byrd Brothers is the fifth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in January 1968 on Columbia Records . Musically, the album represents the pinnacle of The Byrds' psychedelic experimentation, with the band blending together elements of folk rock, psychedelic rock,...
. He was also given an arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
co-credit for two traditional songs that appeared on Fifth Dimension: "Wild Mountain Thyme
Wild Mountain Thyme
"Wild Mountain Thyme", also known as "Purple Heather" and "Will You Go Lassie, Go", is a folk song, rewritten by Francis McPeake, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland...
" and "John Riley
John Riley (song)
"John Riley" is a traditional English folk song ....
" (although the latter is erroneously credited to Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson (musician)
Samuel Robert Gibson was a folk singer who led a folk music revival in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was known for playing both the banjo and the 12-string guitar. He introduced a then largely unknown Joan Baez at the Newport Folk Festival of 1959. He produced a number of LPs in the decade...
and Ricky Neff on the album itself).
In August 1967, during the recording sessions
Studio recording
The term studio recording means any recording made in a studio, as opposed to a live recording, which is usually made in a concert venue or a theatre, with an audience attending the performance.-Studio cast recordings:...
for The Notorious Byrd Brothers album, Clarke walked out of The Byrds and was temporarily replaced by session drummers
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon (musician)
James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
and Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
. Clarke had recently become dissatisfied with his role in the band and didn't particularly like the new material that the songwriting members of the band were providing. However, Clarke continued to honor his live concert commitments with the band, appearing with them at a handful of shows during late August and early September 1967. Clarke returned from his self-imposed exile in time to contribute drums to the song "Artificial Energy" in early December 1967, but was subsequently fired from the band by McGuinn and bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
once The Notorious Byrd Brothers album was completed.
After a short stint in Hawaii as a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and working in a hotel, Clarke played briefly with Gene Clark in Dillard and Clark, before following Hillman to The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers was an early country rock band, best known for its influential debut album,The Gilded Palace of Sin . Although the group is most often mentioned in connection with country rock legends Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, the group underwent many personnel changes.-Original...
, after their first album. Clarke was with the Flying Burrito Brothers between 1969 and 1973, including appearing with the band at the infamous Altamont Free Concert, headlined by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, in 1969. During the 1974-1981 period, Clarke was a member of Firefall
Firefall
Firefall is a rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974. It was founded by Rick Roberts, who had been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement in Zephyr. The band's biggest hit single, "You Are the Woman", peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts...
, followed by a period as the drummer for Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
, ending in 1982.
Between 1983 and 1985, Clarke joined former Byrds' singer Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
in The Firebyrds, a touring band which had been put together to promote Gene Clark's 1984 solo album Firebyrd. In 1985, following the breakup of The Firebyrds, Clarke and Clark again joined forces for a series of controversial shows billed as a "20th Anniversary Tribute to The Byrds". Other musicians involved in this project were John York
John York (musician)
John Foley York is an American bassist and guitarist, born in White Plains, New York on August 3, 1946. He is best known for his work with The Byrds, who he joined in September 1968 as a replacement for the band's original bass player Chris Hillman. He remained with the group until September...
, another ex-Byrd from the late 1960s line-up of the group, ex-Firefall singer Rick Roberts
Rick Roberts (musician)
Rick Roberts is a country rock and classic rock singer-songwriter who recorded with many influential artists over several genres in the 1970s. He is best known for his work with The Flying Burrito Brothers on their 1971 self-titled album, and as a founding member and lead singer of Firefall from...
, ex-member of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
early 1970s line-up Blondie Chaplin
Blondie Chaplin
Terence William 'Blondie' Chaplin is a musician from Durban, South Africa who first became known to international audiences through his brief stint in the early 1970s as a singer and guitarist for The Beach Boys...
, and Rick Danko
Rick Danko
Richard Clare "Rick" Danko was a Canadian musician and singer, best known as a member of The Band.-Early years :...
, formerly of The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
. Many clubs simply shortened the billing to The Byrds, and the pair soon found themselves involved in acrimonious court battles with Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
, David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
, and Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
over use of the group's name.
The Byrds set aside their differences long enough to appear together at their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in January 1991, where the original lineup played three songs together: "Mr. Tambourine Man
Mr. Tambourine Man
"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, which was released on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The Byrds also recorded a version of the song that was released as their first single on Columbia Records, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and...
", "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better". Gene Clark died less than five months later, of a heart attack, on May 24, 1991.
From 1987 until his death in 1993, Clarke toured as The Byrds featuring Michael Clarke. Skip Battin
Skip Battin
Clyde "Skip" Battin was an American singer–songwriter, performer and recording artist. He is best remembered as a member of The Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
and John York
John York (musician)
John Foley York is an American bassist and guitarist, born in White Plains, New York on August 3, 1946. He is best known for his work with The Byrds, who he joined in September 1968 as a replacement for the band's original bass player Chris Hillman. He remained with the group until September...
, who had played with Roger McGuinn in later versions of The Byrds, also played at various points in The Byrds featuring Michael Clarke. Following the failure of McGuinn, Crosby and Hillman to obtain an injunction against Clarke, it was generally accepted that Clarke's continuing usage of the name was tantamount to ownership, particularly when not used by any other group member and where other group members, particularly Roger McGuinn, had repeatedly denied any interest in performing again under The Byrds name. Roger McGuinn later acknowledged that ownership of the The Byrds name had likely passed to Michael Clarke's estate on Clarke's death.
Clarke's health declined from a lifetime of hard drinking. After a number of hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
stays, he died of liver failure at the age of 47 at his Treasure Island, Florida
Treasure Island, Florida
Treasure Island is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,450. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 7,521.-Geography:...
home.
During his final days, Clarke had expressed a wish to appear on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in the hope of alerting children to the dangers of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. Following his wishes, Clarke's girlfriend Susan Paul started a foundation in Clarke's name, called the Campaign for Alcohol-free Kids.
In 1994, a year after his death, Clarke's paintings were published in Dick Gautier and Jim McMullan's book, Musicians As Artists.
Discography
- Mr. Tambourine ManMr. Tambourine Man (album)Mr. Tambourine Man is the debut album by the American folk rock band The Byrds and was released in June 1965 on Columbia Records . The album, along with the single of the same name, established the band as an internationally successful rock act and was also influential in originating the musical...
(1965) - Turn! Turn! Turn!Turn! Turn! Turn! (album)Turn! Turn! Turn! is the second album by the folk rock band The Byrds and was released in December 1965 on Columbia Records . Like its predecessor, Mr. Tambourine Man, the album epitomized the folk rock genre and continued the band's successful mix of vocal harmony and jangly twelve-string...
(1965) - Fifth DimensionFifth Dimension (album)Fifth Dimension is the third album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in July 1966 on Columbia Records . Most of the album was recorded following the February 1966 departure of the band's principal songwriter Gene Clark...
(1966) - Gene Clark with the Gosdin BrothersGene Clark with the Gosdin BrothersGene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers is the debut solo album of Gene Clark, released in February of 1967 on Columbia Records, catalogue CS 9418. It was his first effort after his departure from folk-rock group the Byrds in 1966...
(1967) - Younger Than YesterdayYounger Than YesterdayYounger Than Yesterday is the fourth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in February 1967 on Columbia Records . The album saw the band continuing to integrate elements of psychedelic rock into their music, a process they had begun on their previous LP...
(1967) - The Notorious Byrd BrothersThe Notorious Byrd BrothersThe Notorious Byrd Brothers is the fifth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in January 1968 on Columbia Records . Musically, the album represents the pinnacle of The Byrds' psychedelic experimentation, with the band blending together elements of folk rock, psychedelic rock,...
(1968) - The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & ClarkThe Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & ClarkThe Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark is a country rock album by Dillard & Clark. The album was recorded in 1968, shortly after Clark departed The Byrds for the second time, and Dillard left The Dillards...
(1968) - Through the Morning Through the Night (1969)
- Burrito DeluxeBurrito DeluxeBurrito Deluxe is the second album by the country rock group The Flying Burrito Brothers, released in 1970. In between The Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe, the band underwent some personnel changes. Bassist Chris Ethridge left the band out of frustration at the band's lack of success...
(1970) - The Flying Burrito Bros (1971)
- Last of the Red Hot Burritos (1972)
- FirefallFirefall (album)Firefall is the self-titled debut from Firefall which saw release in 1976.- Track listing :# It Doesn't Matter - 3:31# Love Isn't All - 4:13# Livin' Ain't Livin' - 3:49# No Way Out - 4:05# Dolphin's Lullaby - 4:34# Cinderella - 3:53...
(1976) - Luna Sea (1977)
- Elan (1978)
- Undertow (1980)