Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon • Conversation • 2023

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon share stories from their music careers, from their beginnings in California as bluegrass musicians to their pioneering songwriting and time making music in the folk-rock and country-rock scenes. This conversation was recorded on October 14, 2023, in support of the Museum’s exhibition “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock,” presented by City National Bank.
During this interview with the Museum’s Michael McCall, Hillman and Leadon discuss their beginnings in California, primarily San Diego. In the early 1960s, both musicians started playing bluegrass music at the Blue Guitar and formed the band the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers before moving on to other endeavors. In this conversation, Hillman and Leadon both note that they continued to draw on the connections they made in the Squirrel Barkers throughout their careers.
Hillman and Leadon each joined many pivotal bands in the West Coast folk-rock and country-rock scenes. Hillman was part of the Hillmen (previously the Golden State Boys), the Byrds, and Manassas, among others, while Leadon formed Hearts & Flowers and later joined the Eagles, among others. By 1970, Hillman recruited Leadon to play lead guitar for the Flying Burrito Brothers.
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[@american_cosmic]

Holy crap, I can't believe i found this! Two of my all-time favorite musicians having a conversation... amazing.

[@johnobrien1801]

Delightful interview. The original 5 Byrds changed my life forever. Two great talents here & great guys. What a story & so much more that they didn't get to. And all those brilliant people they have played with over the years. Funny how the circle is a wheel ..... Would have loved to see the exhibition. Great story about the rescue of Chris Ethridge's Burrito suit! Thanks for everything fellas & thanks Michael for the program. xxx

[@cahilljones689]

This was the music I loved as a teen and still do today. Two great musicians and great people.

[@pauleka1]

Too bad Michael McCall is a very bad interviewer. Besides his unpleasant voice, he tries to be as relevant as Hillman and Leadon. What a jerk!

[@MTMountainMan5411]

Remember the "Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon"? that was so popular years ago? Chris Hillman is definitely the "Kevin Bacon" of West Coast/Country Rock." Bernie Leadon is right there with him for sure! Great conversation between these 2 guys!

[@stevemurray2737]

Great stories Bernie and Chris! So good. What Lives they led. Musicians.

[@TheEagles1971]

Wonderful interview! Thanks for posting!

[@fredsenior893]

two of my favourite musos

[@direwolf6234]

crosby said .. 'as long as gene keeps breaking up with girls .. we'll have hit songs' ...

[@Cap683]

I saw Bernie Leadon on Ralph Emory's country talk show years ago. Ralph Emory kept hammering Bernie Leadon about "The Eagles" which I am sure was the last thing Leadon wanted to talk about. I think that Ralph Emory was a bit clueless.

[@MTMountainMan5411]

Could never dare take anything away from Ralph Emery's impact on contemporary country music (especially his overnight WSM radio show and early morning Nashville TV show etc) but by the time he came into most of America's living rooms on TNN he was not always the sharpest interviewer...watching some of the old shows here on KZbin is actually a bit uncomfortable at times. I guess in his defense, most of the Nashville Now episodes were live and were 90 minutes and on 5 nights a week in addition to his other commitments he kept at the same time. Whatever you do, don't watch the episode when Roger McGuinn is a guest, and the subject of The Byrds' visit to his WSM show comes up...cringe big time.

[@lynnturman8157]

They were and are one of the biggest bands ever so of course he's gonna get asked about the Eagles. I wish they would have discussed the Eagles more in THIS interview.

[@user-yo5el7nz2v]

🎉what is chris hillmans tatoo is on his left for arm, any one know.......chris??????

[@lynnturman8157]

ha ha...the whole Laurel Canyon country rock music scene seemed very incestous. I get confused with all the Grams & Genes & Clarks & Glens & Dons & Parsons.