Two New Blooms for the Band : Pop music: Chris Hillman says that the first major restructuring in DRB’s five-year history isn’t really a big deal.

Chris Hillman’s previous groups, including the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, saw members come and go so often that they should have invested in turnstiles as well as amps. So in one sense, when two members of Hillman’s Desert Rose Band were replaced recently, it was nothing new.

“We’re all friends. It’s OK, it’s not a bad scene or anything. I’ve done this so much, I don’t have time to get into those (personal) kind of things. So many bands and changes over the years. It becomes at some point comical.”

Hillman was talking about the first major restructuring of the Desert Rose Band in its five-year history. Gone to explore other musical directions is the band’s original guitarist John Jorgenson, whom Hillman describes as “the ultimate frustrated rock ‘n’ roller.” He’s been replaced by the young Jeff Ross, whose credentials range from country-rock band Rank and File to the straight country of the Bellamy Brothers. Additionally, Tim Grogan has replaced longtime DRB drummer Steve Duncan.

Said Hillman, speaking of Ross and Grogan: “I wanted somebody that would just fire us up. I like somebody coming out of a different arena. They’re young and they kick Herb and I in the rear end, get us going again.”

Getting going at all was not a foregone conclusion earlier this year, in the wake of Hillman’s disappointment--artistically and commercially--with the Desert Rose Band’s “True Love” album from late ’91.

“I should have learned after all these years not to compromise, and I compromised,” said the singer-guitarist. “I don’t know if it was a bit of desperation, wanting to sell more product, but I listened to people and ideas that I knew in my heart were wrong. I don’t want to do the old genius-in-hindsight bit, but at the time I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do and I went with it and I sort of kicked myself.

“But it was just as well. I think we should move on. Every few years I think every artist needs a fresh team in management or label or whatever. You need a fresh team on your side.”

The DRB’s fresh team, said Hillman, may include Irving Azoff’s Giant Records company, which figures to be the new distributor of the band’s future Curb Records albums. The band has material ready and plans to record an album in November. All of which is much more than Hillman anticipated not too long ago.

“I was ready to toss in the towel, then I decided, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that, I’m gonna rebuild this thing, this is a rebuilding time, change is always good.’ ”