~ Gene Clark ~ A Genius ~

• Gene Clarke was a genius. 

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•  Certainly much more than a tambourine player in the Byrds. In fact, Roger McGuinn & David Crosby were so threatened by his talent at their peak they both did everything in their power to out him from the band that he originally formed which he called The Beefeaters. They had one hit before renaming themselves The Byrds. At times, Clarke`s later solo work could be breathtaking in its simplicity, yet incredibly dark & meaningful too. Past address`s is one good example of his contrasts. Clarke was a complex character that found it difficult being a pop star. Due to his personal issues, he declined many other lucrative invitations to join bands of the day. For, one of his biggest obstacles, & one McGuinn took full advantage, of was flying. Clarke had a debilitating phobia against flying which limited him drastically. The frustration this caused within him also led to a life-long battle with alcohol & living a like a tramp in & out of run-down motels & homes. Sadly, Gene died to late to allow the woman he fell in love with, Carla Olson, to help him rehabilitate. He also collaborated with her on his last ever album venture. One of the best gigs I ever attended was watching Gene support Lindisfarne in Aldershot, when I was around fourteen, with my Dad. It was to be an incredible performance. Today, looking back, I can see how blessed I was to have been there. Gene Clark is a legend & his body of work should be reissued as soon as possible. For his work is as relevant today as it was when it was released.
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