Mike Clarke, the original drummer for the rock band the Byrds, died on Sunday at his home. He was 49. The cause was liver failure thought to be a result of more than three decades of heavy alcohol consumption.



Biography:

Mike Clarke was born as Michael James Dick on June 3, 1946 in New York City. He was 19 and a jazz drummer when he met David Crosby while hitchhiking in California. He eventually joined Crosby, guitarist Roger McGuinn, bassist Chris Hillman, and vocalist Gene Clark, in a collaboration that became the Byrds in 1964.



The group coined the British-influenced beat that became known as folk-rock and later influenced such bands as R.E.M. and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.



Mike Clarke performed with the Byrds until 1968. The band broke up in 1972 after producing 11 albums as well as well-known songs that included Mr. Tambourine Man, Eight Miles High and Turn! Turn! Turn!.



Mike is survived by his wife, Lee.