The Byrd Who Flew Alone: The Triumphs and Tragedy of Gene Clark (2013)

Tipped off by Uncut magazine this was well worth the wait and, although mixed with the joy that is the music of Gene Clark and the sadness that he flew from us too early, or perhaps too high like Icarus, I approached this DVD with some trepidation in fear of tainting my misty memories. No cause for concern though as, albeit with limited footage available, the producers have gathered together a fitting tribute encompassing the insight of fellow Byrds, wife and family, friends and fellow journeymen troubadours. Thank you! After watching the film and delving through the extras, most of which warrant inclusion, it only led me to dig out all the old vinyl and indulge and immerse once more. Pride of place went to listening to and pouring over my signed copies of White Light, but especially my Dutch pressing of Roadmaster which back in 1976 I think it was at the Leeds Uni McGuinn Clark Hillman gig, provoked the response from the great man of "Did I make this?" as he had never seen the sleeve before. Suffice to say our ten minutes conversation was a time to treasure on my part.Perhaps I am preaching to the already converted but if anyone has any interest in probably the most enigmatic Byrd then do not hesitate to watch this worthy film.And in conclusion, yes, "No Other" is still firmly ensconced in my top 5 albums of all time!

As a dedicated Byrds fan for the last 40 years, I was quite excited to hear of this new documentary. Although the question of how amazing Gene Clark was as a songwriter is for me a matter of individual taste, and I personally feel that the superlatives about Gene having been a genius were a bit overdone, I did find this film quite enjoyable and revealing. I must admit that although I loved Gene's voice, and was fortunate enough to see him performing live on the first McGuinn Clark Hillman tour back in the late 70's, I knew very little about his biography, other than the story about his being afraid to fly... This documentary exposed me to an entirely different part of Gene's life, and helped to explain a few mysteries and fill in the blanks about his life, and also a few new bits of background information about the Byrds. This movie brought Gene Clark full circle for me.

"The Byrd Who Flew Alone" is a labor of love and dedication from Four Suns Productions. It has high production values and great pacing and focus. In addition to the excellence of the film itself, the added features provide even more knowledge and enjoyment.This movie about Gene Clark is an honest assessment of the triumphs and tragedies of his life. For long-standing fans, it offers intimate details of who Gene was as a human being and as an artist, told by those who knew him and were there as it happened. For those unaware of how important Gene Clark was and is, this movie provides an excellent introduction to a singular talent who deserves to be heard and enjoyed for the richness of his abilities as a songwriter, singer and musician. Anyone who wants to know more about Gene Clark and his music will be satisfied with what they learn in this film and will come away understanding more about the depth of Gene's music and his life than they can imagine. Highly recommended!

I'm soon to be 62 and it was a real fortunate time in my life to know Beatlemania and following with the DC5, and others of the British Invasion, but when the Byrds answered the call with Tambourine Man, I was hooked.It wasn't till much later in life that I got to know Gene's music. Both Dillard & Clark and Allison Krausse/Robert Plant.I began delving into songs like "Through The Morning, Through The Night" and I wasn't even aware that it was the same man who wrote and sang I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better.The enigma that began to show itself over and over again with the deaths of Gram Parsons, Hendrix, etc. making me ask the question; Why? That culture that consumed so many lives, a mix of decadence, drugs and fame, all being a cruel mistress who doesn't care a whit of one's accomplishments and notoriety. We see it still with the Lohan's and Biebers to this day.This DVD certainly hit dead on straight, watching a life spiral down and crash. It felt like watching a train crash in slow motion, much like the Gram Parsons DVD. You want there to be a good ending, but its not to be.Thank you to the Four Sons production team who put this together. The many, many interviews showed us a very vulnerable man.