In early July 1965, just as their single "Mr. Tambourine Man" reached number one on the pop charts, the Byrds set out on their first national tour.
Over the course of a month, the band performed more than 25 times in ten different states. With the exception of a weekend detour to Miami Beach for the Columbia Records Sales Convention, almost all of the shows took place in the Midwest. The venues were mostly amusement parks, rec and youth centers, and small town ballrooms.
Using Chicago (Roger McGuinn's hometown) as their base of operations, the group zig-zagged across the middle of the country on a Trailways bus. Traveling with the band was a troupe of go-go dancers led by L.A. freakster Carl Franzoni.
In his book, Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of the Byrds' Gene Clark, John Einarson detailed life on the road during the '65 tour of the Midwest:
The Byrds' trek across America was in a regular Continental Trailways excursion bus replete with standard bus seats. No bunks, bedrooms, bars, or kitchen like today's touring buses; just your normal 60-passenger bus pulling a trailer with the group's gear (including new Fender Dual Showman amplifiers boasting 100 watts - the loudest on the market at the time - courtesy of CBS, who had recently acquired the renowned instrument maker).
Along for the trip were L.A. scene-makers Vito [Paulekas] and Carl [Franzoni] and their entourage of crazed hippie dancers whose uninhibited gyrations caused quite a stir in the heartlands of America.
The Byrds appeared in Illinois repeatedly during this month long tour. Some of their shows however have never been properly documented. Their performance at the Hi Society Youth Center in Peru, Illinois on July 30th, for example, has been overlooked by most chroniclers of the band.
One of the first shows on the tour was a six hour dance scheduled at Rockford College. The July 10th concert ran from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm at the College Fieldhouse. The only other band on the bill were the Chicago-based Blackstones. The Rockford Morning Star reported that "hundreds" of teenagers enjoyed the show.
Earlier that same day, the Byrds appeared at Sears locations across Chicagoland with WLS DJ Ron Riley. To the first 200 fans at each store, free pictures of the group were to be given out. The locations and times were the State Street store 10-10:30; Irving Park & Cicero 11-11:30; Harlem & North 12:15-12:45; Oakbrook 1:30-2 pm.
Over 10,000 teenagers showed up to see the group between the four locations. The Rockford newspaper reported that 2,000 teenagers rioted at the Arlington Heights shopping center.
The band would not give another concert in Illinois for two more weeks, however the Byrds made national news on July 20 after an incident at the O'Hare Inn near Chicago's airport. It was reported that the band was barred from eating breakfast at the motel when they arrived at the dining room without any shoes on. The group eventually returned wearing cowboy boots.
The motel's president announced that rock 'n roll musicians would be banned from staying at the motel going forward. He added that the Byrds dressed "more in keeping with a flophouse than a respectable motel."
The band's next performance in Illinois was their July 24th show at the Arie Crown Theater, McCormick Place in Chicago. The 8:30 performance was part of the "Summer of Stars - '65" series. The Shadows of Knight were the opening group.
According to Christopher Hjort's book, So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-by-Day, 1965-1973, the band played a gig in East St. Louis the following evening. He mentions that the concert was possibly held at the Casa-Loma Ballroom which, if true, is actually across the river in St. Louis, Missouri.
Next the Byrds would go to Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan before finishing their tour in Illinois. Just two days before leaving for England, the Byrds landed at the Hi Society youth center in Peru, Illinois.
Incredibly, a Friday night concert by one of the hottest bands in the country was held in a basement venue that could fit a few hundred kids at most. The show was scheduled from 8 to 11 pm. Daniel Marenda, who was in attendance that night, shared on X that Chis Hillman's bass amp failed during the show and the band had to borrow one from a local group.
The next night, according to a newspaper article in the Park Forest Star, the Byrds finished their tour at the Park Forest Recreational Center in Park Forest, Illinois.
Hjort's book however presents a different series of concerts at the end of the tour:
The Byrds wind up their Midwest tour with dates in Paris, IL (playing the Pavilion in Twin Lakes Amusement Park), and a pair of hastily arranged suburban Chicago school bookings at Morton High School, Berwyn, IL, and Arlington Heights High School, Arlington Heights, IL - the latter with The Shadows of Knight in support again.
In John Rogan's book, Timeless Flight: The Definitive Biography of the Byrds, the Paris, Illinois date is somewhat confirmed by Liz Donahue, one of the members of the dance troupe:
It was amazing. I don't think the Mid-West was ready for Carl Franzoni and the whole troupe of us. We'd go into restaurants in the Mid-West and they wouldn't wait on us. They thought we were something from Outer Space. In Paris, Illinois, they actually threw us off the dance floor. I think they cancelled the gig that night."
On Sunday August 1st, the Byrds flew out of Chicago, headed for London to begin their first overseas tour. The days of playing small town ballrooms and rec centers in the heartland was short-lived. Like the Kinks tour of the state in 1965, never again would the youth of Illinois get such an intimate look at one of the iconic bands of the 1960's.
If you saw the Byrds on this early tour and want to share your memories, please leave a comment below or get in touch directly at: downstatesounds@gmail.com
July 1965 Tour Dates & Additional Info
July 3 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA
Prior to leaving on tour, the Byrds were part of the Beach Boys Summer Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl on July 3rd. In addition to the Byrds, the show featured the Beach Boys, the Kinks, Sir Douglas Quintet, Sam the Sham, Sonny & Cher, the Righteous Brothers, and several others. According to Billboard, about 15,000 people attended the concert.
July 4 Jane Fonda's house Malibu, CA
The Byrds performed at Jane Fonda's 4th of July party.July 5 Lakeside Amusement Park Lakeside, CO
The Moonrakers, a Denver-area band, opened for the Byrds.
July 6 Coliseum Annex Sioux Falls, SD
July 7 Prom Ballroom St. Paul, MN
July 8 Inwood Ballroom Spillville, IA
Hjort's book contradicts this date. He claims that the group played in Duluth, MN on the 8th and performed at the Inwood Ballroom on the 14th.
July 10 Sears (five locations) - 10 am - 2 pm Chicago, IL
July 10 Rockford College Rockford, IL
July 11 Terp Ballroom Austin, MN
July 13 Roof Garden Ballroom Arnolds Park, IA
Hjort claims that the Byrds failed to show up for this gig and that the Thunderbolts from nearby Carroll, IA play instead.
Hjort claims that the Byrds failed to show up for this gig and that the Thunderbolts from nearby Carroll, IA play instead.
July 15 Pla-Mor Ballroom Rochester, MN
Jul 16 & 17 Columbia Records Sales Convention, Americana Hotel Miami Beach, FL
The Byrds flew down to Miami Beach for the weekend to attend the Columbia Records Sales Convention held at the Americana Hotel. They arrived at the same time as some of the Miss Universe contestants which was being held in Miami Beach the following weekend.
July 18 Idora Park Youngstown, OH
Carl Franzoni recalls being punched in the stomach during this performance (Someone in Youngstown was not a fan of his dancing).
July 19 LeSourdville Lake Park Monroe, OH
Billboard reported that the Byrds performed to a capacity 2,800 people in two 45-minute performances at LeSourdsville Park, located half-way between Hamilton and Middletown, OH. This shattered the attendance record set at the park by the Beach Boys earlier in the year. Jim Smith, program director at WSAI and promoter of the show reported that hundred were turned away.
July 20 Centennial Recreation Center Sylvania, OH
Hjort lists a different location entirely for this date: The Sugar Shack in Chillicothe, OH (He adds the band showed up two hours late.)
July 21 Cedar Point Ballroom Sandusky, OH
According to the Sandusky Register, the band performed for around 300 youngsters at the Cedar Point Ballroom.
July 22 Band Canyon Bay City, MI
For details about the show in Bay City, including several first hand accounts, see Michigan Rock and Roll Legends.
July 23 Indiana Beach Monticello, IN
July 24 Arie Crown Theatre Chicago, IL
July 25 East St. Louis, IL / St. Louis, MO
July 26 Gypsy Village Nightclub Louisville, KY
July 27 Forest Park Arena Dayton, OH
July 28 Grand Haven Roller Rink Grand Haven, MI
In addition to the dancers and scene-makers, another person traveling with the Byrds was a young Bryan MacLean, founding member of the band Love. MacLean was friends with David Crosby and was hired as a sort of equipment manager.
In an interview, MacLean said this about his role: "I realize now I was just a roadie. When they were on the "Mr. Tambourine Man" tour which was cross-country, they hired a guy to be the road manager.
I remember thinking, "Why are they calling him the road manager? I'm the road manager." I referred to myself as the road manager of the Byrds for years and years before I realized there was a distinction.
After the concert in Grand Haven, Michigan, a picture ran in the Muskegon Chronicle of the band's "assistant manager" which appears to be MacLean. The article, like so many in those days, seemed obsessed with the length of everyone's hair.
July 30 Hi Society Youth Center Peru, IL
July 31 Park Forest Recreation Center Park Forest, IL
