The Fire
In
Barry McGuire
Where does it come from?
Where is it going?
What keeps it burning?
 Interview #1 from the Rock 'n Role Models series by Bruce
L. Thiessen, Ph.D.
Who could forget Eve of Destruction? Just another hit song? Hardly. It was
a defining moment in the history of popular culture. It was an abrupt wake
up call and, after getting caught up in in, the world has yet to catch up
on its collective sleep.
I was born a little too late to witness Barry McGuire's prophetic folk
anthem, Eve of Destruction,
become an internationally revered #1 hit in the mid-sixties. I was further
deprived by missing out on the massive following that this, and other
McGuire songs, along with the man himself, would spawn. Eve of Destruction
so poignantly captured and reflected the turbulent 60's culture that it
would create an enduring, if haunting, musical echo. To this day, that
echo reverberates around the world, piercing as it deeply penetrates the
hearts, minds and souls of listeners worldwide.
Yes, regretfully, I missed the sizzling spark that baby boomers captured
in the Sixties. However, as an adult admirer of Eve of Destruction, I was
about to be consumed by the flame, still burning more powerfully and
passionately than ever before in this new millennium.
My wife Roxie and I were fortunate enough to catch one of Barry McGuire's
performances at New Hope Church in Sacramento on a sleepy mid-summer
Sunday morning. McGuire was joined by his talented musical companion,
Terry Talbot, a musical marvel in his own right. Having heard about the
resplendent talent of Barry McGuire, Roxie and I were expecting a great
show. What we weren't expecting is that we would be so moved with the man,
his message and his music, all marked by an unspeakably fervent passion,
that we would be in tears throughout much of the performance.
We eagerly purchased a CD immediately following the show, and earnestly
sought after Barry for an autograph. Then I timidly confronted him with a
humble request for an interview. As I stood there, eyes wide open, with an
autographed CD clutched in my sweaty palm, I silently prayed that God
would grant me an interview, and before I could say "amen," Barry said
yes. I was as excited about this interview as the goofy teenage reporter
in the movie, Almost Famous, when he landed his first interview with the
band Still Water.
My goal in delivering the interview to you, the reader, is to hold up this
legendary artist as what I refer to as a true rock 'n role model. When
Barry's wife, Mari, learned about this novel term I was applying to her
husband, she stated with unbridled enthusiasm, "He certainly qualifies as
a rock 'n role model. We have been married for twenty-eight years and I
have to say, he's a real man of God!" To borrow a line from McGuire's
song, Firewind, it is my desire to "fan the flame," in hopes that the fire
of Barry McGuire will spread even faster, farther, and more furiously than
it already has.
 So here it is, from beginning to end. Let me begin by setting the scene.
My wife Roxie typically sleeps a little later than I do, and since Barry's
wife told me that the best time to catch him was around 7 o'clock in the
morning, I planned accordingly. So I took off with my cell phone in
pocket, and headed for some coffee, a bite to eat, and some solid food for
thought I was counting on Barry to provide. I wanted to avoid the jarring
sound of grinding coffee machines in Starbucks and the sounds of idle
chatter that often go on at Noah's Bagels, planted right next to
Starbucks. So I ensconced myself in an iron chair with a round matching
table just outside of Starbucks and anxiously dialed Barry's number. I had
just spoken a few awkward, introductory words to Barry, when his response
was drowned out by someone who came by with a dust blowing machine. So I
calmly suggested I hang up, move to my car for some quiet solitude, and
call him back. He graciously obliged. The rest is his story.
Bruce:Barry, when I hear your music, and when I watch you perform, I am
struck with a contagious energy and fire. Where does that fire come from
and what keeps it burning?
Barry: Well, I'd have to say it comes from a burning desire and love for
truth. There is truth in everything that surrounds us. The songs we choose
are songs that represent the truth. When I speak of truth, I am not
suggesting that any of us have a handle on the truth. We only know the
truth as we perceive it.
Bruce: So you're saying that the truth is relative?
Barry: Well, not exactly. There are relative aspects of truth, but there
is also a greater, absolute truth that is independent of our perceptions.
As human beings, we experience truth in a very personal way. We do not
experience truth in its fullness. It's kind of like a diamond. It exists
in all of its radiant fullness, but how we perceive it depends on where we
are standing in relation to it. A diamond has many facets to it, yet it
stands alone as one complete piece. The same can be said of truth.
Bruce: I noticed in studying your songs that you aren't afraid to speak
the truth.
Barry: Yes, I have a love for the truth. Yet the truth is something I
never completely arrive at. I am still in the process of that journey.
Bruce: Now Barry, where would you say you're going with your music right
now?
Barry: Well, there's no real agenda. We just keep traveling and
performing where people invite us to play. It's all very spontaneous.
Bruce: What are some of the favorite songs that you've written and what
makes them your favorites?
Barry: Well, there are quite a few of them, some of which were never
actually recorded. One of these is called Final Day. It's one of my
favorite songs because it is so deeply personal.
It's about a man who wakes up and realizes that it is the last day of his
life. Basically, the song is about saying good-bye.
The Final Day
words and music by Barry McGuire, (c) 1988 (Shaunda Music)
When I woke up this morning
and saw the rising sun
I knew that my final day
Had finally come
Look, here comes my Captain
Walking right through the door
With amazing grace
all around his face
He's moving across the floor
He's holding out his hand to me
And he's saying its time to go
Honey, be strong
'Cause it won't be long
You know I love you so . . .
Bruce: That's beautiful! There is a lot there, Barry.
(At this point I found myself struck with an even keener appreciation for
the spiritual depth and courageously bold nature of Barry's compositions.
The only other artist whose lyrics made me feel so painfully aware of my
own mortality was Johnny Cash, and even the man in black himself couldn't
quite transport me to the same place in my psyche.)
Bruce: I noticed that many of your songs make a very strong social
statement and they seem to be as relevant today as they were in the 60's.
What do you think a young person can do today to make a difference in the
world?
Barry: I would tell them exactly what I tell my own children, to speak the
truth, in all circumstances, no matter how difficult that may be. I tell
my children that if they consistently tell the truth, others will learn
that they can be trusted and depended upon. If young people simply learn
to speak truthfully about things, they could make a difference in the
world.
Bruce: That makes a lot of sense. Now, what do you think about this? Are
teens, and/or the times they live in different today than when you wrote
Eve of Destruction?
Barry: No. Nothing has changed. People still face the same hedonistic
dissillusionment as they climb the ladder of success. When they reach the
top, they find themselves empty and bored.
Bruce: Yes, I agree -- that is the end result when a person clings to
materialistic values. I was listening to Eve of Destruction the other day
and comparing it to some of your new material. It seems to me that the
underlying message contained in your songs is really timeless. I'm
wondering what sort of timeless values you might have to pass on to teens
and others living in our current society?
Barry: I'm sure you remember Rodney King's words, "Why can't we all just
get along?"
Well, historically, for human beings to get along with one another, they
have had to either rely on a common God, or a common enemy.
Bruce: I'd have to say that your right. You know, I noticed that you are
not afraid to speak the truth through your music.
Barry: Yes. It's like this: One person can't change the world, but if that
one person is able to communicate truth, as that one person perceives it,
to another, and the other person receives that truth and incorporates that
truth into his or her life, then the person who spoke the truth has
already begun to make a lasting difference in the world. This one truth
could have an impact on multiple areas of that person's life, their
relationships on the job, their personal relationships, and, if they are
married, their marriage.
Bruce: I understand, so by sharing the truth, as you perceive it, with
another person, you may not have singlehandedly changed the world, but you
may have begun to make a change by making that one person's life more
meaningful.
Barry: That's right.
Bruce: Now, is there a certain story you'd like people to hear concerning
your life?
Barry: Well, my whole life has turned out to be a story. That's what I
love about folk music. It tells true stories about people's lives. It's
the story that makes a song endure over the years. The stories contained
in the songs are just as valid and meaningful as they were years ago when
the song was written.
Bruce: Now let me zero in on the real purpose of this interview. The
reason I asked you to participate in this interview with me is that I
regard you as being among those whom I refer to as rock 'n role models.
When I speak of rock 'n role models, I speak of those individuals that,
people, and young people in particular, can look up to, whose lives, and
music, have made a difference in the world.
Now even though it is obvious to me that you clearly fit what most people
agree are the characteristics of a star, you are more than that. You seem
to be the kind of star that prompted me to write a song of my own
entitled, Star of Bethlehem. My idea of a rock n role model is like that
of the Star of Bethlehem. The Star of Bethlehem led the way to a much
brighter star, the son of God, and instead of simply reflecting its own
light, it reflected the light of the son of God. You also seem to uphold
that light. So how do you feel that light has affected your life?
Barry: Well, I've come to know the salvation of Christ, but I'm still
seeking after the fullness and searching for the depth of God. All of us
are constantly growing and our perceptions are constantly changing. The
more we get to know God, the more our perception changes. If your idea of
truth doesn't change, then you spend your whole life defending what you
perceive was truth on the day you perceived it. I was talking to Keith
Green one day, and he told me that everything he had been preaching about
for the past 5 years was a heresy. I responded that in another 5 years, he
will probably say the same thing. We need to keep on being open to making
changes in our perceptions of truth. My wife, Mari, put it this way:
"There is a lot of information out there. Unless you know 100% of what
there is to know about any given subject, you cannot have an absolute
opinion on the matter. Even if you know 99% of what can be known regarding
that issue, that 1% that you don't know, once you come to know it, could
change your entire opinion." We need to constantly be open to altering our
perception of things. Sadly we don't. We stop. Only as we allow for our
perceptions of truth to be altered we can we grow and change.
Bruce: Thank you for allowing me to share your story and your music in
this way. Now is there anything that I haven't asked you that you'd like
to share?
Barry: No, actually you've asked me questions that I've never been asked
before. As far back as I can remember, I've never had anyone ask me the
kinds of questions about the driving force within me that you've asked.
Bruce: Well, that makes me feel good, Barry. I guess that, as a
psychologist, those are the types of questions I'm interested in ---
questions about what motivates a person.
*************************
With that exchange, we said good-bye. The most eagerly anticipated
interview of my career was suddenly over. There I sat in my car with the
cell phone in one hand, and a cheap portable tape recorder in the other.
Then there was my yellow pad of paper now covered with what appeared to be
nearly indecipherable chicken scratches. I'll be the first to admit, my
methods were less than optimal, but hey, that's rock 'n roll! Barry didn't
quite see it that way. I always pictured Barry as a minimalist. I guess
that didn't apply to my sloppy, churlishly crude methods of inquiry. I
forgot to mention something. Actually, I think I repressed it until this
moment. Before we said good-bye, Barry politely recommended that the next
time I conduct an interview such as this, I pick up a recording device
that I can attach to my phone. He even told me where I could pick one up
for a nominal charge. I have to admit, he practices what he preached. He
had spoken the truth, in a gracious and compassionate manner. Now it was
up to me to make a change. Now why didn't I think of picking up that
device myself? I guess I was so caught up in the fire that I had no desire
for an extra wire.
|
