At the beginning of 1985 Gene Clark got a new management and when they were discussing the future and the past of Gene Clark they had the idea to pay tribute to the BYRDS, who had released "Mr. Tambourine Man" twenty years ago. The original idea was to have the original BYRDS play some concerts, but neither Roger McGuinn nor Chris Hillman had time to come. David Crosby also was not interested. When they approached Gene Parsons he could not join, as he had other commitments. In the end the group was build around Gene Clark and Michael Clarke. The other musicians were friends from the past who were interested to play together. As Greg Harris was a member of the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS he could not play with the TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS band for long.

Rick Danko who had the same management as Gene Clark brought his old colleague Richard Manuel - they both had played with the BAND - into the group.

When Michael Clarke left, Richard Manuel took over the drum set and the group continued to play the tribute concerts.

Rick Danko and Richard Manuel wanted to concentrate on the BAND so they left the group. This led to a complete restructuring of the TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS band. Richard Manuel was replaced by Greg Thomas (a former member of Roger McGuinn's THUNDERBYRD) on drums and Nicky Hopkins on piano. Rick Danko was replaced by Carlos Bernal (former roadie of the BYRDS and of course the replacement for Gram Parsons on the South African tour of 1968). Billy Darnell joined the group as lead guitarist. One of the concerts of this line up was released in 2004 as a DVD.

TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS - DVD
	1986: (TRIBUTE TO THE) BYRDS - Never To Be Forgotten (Planet Song / Medusa 5 055137 185750) (released 2004)

Rick Roberts left to record another solo album, which he never completed.

TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS split up in early 1986. John York and Billy Darnell formed PINK SLIP with Randy Meisner and Dewey Martin. When John York returned to Gene Clark, Rick Roberts joined Meisner and Darnell.

There were some more concerts of the TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS band in 1986 and in early 1987, but the concept had come to an end.