Fifty years on from their first successes, Roger McGuinn, the 12-string architect of THE BYRDS , tells Uncut about their exceptional first 18 months – and his relationship with Gene Clark. As the young group make their jet-powered escape from the folk think tank, we hear about making the scene on the Strip, outraging Iowa and a muted response in the United Kingdom. But ultimately how “Eight Miles High” became the spectacular conclusion of the band’s first era. “I almost left The Byrds entirely to go and be in this space band With Dino Valente,” McGuinn tells John Robinson

Here’s to the rock’n’rollers, among them musicians, songwriters producers, movers, shakers and others in the music industry who sadly left us in 2025. Thank you, and goodnight…

Fondly remembered this month...

My Focus – Live Under The Rainbow

The stars queued up to pay tribute to Kiss’s original guitarist, who died in October

Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist and positive force Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield left us on November 20.