John Byrne, 61, wrote and sang "Psychotic Reaction"
Matthew Kruk
'Psychotic Reaction' writer
John Byrne, 61, a rock 'n' roll musician who wrote and sang "Psychotic
Reaction," the only hit of the San Jose garage band Count Five, died Dec. 15
of kidney and liver failure at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose, his
daughter Tina said.
"Psychotic Reaction," with its distinctive fuzz guitar and harmonica riff
echoing the sound of the Yardbirds, reached No. 5 on the Billboard charts in
1966. It has been immortalized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of
500 songs that shaped rock music.
Byrne, who was born Nov. 16, 1947, in Dublin, immigrated to the United
States at age 14, joining an older brother living in San Jose.
Count Five (sometimes referred to as Count V) was formed in 1964 in San
Jose. Byrne, who played rhythm guitar and sang, joined lead guitarist John
Michalski, bassist Roy Chaney, drummer Craig Atkinson and Ken Ellner, who
also sang and played the harmonica.
The band released its debut album, also called "Psychotic Reaction," in
1966. A few singles followed, but the group never repeated the singular
success of "Psychotic Reaction."
Byrne returned to his studies at San Jose State University and became an
accountant, later working as a manager of a Montgomery Ward store in
Northern California. But he never quit playing music, his daughter said.
"Maybe I made some mistakes," Byrne told the San Jose Mercury News in 2002
when the band had a revival. "I was determined to get through college. Maybe
I was wrong, but I'm glad I'm an educated man. At least when people talk to
me, they know I'm not an idiot."
Matthew Kruk
La N
"Matthew Kruk" <ove...@rainbow.com> wrote in message
news:_UQ5l.988$z%.707@edtnps82...
> John Byrne
>
> 'Psychotic Reaction' writer
>
> John Byrne, 61, a rock 'n' roll musician who wrote and sang "Psychotic
> Reaction," the only hit of the San Jose garage band Count Five,
Song. Please. Get. Out. Of. My. Head.
- nilita, singing .. oh oh little girl, psychotic reaction .. tra la la ...
Kris Baker
news:g3R5l.993$z%.643@edtnps82...
Here, this will help:
it's a world of laughter, a world or tears
its a world of hopes, its a world of fear
theres so much that we share
that its time we're aware
its a small world after all
CHORUS:
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small, small world
There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small small world
Brian Watson
"A" <aa...@att.net> wrote in message
news:gsudnZyEppyuZ8rU...@earthlink.com...
>
I bought this on first hearing in the UK.
Brilliant record, and much covered later.
--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."