Overview
- Byrd died suddenly at his home in Medford, Oregon, according to a family death notice, and no cause of death was provided.
- The notice, submitted to the Los Angeles Times and cited by major outlets, confirmed the Nov. 2 date after weeks with little public reporting.
- A student of John Cage and a participant in Fluxus, Byrd gave his first performance at Yoko Ono’s New York loft before founding the United States of America in 1967.
- The band’s 1968 self-titled album peaked at No. 181 but is now hailed for its early use of electronics and collage techniques in psychedelic rock.
- Beyond the band, he released The American Metaphysical Circus, taught at Cal State Fullerton and the College of the Redwoods, scored films, co-produced Ry Cooder’s Jazz, and created the robot sounds for Silent Running.