Tom McGuinness (musician)

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Tom McGuinness
McGuinness with The Blues Band in 2013.
McGuinness with The Blues Band in 2013.
Background information
Birth nameThomas John Patrick McGuinness
Born (1941-12-02) 2 December 1941 (age 82)
Wimbledon, England, U.K.
GenresRock, Pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, vocals
Years active1960s-present
Member ofThe Manfreds
Formerly of

Thomas John Patrick McGuinness (born 2 December 1941) is a guitarist, songwriter, author, record and TV producer, who played bass and later guitar with popular 60s rock band, Manfred Mann.

Early life[edit]

Thomas John Patrick McGuinness was born in Wimbledon, South London in 1941. He studied at Wimbledon College. McGuinness has Irish ancestry.[1] One of McGuinness' first bands, The Roosters, had an 18-year old Eric Clapton on lead guitar.[1]

Career[edit]

Manfred Mann[edit]

Main article: Manfred Mann

Following a stint in the short-lived Roosters with Eric Clapton, McGuinness 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. Explaining how he came into the group, McGuinness said, "They had a great bass guitarist, but he was into Charles Mingus and things like that, which the whole band was. But he refused to play simple bass lines that would fit Bo Diddley numbers. He'd play incredible 3/4 lines and things like that. So I came in and I had the overwhelming advantage of not really being able to play the bass guitar, so I played simple."[2] Appointed the writer of album sleeve notes, he took the opportunity to identify himself as "the nastiest in the group".[3]

McGuinness with Manfred Mann in 1967

When Mike Vickers and then Paul Jones left the band, McGuinness started to take the role of guitarist; Jack Bruce then 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 "L.S.D." (from Mann Made), "One Way", and "Cubist Town" (from Mighty Garvey!).

In total, the band had a successful run in the 60s pop music scene. Three of their most successful singles, "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Pretty Flamingo", and "Mighty Quinn", topped the UK charts.[4] They were also the first southern-England-based group to top the US Billboard Hot 100 during the British Invasion.[4]

McGuinness Flint[edit]

After Manfred Mann disbanded in 1969, he formed McGuinness Flint with Hughie Flint, which disbanded in 1975.

Their first single "When I'm Dead and Gone" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart at the end of 1970 (losing the number one spot to Clive Dunn's Grandad), No. 47 on the Billboard pop chart and No.3 5 on the Cashbox pop chart in the U.S., No. 5 in Ireland, and No. 31 in Canada.[5][6]) The debut album McGuinness Flint also made the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.[7] In 1999, it received another outing, in the soundtrack of the film, East is East. A follow-up single, "Malt and Barley Blues", was a UK No. 5 hit in 1971 and peaked at No.15 in Ireland.[7][8]

Later career[edit]

In 1979, four years after McGuinness Flint split up, they both became founding members of The Blues Band. The band, that also included Paul Jones, took a hiatus in 1983, shortly after recording a live album, and regrouped in 1986. They played their last performance in 2022, soon after releasing their last studio album "So Long".[9]

In 1986 he wrote the book So You Want To Be a Rock and Roll Star. In 1991, Tom turned fifty years old, and to celebrate not only his birthday, but to also announce the release of a Manfred Mann compilation album, all the original members (minus Manfred Mann) had plans on touring as a reunited Manfred Mann.[10] Manfred Mann, who was (and still is) touring in his Earth Band, was unable to tour with them, meaning they were forced to adopt a different name, and chose "The Manfreds".[11] With original members Paul Jones, McGuinness, Mike Vickers, and Mike Hugg, was Mike d'Abo (who replaced Jones after he left to go solo), Benny Gallagher (of Gallagher and Lyle), and Rob Townsend (of Family).[12]

As of 2024, Jones and McGuinness continue to tour the UK as the Manfreds, with Marcus Cliffe, Simon Currie, Mike Gorman, and Pete Riley.

Politics[edit]

He came out in support of the Labour Party in the 2010 General Election, whilst on tour he supported the candidacy of Bob Blizzard.[citation needed] Blizzard was at that time the sitting Labour MP for Waveney, but failed to be re-elected either on that occasion or in 2015.[citation needed]

Discography[edit]

Manfred Mann

Main article: Manfred Mann discography

McGuinness Flint

(See full discography at McGuinness Flint)

The Blues

(See full discography at The Blues Band)

The Manfreds albums[edit]

Album Year
5-4-3-2-1 1998
Live 1999
Maximum Manfreds 2000
Uncovered 2003
Let ‘em Roll 2014
Makin' Tracks 2016

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Tom McGuinness | www.TheBluesBand.com". www.thebluesband.net. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  2. ^ Holloway, Danny (28 August 1971). "An Old Mann Remembers...". Sounds. Spotlight Publications. p. 11.
  3. ^ Mann Made (HMV 1911). Sleeve notes
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Ltd. pp. 345–346. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ [1] [dead link]
  6. ^ McGuiness Flint USA chart history Archived 25 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Billboard.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  7. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 339. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  9. ^ "The Blues Band to release last album 'So Long' and tour dates". Music-News.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  10. ^ "The Manfreds Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5th edn., Bish Bash Books, ISBN 978-1846098567
  12. ^ "INTERVIEW: The Man Behind the Manfreds". Daily Echo. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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