The musician who inspired The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn to pick up the guitar
The 1960s was a cultural explosion. On the musical front, an extensive list of legends emerged and changed the world with their pioneering and innovative sounds. In an era brimming with icons, it was hard for many to stand out from the crowd. However, this was no issue for Roger McGuinn and The Byrds, with their distinctive sonics cutting through the noise and becoming widely influential.
Pioneers of folk rock, The Byrds, remain among the most important acts of the 1960s and 1970s. It was something of a supergroup, bringing together the talents of McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. The fact that each member was a prominent character and had their own ideas as to which direction the band should go in led to the group having an array of different members over the years, including the great Gram Parsons.
Although all of their music is important, from the 1965 debut Mr. Tambourine Man to 1973’s final effort, Byrds, their early material captured the burgeoning countercultural zeitgeist better than most. Whether it be their covers of Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ or originals such as ‘I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better’, this era provided many classics.
The Byrds’ traditional lineup is a fascinating prospect. Each member brought something vital to the fold, with the compelling vocal harmonies being one of their most critical aspects. However, none of it would have been possible without the constant jangle of McGuinn’s arpeggiating 12-string Rickenbacker. It swiftly sliced through the mass of great music during this era and made The Byrds stand out in their unique, celebrated space. It also set the scene for future players such as Johnny Marr and Peter Buck, imbuing it with more significance.
According to McGuinn, though, his distinctive approach wasn’t wholly original and was informed by an enlightening experience with Bob Gibson, a key figure in the folk music revival of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Weaponising the banjo and 12-string guitar, he made an indelible impact on many of McGuinn’s generation and is even credited with introducing an unknown Joan Baez.
Speaking to Melissa Hellstern for Oprah, McGuinn was asked how he started playing music. He explained: “I was 13 years old when I heard Elvis Presley over my transistor radio (the iPod of its day) while riding my bicycle on the streets of Chicago. He inspired me to get a guitar. Then Bob Gibson came to my high school, the Latin School of Chicago. His banjo playing and storytelling excited me. My music teacher explained to me that was ‘folk music’, and I was in luck because a new school had just opened in Old Town called the Old Town School of Folk Music.”
He continued: “I was one of the first students and learned to play the six-string guitar, 12-string guitar and banjo. My banjo playing had a direct result on how I played the 12-string electric Rickenbacker, which I have been associated with in The Byrds.”
Watch Bob Gibson in concert below.
