Tom McGuinness
Encyclopedia
Tom McGuinness is a guitarist songwriter
, author
, record
and TV producer
. he is best known as the guitarist from Manfred Mann
and The Blues Band
. In 1986 he wrote the book So You Want To Be a Rock and Roll Star.
, McGuiness joined the 1960s group Manfred Mann
as a bassist, performing in a line up with Paul Jones
. As the band sought to transform itself from jazz into a rhythm and blues orientated group, he took over bass duties from Dave Richmond and received joint songwriting credits on the group's early hits. Appointed the writer of album sleeve notes, he took the opportunity to identify himself as "the nastiest in the group".
When Mike Vickers
then Paul Jones
left the band McGuinness started to take the role of guitarist and Jack Bruce
played bass until replaced by Klaus Voormann
. McGuinness' National Steel
guitar became an important part of the group's sound and featured on hits such as "Pretty Flamingo". He composed a few album tracks for the group, notably the guitar instrumentals "L.S.D" and "One Way", also Mighty Garvey!
's surreal "Cubist Town".
After Manfred Mann disbanded in 1969 he formed McGuinness Flint
with Hughie Flint
, who disbanded in 1975. Later he joined Paul Jones
and Gary Fletcher
in The Blues Band
and in 2011 was still appearing in the band's line up. McGuinness also performs with The Manfreds
a splinter group from Manfred Mann
, formed from the line up in the 1960s Manfred Mann band, but without Mann.
He also came out in support for the Labour Party
in the 2010 General Election, whilst on tour he supported Bob Blizzard
, the Labour candidate for Waveney
.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, record
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and TV producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. he is best known as the guitarist from Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
and The Blues Band
The Blues Band
The Blues Band is a British blues band formed in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with Manfred Mann, and vocalist/slide guitarist Dave Kelly, who had previously played with the John Dummer Blues Band, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker...
. In 1986 he wrote the book So You Want To Be a Rock and Roll Star.
Career
Following a stint in the short-lived Roosters with Eric ClaptonEric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, McGuiness joined the 1960s group Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
as a bassist, performing in a line up with Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
. As the band sought to transform itself from jazz into a rhythm and blues orientated group, he took over bass duties from Dave Richmond and received joint songwriting credits on the group's early hits. Appointed the writer of album sleeve notes, he took the opportunity to identify himself as "the nastiest in the group".
When Mike Vickers
Mike Vickers
Mike Vickers is a British musician who came to prominence as guitarist, flautist and saxophonist with the 1960s band, Manfred Mann. He originally played flute and saxophone but with the increasing popularity of guitars in bands it was decided that Manfred Mann should have a guitarist in its line-up...
then Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
left the band McGuinness started to take the role of guitarist and Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
played bass until replaced by Klaus Voormann
Klaus Voormann
Klaus Voormann is a German Grammy Award-winning artist, noted musician, and record producer. He designed artwork for many bands including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro. His most notable work as a producer was his work with the band Trio, including their worldwide hit "Da Da...
. McGuinness' National Steel
National String Instrument Corporation
The National String Instrument Corporation was a guitar company that formed to manufacture the first resonator guitars.-National resonator guitar designs:...
guitar became an important part of the group's sound and featured on hits such as "Pretty Flamingo". He composed a few album tracks for the group, notably the guitar instrumentals "L.S.D" and "One Way", also Mighty Garvey!
Mighty Garvey!
Mighty Garvey! is an album released in 1968 by Manfred Mann. It was the second and last recorded by the band after the change of direction and personnel of the previous As Is. It continued a transition away from jazz and blues and towards self-composed art-pop...
's surreal "Cubist Town".
After Manfred Mann disbanded in 1969 he formed McGuinness Flint
McGuinness Flint
McGuinness Flint was a rock band formed in 1970 by Tom McGuinness, former bassist and guitarist with Manfred Mann, and Hughie Flint, former drummer with John Mayall; plus vocalist and keyboard player Dennis Coulson, and multi-instrumentalists and songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle...
with Hughie Flint
Hughie Flint
Hughie Flint , is an English drummer, best known for his stint in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, playing drums on the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton album, released in 1966, for his group McGuinness Flint in the early 70s and for his subsequent association with The Blues Band.Flint played in...
, who disbanded in 1975. Later he joined Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
and Gary Fletcher
Gary Fletcher (musician)
Gary Fletcher is a British blues musician, best known for playing bass guitar with The Blues Band, he is also a guitarist and songwriter.-Early life:...
in The Blues Band
The Blues Band
The Blues Band is a British blues band formed in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with Manfred Mann, and vocalist/slide guitarist Dave Kelly, who had previously played with the John Dummer Blues Band, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker...
and in 2011 was still appearing in the band's line up. McGuinness also performs with The Manfreds
The Manfreds
The Manfreds are a British pop group, formed in 1991 as a reunion of former members of the 1960s pop group Manfred Mann, however without their eponymous founder Manfred Mann himself.-Personnel:*Paul Jones - vocals, harmonica...
a splinter group from Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
, formed from the line up in the 1960s Manfred Mann band, but without Mann.
He also came out in support for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the 2010 General Election, whilst on tour he supported Bob Blizzard
Bob Blizzard
Robert John Blizzard is a British Labour Party politician, who served as the Member of Parliament for Waveney from 1997 to 2010.-Early life:...
, the Labour candidate for Waveney
Waveney
Waveney is a local government district in Suffolk, England, named after the River Waveney that forms its north-west border. The district council is based in Lowestoft, the major settlement in Waveney, which is the only unparished area in the district...
.