Formed in 1969 by Tom McGuinness (b. 1941, London, bass, ex-Manfred Mann) and Hughie Flint (b. 1942, drums, ex-John Mayall); Dennis Coulson (keyboards), Benny Gallagher (guitar/vocals), Graham Lyle (guitar/vocals) and Paul Rutherford (saxophone) completed the original lineup, although the latter dropped out the following year. The group enjoyed immediate success with "When I'm Dead And Gone" and "Malt and Barley Blues", both of which reached the UK Top 5 and established their brand of light, folksy pop.
Two excellent albums confirmed their undoubted promise, although a succession of disastrous live performances undermined progress. Further problems occurred in 1971, when principle songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle left to pursue a career as a duo, but although Dixie Dean (bass/harmonica), John Bailey (guitar) and Neil Innes (piano, ex-Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band) replaced them, the group broke up at the end of the year. A resurrection of sorts occurred in 1972, when Coulson, Dean, McGuinness and Flint recorded "Lo & Behold", a selection of Bob Dylan songs unavailable commercially. Coulson was then replaced by organist Lou Stonebridge (ex-Paladin, later to join Uriah Heep's ex-vocalist David Byron on his solo project, "Take No Prisoners"), and with the addition of guitarist Jim Evans, a revamped McGuinness Flint re-emerged the following year. Two more albums were completed, but the unit was unable to recapture that first flush of success and broke up in 1975. Flint, Stonebridge and McGuinness later enjoyed fruitful periods with The Blues Band, albeit at different times.
Meanwhile, Gallagher & Lyle enjoyed commercial success throughout the 70s, culminating in the 1976 chart hits, "Heart on my Sleeve" and "I Wanna Stay With You".
Tom McGuinness and Hughie Flint have recently reunited with their former bandmates from Manfred Mann as The Manfreds and have been touring for the last several years on the European oldie circuit under that moniker.
They say the Irish have all the luck, and Tom has the talent to go with it. In the very early 1960s, long before the big 'blues boom', Tom McGuinness shared the stage in a band called The Roosters with none other than an 18 year old prodigy, Eric Clapton. In 1964, just as 5-4-3-2-1 was poised for the big time, Tom joined Manfred Mann and stayed right through their glittering career until they disbanded in 1969. In 1970, with drummer Hughie Flint and singer-songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle, he formed McGuinness Flint, and 'When I'm Dead and Gone' hit No. 1 in the charts.
After McGuinness Flint his varied, creative career offered new opportunities. the 1980s saw Tom writing, producing and working in television. He produced and directed the award-winning South Bank Show on Jimi Hendrix. His book on the music business, 'So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star?' is still essential reading for any aspiring pop musician. And then came that phone call from Paul Jones - "Let's form a band to play some blues ...." Tom's fiery Stratocaster is today yet another integral element in the sound of The Blues Band.
Today, with his other role in the ever-popular re-formed Manfreds, the career of Tom McGuinness is as varied as ever.
McGuinness Flint I (1967 - 1971)
Tom McGuinness - bass/guitar/vocals - b. December 2, 1941, London, England - formerly with Manfred Mann. Hughie Flint - drums/vocals - formerly with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Benny Gallagher - guitar/vocals - b. Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland. Graham Lyle - guitar/vocals - b. Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland. Dennis Coulson - guitar/keyboards/vocals
Albums: "McGuinness Flint" (1970) - Singles: "When I'm Dead and Gone", "Malt and Barley Blues" "Happy Birthday Ruthie Baby" (1971) - Single: "Happy Birthday Ruthie Baby" "When I'm Dead and Gone" (1996) - reissue of 1st album with bonus tracks. Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle form Gallagher and Lyle.
Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint(1971 - 1972)
Tom McGuinness - bass/guitar/vocals Hughie Flint - drums/vocals Dennis Coulson - guitar/keyboards/vocals Dixie Dean - bass/harmonica
Album: "Lo And Behold" (1972)
McGuinness Flint II(1972 - February 1975)
Tom McGuinness - bass/guitar/vocals Hughie Flint - drums/vocals Dixie Dean - bass/harmonica Jimmy "BeBop" Evans - guitar/steel guitar/violin Lou Stonebridge - guitar/harmonica/keyboards/vocals
Albums: "Rainbow" (1973) - Single: "Ride on My Rainbow" "C'est La Vie" (1974) - Single: "C'est La Vie" Group disbands. Hughie Flint joins Chanter and, later, The Blues Band. Tom McGuinness and Lou Stonebridge continue as duo; and Tom McGuinness later joins The Blues Band.
Compilations:
"Greatest Hits" (1973) "The Capitol Years" (1996)
Discography
Albums: McGuinness Flint (1970) Happy Birthday Ruthie Baby (1971) (the latter two re-released on one CD in 1996 as "The Capitol Years") Lo & Behold (1972) Rainbow (1973) C'Est La Vie (1974)
Musicians: Lou Stonebridge - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitars, Harmonica Tom McGuinness - Guitars, Vocals Roy Morga - Drums Paul Karas - Bass Mo Foster - Bass Mike Moran - Keyboards, Vocals Nicky Payne - Tenor Sax Maurice Pert - Percussion Dick Henson - Trumpet Chris Gower - Trombone John 'Irish' Earle - Saxes Ray Beavis - Saxes Frank Ricotti - Percussion Charlie Fawn - Vocals
Lyle McGuinness Band Acting on Impulse, Cool King, CKLP03, 1983 Re-released on CD as "Elise, Elise" Single: Elise, Cool King, CK011, 1983
Musicians: Graham Lyle - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Banjo Tom McGuinness - Guitars, Keyboards Alan Dunn - Keyboards, Tin Whistle, Accordion, Glockenspiel Chrissie Stewart - Bass Hughie Flint - Drums, Bodhran Maire Ni Bhraonain - Vocals
The Dance Band "Dance Band" (1979) "Fancy Footwork" (1980) (both feat. Lou Stonebridge, Rob Townsend)
Tom McGuinness also played on the following Blues Band albums: "The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album" (1980) "Ready" (1980) "Itchy Feet" (1981) "Brand Loyalty" (1982)
Hughie Flint played on all of the above except "Brand Loyalty", on which Rob Townsend (ex-Family) took over the drumstool.