Just in case 735 pages of the third revision of Johnny Rogan’s previous definitive biography of The Byrds and all the individuals who have played together under that name (Timeless Flight Revisited: The Sequel) carried insufficient detail to satisfy your cravings for information about the band, the author has found the time and energy to compile the really-truly-last-word on the subject.
As the title suggests, 1,200 pages proved insufficient for Rogan to tell the story he has spent so much of his life on and, even with Volume 2 in the works, he assures us that “this account is by no means exhaustive”. If by that he means trips to the lavatory aren’t included, he’s correct. For most readers, however, it’s exhaustive enough – even trying to hold the book while reading it is physically demanding. There comes a point when adding more to what was already a great work of collective biography – and Rogan’s original research is exemplary in its thoroughness – becomes self-defeating. Volume 1 takes us most of the way there.
Rogan’s previous edition (The Sequel) could accurately be described as a “must read” and anyone who has that book should think hard before splashing out another £20 for the latest version.
