Book Review: Chris Hillman — Time Between
Musician memoirs/autobiographies are a decidedly mixed bag. Even when an artist is known for his or her songwriting wordsmith skills, that’s not a truly reliable indicator that said artist can write a compelling, worthwhile long-form narrative. Many enlist co- or ghost-writers, and – when they’re chosen carefully – that approach can compensate for any shortcomings. So when one encounters a well-written memoir from a recognized music figure, it’s a special bonus.
That’s the case with Time Between: My Life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother, and Beyond. Multi-instrumentalist Chris Hillman has an interesting story to tell, and his book is a well-paced, revealing read. From his (comparatively) privileged beginnings to family tragedy to his musical journey, Hillman charts a readable course through it all.
Hillman doesn’t shy away from recounting difficult, emotionally wrought memories. And his telling of his story deftly balances fact and feeling, allowing the reader to understand not only what happened, but how it affected Hillman. Readers looking for details about recording sessions and the inner workings of the record industry won’t come away from Time Between with a great amount of new knowledge, but one gets the sense that that has more to do with Hillman’s level of interest in those particulars.
Hillman’s fraught relationship with Gram Parsons is given a good amount of space; he expresses his deep admiration for Parsons’ talent butmakes it clear that said talent only got him so far. Hillman is diplomatic in his discussion of his former band mates, but – thankfully – never to the point of over-sanitizing things.
As significant as the Byrds were, it’s the period during which Hillman was involved with pioneering country rockers the Flying Burrito Brothers that provides the most fascinating and engrossing content in his book. And while his recounting of his later life and work – a period marked by a religious awakening – may not be of as much general interest as his Byrds/Burritos period, it’s handled in a very readable manner that helps paint a fuller portrait of Hillman as a human being.
About the Author

Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, is available now from HoZac Books. Read even more about him here.