Talk:Roger McGuinn

Latest comment: 3 years ago by GollyRojer in topic Creeque Alley

Real name edit

The leader of the Byrds was born James Joseph McGuinn III If someone knows why he chose to be called "Roger" please edit the article to explain. Thank you, H. O. Patterson

I found a piece on McGuinn's ibiblio site, which I'm going to post somewhat verbatim to the article. It seems to imply that his name is now James Roger McGuinn. Anyone can comment on that? -- afc

Is posting content pretty much verbatim from http://ftp.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/ByrdsFAQ.html a Wikipedia no-no? Hard to tell...Roger does say on his site "May be posted to other networks and individual systems provided it is not edited or modified in any form." --Lukobe 07:09, 8 December 2005 (UTC)Reply


There is a lot about the guy's name in the article. Who cares. We want to know about his guitar playing, innovations, etc.. Bububu

Harmolodics edit

The term "harmolodics" is associated with Coltrane in the discussion of jazz, but that word only applies to the musical theories of Ornette Coleman. I'm deleting it. mje

Rickenbacker 12-string edit

The article should mention his use of Rickenbacker solid-body 12-string electric guitar (his signature sound) and his adoption of this instrument after hearing George Harrison play such an instrument. Badagnani 05:50, 16 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

The 370-12 Rickenbacker is not a solid body guitar - it is technically a semi-solid body much in the way the Gibson 335/345/355 are semi-solid body guitars. I own a 360-12 which is the same instrument minus the 3rd pickup and can attest to the accuracy of this statement.THX1136 (talk) 16:46, 31 July 2020 (UTC)Reply


The Reference to the Teletronix LA-2a seems unverified, and also quite unlikely. Adding a LA2a to that signal would in my experience not have that effect.

A compressor like the LA-2A would add to a notes length when used as an "effect" and not simply to reign in levels. In a commentary portion of a instructional video McGuinn did he comments on the compressors use to accomplish this effect.THX1136 (talk) 16:46, 31 July 2020 (UTC)Reply

George Harrison tribute edit

George Harrison wrote "If I Needed Someone" after having heard McGuinn and the Byrds play live. His guitar work on that song is a tribute to McGuinn. Supposedly he wrote McGuinn a note saying 'this is for you' or something like that. I read this story on some liner notes to a Byrds compilation. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.72.30.88 (talk) 15:09, 22 March 2008 (UTC)Reply

It was based on McGuinn's guitar work on "Bells of Rhymney". Harrison sent McGuinn an acetate of the song when it was recorded. I have a reference for this somewhere and will add it in. I think it's crucial information regarding McGuinn's influence. freshacconcispeaktome 12:06, 8 May 2008 (UTC)Reply

Roger McGuinn Is Using Wikipedia edit

Wikipedia user Mcguinn713 is the real Roger McGuinn. On his Twitter account, he's complained about how he's tried to add a photo of himself to this page, but it's deleted because of copyright issues, even though he owns the copyright. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Waxpancake (talkcontribs) .


Please stop editing Roger McGuinn's edits out as *vandalism* - I suspect he knows his own history better than any of the rest of us. As stated above, Mcguinn713 *is* McGuinn. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Netmeg (talkcontribs) 19:51, 3 June 2009 (UTC)Reply

And who are you? Funny coincidence that this is your first contribution to Wikipedia ever... Let's assume for a while that Mcguinn713 really is Roger McGuinn (and note that I am not saying he isn't). That doesn't give him carte blanche to write whatever he wants about himself, because Wikipedia is based on verifiability, not truth, per WP:V. Furthermore, per WP:AB it is strongly discouraged that people write their own autobiography. Those policies, I believe, explains tonights reversions, as well as the fact that he didn't provide any reliable source for his edits, neither did he bother to fill in the edit summary. – IbLeo (talk) 21:11, 3 June 2009 (UTC) (a big McGuinn fan, actually)Reply
I just noted that Roger McGuinn (apparantly in a train from Lisbon to Madrid) posted some entries on his Twitter account tonight: [1] and [2]. He states that he left Subud 32 years ago and complains that he is being reverted on Wikipedia. Honestly, given the bad sourcing (read: there are no sources at all) of the relevant section, "Religious faith and name changes", in all fairness I think he should be allowed to make that update. – IbLeo (talk) 22:11, 3 June 2009 (UTC)Reply

Hello, I have two active accounts on Wikipedia, mcguinn713 as stated above and this one: Roger_McGuinn. I began the last one when I was having trouble putting my photo up. Sorry I haven't followed the prescribed method of editing and adding citations. The problem with the "Religious faith and name changes" (which had no citation) was that someone had an agenda to use me as a poster boy for SUBUD. The name change story is interesting and should be left there but my return to Christian faith should not be omitted. It is now better certified than my former association with SUBUD. 80.58.252.237 (talk) 10:16, 6 June 2009 (UTC) Roger_McGuinnReply

Just logged in as mcguinn713. The above statement is from me, Roger McGuinn Roger (talk) 10:29, 6 June 2009 (UTC) mcguinn713Reply

Hi, I'd love to assist but I have very little time right now. I asked for somebody else to step in over here, hopefully someone will respond. Otherwise I will come back to you on Monday. Cheers. – IbLeo (talk) 15:43, 6 June 2009 (UTC)Reply

Thanks IbLeo, I have no problem with the page as it stands right now and no further need of assistance. Roger (talk) 10:15, 7 June 2009 (UTC) mcguinn713Reply

Hello Roger, good to "see" you on here! Grievous Angel (talk) 11:18, 7 June 2009 (UTC) (Byrds fan from Bonnie Scotland)Reply

Thanks for your help everybody! There is one thing that I would like to see changed, and my attempts to do so have failed. The link to Christianity Today should be to page 1, not page 3. Roger (talk) 19:58, 8 June 2009 (UTC) mcguinn713Reply

The link to Growing Bolder doesn't work. Roger (talk) 20:20, 8 June 2009 (UTC) mcguinn713Reply

I fixed both references. I also tried to make the text read a bit more encyclopedic. – IbLeo (talk) 21:37, 8 June 2009 (UTC)Reply

Discography edit

I do not believe there was ever a four-disc box set released in 2000 called "McGuinn's Folk Den." Here's what I know: Roger has been posting free mp3's to his Folk Den site every week for many years. There was a time when one could purchase a compact disc of the mp3's (no artwork) rather than downloading them. This model persisted for several volumes of CD's (perhaps four) and then was I believe discontinued. Before I knew what an mp3 was, or how to download them, I purchased such a disc.

I don't think these were ever albums as such -- they were really compilations of the mp3's that were posted weekly, and I know I bought a single disc. I never saw any option to buy a box set, but even if there were such an option, the discs could also be purchased individually.

So I think the box set should probably be deleted from the discograghy, or the four individual volumes should be listed too, or none of it should be listed -- that would be my suggestion, since I don't believe they were ever albums, just collections of mp3's made available for purchase probably for the benefit of those who don't use computers, a community that became so small--especially among music fans--that the service was ultimately discontinuedCbben (talk) 08:50, 8 January 2011 (UTC).Reply

Hiya, Cbben! How's it going? I hope you’re happy and well. It's strange, looking online, I think that you're right about the Folk Den volumes but I must say that I do have a vague recollection of the first four volumes being issued as a commercially available box set myself...however, that might just be my memory playing tricks on me. I don't think these volumes should be deleted because after all, they are a bona fide part of McGuinn's discography, but I agree that they should be listed as individual releases, rather than as a four CD box set. The Folk Den volumes In The Spirit of Love' and The Sea should probably be listed too. I'll amend the discography accordingly. --Kohoutek1138 (talk) 16:15, 8 January 2011 (UTC)Reply

Creeque Alley edit

It surprised me to find that there is no mention of Roger McGuinn being referenced multiple times in the song, "Creeque Alley" by The Mamas and the Papas. I don't think there has ever been any question that Roger McGuinn, along with Barry McGuire, is who is meant by the lyric lines in successive verses:

McGuinn and McGuire just a-gettin' higher
McGuinn and McGuire still a-gettin higher
McGuinn and McGuire couldn't get no higher
McGuinn and McGuire just a-catchin' fire

Surely this should be included in the References section, if nowhere else. I would do it myself except that I don't know the steps to properly document it. GollyRojer (talk) 01:58, 21 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

Links to David Carradine edit

Linda Gilbert, his the ex-wife was the second wife of David Carradine.