As a soloist and the mainstay of folk-rock band The Byrds, Roger McGuinn is regarded as one of the most influential artists of his generation.

Along with artists such as Bob Dylan, The Byrds defined the folk-rock movement that progressed to acid-rock and country-rock.

McGuinn and his trademark 12-string Rickenbacker remained the one constant as the band line-up changed during its ten-year lifespan. People like David Crosby, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons, Clarence White, Chris Hillman and Gene Parsons came and went.

So what was it like to have so many egos in the same band? "It wasn't as much fun as it might have seemed." recalls McGuinn. "It was like sitting on a plane and bouncing around in a thunderstorm."

McGuinn's influence can be heard on bands such as REM, The Jayhawks and Teenage Fan Club and fans include a certain Tony Blair. McGuinn said: "I think it's cool - a prime minister who plays guitar.

"When we met, we were both on the road. He was talking to some people and my road manager called over and said, 'Would you like to meet Roger McGuinn?'

"He said, 'Of The Byrds?', left the people standing and rushed over."

McGuinn continues to shape the landscape of music, particularly as a recording artist who publishes his material free on his web site.

In 2000, he was asked to appear before a US Senate committee examining the legality of publishing artists' recordings on the web.

The major record companies contended that artists were being deprived of their income but McGuinn painted a very different picture when he told the senators he had barely made a penny from a 40-year recording career.

He said: "Not only is MP3.com an online record distributor, it is also becoming the new radio of the 21st Century.

"So far, I have made thousands of dollars from the sale of recordings on MP3.com and it has offered me more artistic freedom than any of my previous relationships with mainstream recording companies."

But MP3.com and napster.com have been bought by music giants so he adds: "I think the party is over now."

Still defying the system, McGuinn now takes to the studio every month to record folk songs for posterity.

He said: "The new folk singers tend to perform their own material so these old songs are getting neglected. These are songs I grew up hearing and singing and I don't want them to be lost."

He has recorded more than 80 songs to date for mcguinn.com with performers such as Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. His album, Treasures From The Folk Den, was released on a small label and has been nominated for a Grammy.

Dylan is another long-term collaborator and McGuinn is both a fan and a friend: "I'm very pleased with his work. He's one of the few to maintain artistic credibility and commercial success. He's also a very hard worker."

They often perform at each other's concerts.

I ask if they have plans to work together formally. "Nothing like that. It's always very casual. If I happen to be in the same city, maybe we'll meet up and play or maybe not.

"But I'm not a great one for going to concerts unless I get up and jam."

Another great from the Sixties who is back on the road is Brian Wilson with whom McGuinn collaborated on Ding Dang on The Beach Boys' Love You.

"He came over to my house in Malibu, sat at the piano and we worked out the tune for 24 hours straight. I had to go to bed and when I got up, Brian was still working at the piano.

"It's not either of our greatest moments but it's a nice little song and I enjoyed working with him. I haven't seen him live but I'm happy for him."

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