Few music journalists have explored the legacies of legendary musicians as deeply as Winnipeg’s own John Einarson. Known for his expertise in rock history and captivating storytelling, Einarson has penned biographies on icons like Neil Young, Randy Bachman, and Steppenwolf. His latest book, Words and Music: The Stories Behind the Books, flips the lens onto his own experiences, chronicling the research and creative process behind his highly detailed biographies.
On Tuesday, March 18, at 2 p.m. at the Rady JCC, Einarson will present a lecture as part of the Music ‘N’ Mavens concert and lecture series. Titled Words and Music: The Stories behind The Books, the event promises an engaging look at the fascinating—and sometimes bizarre—backstories of his research and writing.
“I found that people love stories, and they love to, they love to learn about those stories. When they buy a book I’ve written, they’re getting the tip of the iceberg—the artist’s story. But what they don’t see is everything below the surface: the research, the interviews, the process of putting it all together.”
The Art of the Biography
Einarson’s process for writing a biography is both structured and meticulous.
“There’s always a method,” he explained. “First, I have to identify the key people who need to be interviewed. If they won’t cooperate, there’s no book. Then I build a detailed timeline—that’s the factual base. The interviews provide the colour commentary. I always think of it as a skeleton, and the interviews put the meat on the bones.”
Interviews are at the heart of Einarson’s work, and he’s honed the craft over decades.
“You can’t just go in with a list of questions,” he said. “You have to engage in a conversation... When people feel like they’re just talking, rather than being interrogated, that’s when you get the best stories.”
Winnipeg’s Golden Era of Rock
Einarson has a unique perspective on Winnipeg’s rock scene in the late 1960s and early ’70s—a time when The Guess Who and Neil Young were on the rise.
“It was unlike anything else in Canada or even the U.S.,” he said. “Music was at a grassroots level. There were about 70 community clubs in town, and they held dances every weekend. Guys like Bachman, Young, Fred Turner, and Burton Cummings all got their start playing these clubs.”
Local radio stations CKY and CKRC played records from Winnipeg bands before they achieved national or international fame.
“Randy Bachman once told me it was like the movie That Thing You Do!—but times ten,” Einarson said. “It was such an exciting time, and it’s never been like that since.”
A Front-Row Seat to Rock History
Through his career, Einarson has had countless memorable moments with legendary musicians. One such experience was with Gordon Lightfoot while researching Four Strong Winds, his book on Ian & Sylvia.
“I spent an evening at Lightfoot’s house in Toronto,” Einarson recalled. “It’s this huge mansion, like the Clampetts’ from The Beverly Hillbillies, but inside, it’s all falling apart—old couches with stuffing coming out, chipped cups.”
During their conversation, Lightfoot mentioned that Ian Tyson had added an A minor chord to Early Morning Rain that wasn’t in the original version.
“I knew that because I’m a guitar player,” Einarson said. “So I asked him how they played it, and he just looked at me, picked up his Gibson, and played the song for me—right there, three feet away. Every time he got to the A minor, he gave me a glare, like, ‘I didn’t put that in there.’”
Einarson has had his fair share of unusual interviews over the years. From a musician nodding off mid-conversation to another demanding a case of beer before agreeing to talk, Einarson has seen it all.
“I had one... at a Denny’s restaurant,” he recalled of an interview with a musician who had played with Gene Clark of The Byrds. “He was a heroin addict... Meanwhile, he’s practically nodding off. But he told me a huge pack of lies, and I knew everything he said was a lie.”
Then there was the bassist from Buffalo Springfield who had a very specific condition for an interview. “We made arrangements to meet him on a Sunday morning and he said, ‘You have to have a case of beer there or I walk out.’ So, Saturday night, I went to a vendor near the hotel, got a case of beer. Promptly, the next day at one o’clock in the afternoon, he arrived. Here’s the beer. Now, right? Pounded one back, and then we did the interview.”
One of Einarson’s most memorable encounters was with Dewey Martin, drummer for Buffalo Springfield. “His manager answered the phone and said, ‘Yeah, Dewey will talk to you... wants a thousand dollars.’ I said, ‘I don’t practice checkbook journalism. I’ve never paid anybody for an interview.’” Then Martin himself got on the phone and laughed. “‘Ah, don’t worry about it... was worth a try.’ And then he did the whole interview.”
It’s these kinds of behind-the-scenes stories that Einarson will share at his upcoming lecture. Whether discussing rock history, the writing process, or his firsthand encounters with musical legends, he brings the stories to life in a way that only a true insider can.
Walking the Line in Music Biographies
Einarson, who has authored over 20 books, says he takes a careful approach to biography writing. “There’s not a person that I ever interviewed that I couldn’t phone up now or email now and not get a positive response from,” he said.
That doesn’t mean his books are sugar-coated. “If it’s written with the cooperation of a particular artist, they can have final approval of the manuscript, but they sign a collaborative agreement with me saying that they’re not going to put any impediments in my way to tell what might be a tough story.”
Bringing Stories to Life at Music ‘N’ Mavens
Einarson will be sharing his experiences at Words and Music: The Stories Behind the Books, part of the Music ‘N’ Mavens concert and lecture series. The event takes place Tuesday, March 18, at 2 p.m. at the Rady JCC.
“I think they’ll get some insights into some of the people that they’ve often looked up to without knowing a lot about them,” he said. “And I think they’ll also get some insights into the process of writing these kinds of books and the fun involved.”
Admission is free, but attendees must register in advance. More details can be found at RadyJCC.com
