The Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn has always had a deep connection with folk music legend Bob Dylan. A longtime admirer of Dylan, McGuinn incorporated the famed musician’s work into The Byrds’ repertoire, and the band’s first single was a cover of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Not only did the cover launch The Byrds’ career, but it also became a number-one hit and helped propel Dylan into mainstream fame.
A History of Mutual Respect and Collaboration
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McGuinn and Dylan have a longstanding mutual respect for one another’s talents and would go on to collaborate and appear together multiple times, including during Dylan’s 1975–76 Rolling Thunder Revue. Having collaborated with and admired Dylan for over 60 years, McGuinn developed a close — though occasionally complex — friendship with the “Blowin’ in the Wind” singer.
Roger McGuinn Compares Bob Dylan to Sheldon Cooper
In a new interview with Guitar Player, McGuinn sheds light on his unique friendship with Dylan, even comparing him to an iconic sitcom character.
“If you’ve ever seen The Big Bang Theory, Bob is like Sheldon. [laughs] It’s like… he’s out there. He thinks in abstractions. And social graces are different. He doesn’t really have a conversation with you; he talks in abstractions a lot. I love the guy like a brother. But… he’s a little… challenging to have a friendship with.”
Dylan’s “Hot and Cold” Nature
McGuinn went on to describe Dylan as “hot and cold,” stating:
“So he likes me at times. [laughs] He goes hot and cold. He liked me when we were hanging out together in Malibu. He liked me on the Rolling Thunder tour. He liked me when I did the 30th anniversary thing at Madison Square Garden with him. He was happy about my performance at that. I remember he told Tom Petty and George Harrison, ‘Wow, Roger really stole the show!’ He was very positive about that.”
An Enduring Friendship Rooted in Mutual Admiration
Dylan and McGuinn’s friendship has endured the test of time. Based in mutual respect, The Byrds’ singer has called Dylan a “genius” and an important figure in his career. In turn, Dylan has acknowledged the importance of The Byrds in introducing his music to a broader, more mainstream audience.
“Bob has never written a bad song,” McGuinn once said. “Bob Dylan is a genius.”
Dylan, Sheldon, and Genius in Different Forms
Bob Dylan is widely considered a lyrical genius, so it makes perfect sense that his longtime friend would compare him to TV’s Sheldon Cooper, whose 187 IQ puts him well above genius level. If only Sheldon could write a hit song, too.
Related: This 2000 Bob Dylan Classic Was Just Named One of the Greatest Songs of the 21st Century
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