John Renbourn: The Complete 1978 “Guitar Player” Interview

This podcast presents the complete audio of my 1978 interview with John Renbourn. This was my first in-person interview for "Guitar Player" magazine, done several weeks before Eddie Van Halen asked me to do his first interview. Talking to John in person was a thrilling opportunity for me. Ever since I first heard his magnificent "Sir John A Lot" album in the late 1960s, he’s been among my favorite guitarists. To this day, scarcely a week goes by when I don’t listen to at least one or two of his songs.
A contemporary of Bert Jansch and Davey Graham, John began his acoustic guitar journey in the early 1960s. His superlative technique and unique stylistic fusion of British folk music with elements of pre-Renaissance fare, modern jazz, ragtime, skiffle, classical, and American country blues music led to his becoming one of Great Britain’s foremost fingerstyle guitarists. His solo albums of medieval-style contrapuntal playing, his duets with Bert Jansch and Stefan Grossman, and his five years’ work with Pentangle all share the same characteristics: innovative, lyrical playing executed with a finesse that makes his style instantly recognizable. What an extraordinary player!
Our interview took place in the Berkeley, California, home of ED Denson, co-founder of Kicking Mule Records, on the morning of June 1, 1978. Before we got started, John, in his typically gracious way, cooked me breakfast.
I hope you enjoy this unique recording, and be sure to check out the other historic interviews on the Talking Guitar RUclips channel. (Here's a link to the one with Bert Jansch, who John speaks about during our interview: h • Bert Jansch: The Compl... )
To help support Talking Guitar, hit that donate button and send some cheer our way: paypal.me/TalkingGuitar.
Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for enhancing the sound of the 45-year-old master tape. For dozens more guitar-intensive podcasts, interview transcripts, and articles, visit Talking Guitar magazine at jasobrecht.substack.com/. #johnrenbourn #pentangle #guitarplayermagazine #bertjansch
This podcast is copyright 2023 by Jas Obrecht. All rights reserved.

[@starcloud4959]

John Renbourn is my fave folk guitarist because its so powerfully melodic and the ideas flow so fast you become instantly drawn in.

[@SingleMalt77005]

I especially like John's solo instrumental pieces. He was such a masterful musician.

[@adampapadam411]

ΙI feel happy i met him in person for a while!!!

[@Guyhart]

Thanks for posting this Jas. It’s lovely to hear John’s voice again. I got to know him a bit by going on a couple of one week workshops with him in Spain and Crete. Just before the first one I sheepishly introduced myself to him at a guitar show in London and he said ‘there’s no escape now!’ and invited me to coffee. The last time I saw him was at a gig of his a few weeks before he died. I went to chat backstage afterwards and he incredibly kindly offered to lend me his vintage Gibson jazz guitar, which I think was probably the one mentioned at the end of this interview. Unfortunately I never had the chance to take him up on it. I can’t claim to have known him well but his charm and generosity left an indelible impression. It was typical of him to make you breakfast before the interview. When I arrived in Crete for his workshop I was the first player to arrive and he took me to a cafe for an ice cream.

[@jerricocrittenden8311]

Just recently heard of John Renbourn, me being a 26 year old guy from Virginia in the U.S these artist aren’t really talked about. Glad I found him because he blew me away instantly. Sir John is an incredible record and can’t wait to hear more from him. Thanks for this, made me like him so much more.

[@brianaxel4589]

What a great moment in John’s life to have captured in an interview - thank you so very much for allowing us to listen!

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Great to hear this old interview- cheers

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

Thanks for sharing this. I have followed John's career for decades and he's always been a source of great inspiration on guitar. I got the chance to meet him a few times over the years and to see him live here in Toronto with Stephen Grossman, with The Ship of Fools and once solo. He truly was one of the pioneers of advanced steel string fingerstyle guitar playing and left an indelible print on every aspiring fingerstylist.

[@fiddlerpaul]

Sir John Alot Of yes, same feelings for me....I don't even remember what made me get that album but I loved it so much as I lived in a house with other musicians and me a beginning guitarist. I ended up digging up every album I could get my hands on of his, but none ever quite lived up to that one (though Mist Covered Mountains is one of my all time favorite tunes from his Black Balloon album) . I've just got back into playing instrumental fiddle tune arrangements after years as a fiddler, returning to my roots....nice to hear this interview.

[@americanbridgecompany]

Thank you for this wonderful interview.

[@AlisonWhiteacre]

This is priceless, Jas! So greatful for all your amazing journalism throughout the years 🩵🩷🎶🩷🩵

[@DjNikGnashers]

Thanks Jas, great interview, or should it be 'Yas' ? Maybe Yohn Renbourn too ?
Never understood why people call Bert Jansch 'Bert Yansch' ?
Bert always pronounced his name with J not a Y (Jacqui McShee told me this).

[@jeffreyrowlands9849]

You had a great mom.

[@NA-pr7sf]

hey johnny boy.. nice pentagram in your autograph.. rebuke

[@nigsvon]

Thanks for your work, Jas, I have appreciated your thoughtful writing for many years, please continue in your efforts, I hope you will continue to write.

[@TalkingGuitarJasObrecht]

Thanks, nigsvon. There's no way I'd stop writing. It always keeps me happy and balanced, gives me a mission. I hope to be writing on my last day of life.