The Byrds Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. The Byrds were formed in Los Angeles in which year?
A. 1962
B. 1964
C. 1966
D. 1968
Answer: B. 1964
Q2. Which folk singer is widely regarded as the founder and original leader of The Byrds?
A. David Crosby
B. Chris Hillman
C. Roger McGuinn
D. Gene Clark
Answer: C. Roger McGuinn
Q3. The Byrds’ breakthrough hit “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965) was written by which artist?
A. Pete Seeger
B. Bob Dylan
C. Woody Guthrie
D. Donovan
Answer: B. Bob Dylan
Q4. What distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound became The Byrds’ signature?
A. Played by Roger McGuinn
B. Played by David Crosby
C. Played by Chris Hillman
D. Played by Gene Clark
Answer: A. Played by Roger McGuinn
Q5. Which 1965 album is considered the first true folk-rock album and went to No. 6 on the Billboard chart?
A. Turn! Turn! Turn!
B. Mr. Tambourine Man
C. Fifth Dimension
D. Younger Than Yesterday
Answer: B. Mr. Tambourine Man
Q6. The Byrds’ second No. 1 hit in 1965, “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” features lyrics taken almost verbatim from which source?
A. The Book of Ecclesiastes
B. A Pete Seeger poem
C. A Bob Dylan outtake
D. A traditional hymn
Answer: A. The Book of Ecclesiastes
Q7. Which original member left The Byrds in early 1966 and is often called the band’s most prolific early songwriter?
A. David Crosby
B. Gene Clark
C. Michael Clarke
D. Chris Hillman
Answer: B. Gene Clark
Q8. The 1966 album Fifth Dimension marked the first Byrds album without which key member as a full-time songwriter?
A. Roger McGuinn
B. David Crosby
C. Gene Clark
D. Chris Hillman
Answer: C. Gene Clark
Q9. Which song from Fifth Dimension is widely regarded as one of the earliest psychedelic rock recordings?
A. Eight Miles High
B. Mr. Spaceman
C. 5D (Fifth Dimension)
D. I See You
Answer: A. Eight Miles High
Q10. Drummer Michael Clarke left The Byrds immediately after which 1967 album?
A. Younger Than Yesterday
B. The Notorious Byrd Brothers
C. Sweetheart of the Rodeo
D. Fifth Dimension
Answer: B. The Notorious Byrd Brothers
Q11. David Crosby was fired from The Byrds in late 1967 primarily due to:
A. Drug issues
B. Missing tour dates
C. Musical and political disagreements
D. Financial disputes
Answer: C. Musical and political disagreements
Q12. Which 1968 album is considered the first major country-rock album in history?
A. The Notorious Byrd Brothers
B. Sweetheart of the Rodeo
C. Younger Than Yesterday
D. Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde
Answer: B. Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Q13. Gram Parsons joined The Byrds in early 1968 specifically for the recording of which album?
A. Younger Than Yesterday
B. The Notorious Byrd Brothers
C. Sweetheart of the Rodeo
D. Ballad of Easy Rider
Answer: C. Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Q14. Which classic song, later popularized by The Flying Burrito Brothers, was first recorded by The Byrds with Gram Parsons?
A. Sin City
B. Hickory Wind
C. Hot Burrito #1
D. Christine’s Tune
Answer: B. Hickory Wind
Q15. Who replaced David Crosby and Gram Parsons as lead guitarist in late 1968?
A. Clarence White
B. Skip Battin
C. John York
D. Gene Parsons
Answer: A. Clarence White
Q16. Which song from the 1970 album (Untitled) became one of The Byrds’ longest and most famous live performances?
A. Chestnut Mare
B. Eight Miles High (live)
C. Mr. Tambourine Man
D. So You Want to Be a Rock ’n’ Roll Star
Answer: B. Eight Miles High (live)
Q17. The Byrds’ final studio album with the “classic” lineup (McGuinn, Hillman, Crosby, Clarke) before the original reunion was released in:
A. 1968
B. 1970
C. 1973
D. 1971
Answer: C. 1973
Q18. The 1973 reunion album Byrds featured all five original members and was produced by:
A. David Crosby
B. Gary Usher
C. Terry Melcher
D. Bob Johnston
Answer: A. David Crosby
Q19. Which influential country-rock/bluegrass guitarist became a full member of The Byrds from 1968 until the breakup?
A. Gram Parsons
B. Clarence White
C. Bernie Leadon
D. Herb Pedersen
Answer: B. Clarence White
Q20. The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in which year?
A. 1991
B. 1992
C. 1993
D. 1995
Answer: A. 1991
Q21. Which Byrds member went on to co-found Crosby, Stills & Nash (and later Young)?
A. Roger McGuinn
B. Gene Clark
C. David Crosby
D. Chris Hillman
Answer: C. David Crosby
Q22. Which member co-founded The Flying Burrito Brothers after leaving The Byrds?
A. Roger McGuinn
B. Chris Hillman
C. David Crosby
D. Michael Clarke
Answer: B. Chris Hillman
Q23. Which 1967 song is considered a satirical take on the sudden fame of manufactured rock stars?
A. So You Want to Be a Rock ’n’ Roll Star
B. Have You Seen Her Face
C. My Back Pages
D. Thoughts and Words
Answer: A. So You Want to Be a Rock ’n’ Roll Star
Q24. The Byrds recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s “My Back Pages” that reached No. 30 in 1967 and featured which member on lead vocals (unusually)?
A. Roger McGuinn
B. David Crosby
C. Chris Hillman
D. Gene Clark
Answer: B. David Crosby
Q25. Which innovative recording technique did The Byrds help popularize in the mid-1960s, especially on tracks like “Eight Miles High”?
A. Backwards tape effects
B. Heavy distortion
C. Raga-influenced improvisation and modal jazz elements
D. Double-tracked drums
Answer: C. Raga-influenced improvisation and modal jazz elements