Basically, without Bryan and his connections with the Byrds, Love wouldn't have been popular in the club scene of '65-'66. Bryan brought the chicks that went around the Byrds I assume.
Was Bryan a huge part in LoVE's ascent in the LA area? No doubt. Was he the sole reason? Not in my opinion. Who knows what would have become of the Lee/Echols pairing at the time in the summer of '65. There are sooo many factors and what ifs to consider. What if Conka had been able to stay with the group? What if someone else had capably filled Bryan's shoes?.... Maybe the band would have scaled even greater heights. But it is safe to say that Lee/Echols/MacLean were the indefinable essence of what made the band special and unique.
From the Forever Changes book, I had an impression that Bryan was the key that kind of made early Love cool when he brought his entourage from the Byrds to The Grass Roots/Love. I don't get how Bryan was "popular" around the LA Club Scene in '65, if he was actually a member of the Byrds per se, but just the roadie. Unless all the guys that were roadies with the Byrds were considered "cool".
Anyone within the Byrds' orbit back in 1965-66 was considered cool simply by association. The Byrds were gods at that point. Bryan received considerable cachet from a very tentative and shortlived relationship with the group.
From the Book of Love about Arthur, I still have the impression that Byran kind of brought the white middle class teen following for The Grass Roots/Love during their Brave New World tenure in '65. Didn't the White middle class teen following the same bunch that were fans of the Byrds?
This is the time and life that I am living And I'll face each day with a smile
Love's club years
Posted - 14/07/2012 : 03:56:57
