John Martyn RIP

[Deano's Right Foot]

Singer, guitarist and all round genius John Martyn has died. Not as recognised as his friend and contemporary Nick Drake, John was equally as talented. He never got to pick up his OBE

RIP John.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Very sad - for all those that kind of know the name but can't place him (from the incomparable Old Grey Whistle Test:

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[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

And Solid Air:

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[turienzo's lovechild]

 

[Nottseagull]

I've just heard this on the Radio 4 news. I've never heard of him; I thought "they could have mentioned his major hit(s), so we know who he is". Then I find the same thing on this thread. Hmm.....

 

[severnside gull]

a local lad and a legend around here....sad news

 

[cheshunt seagull]

Absolute legend. Solid Air, Inside Out, Sundays Child, Live at Leeds, Bless the Weather, Grace & Danger and more. I can't think of any other artist that has fused so many different musical styles to create something so totally his own.

I've seen him live a few times; often brilliant, sometimes barely able to stand up. I'll miss him.

 

[Voice of Reason]

Seen him in the 6 Bells, Chiddingly.

Sad news indeed.

 

[blue'n'white]

I saw him at the Royal Festival Hall once.
Totally perverse - he'd been asked to play at the first LaBradford International Festival of Drifting mainly I suppose because of "Solid Air" and the chill out stuff.
Came on, took the piss about the festival and ripped into one of the heaviest rock sets I have ever heard !!!
An absolute legend

 

[Is it PotG?]

 

[Flounce]

Thanks for the heads up. I hope it’s Solid Air stuff and not heavy rock as mentioned in the posts above.

I saw him at the Dome in the mid to late seventies, very good but definitely worse for wear.

 

[raymondo]

Thanks. Saw him live in the smokey basement at Brighton Art College about 1970? (Bless the Weather just releasing) and a couple of times in London later.
Eric Clapton once said of him (well, something like this): "John is so far ahead of the rest of us in guitar techniques and song writing...it's frightening".

 

[sydney]

Thanks for the heads up. I hope it’s Solid Air stuff and not heavy rock as mentioned in the posts above.

I saw him at the Dome in the mid to late seventies, very good but definitely worse for wear.

are you sure it wasn't 83 /84 ...?? i saw him there in october from memory , he was bladdered but nailed it.

Solid Air is an amazing album.

 

[Flounce]

are you sure it wasn't 83 /84 ...?? i saw him there in october from memory , he was bladdered but nailed it.

Solid Air is an amazing album.

Nope, checked on his gig guide and it was

December​

1975-12-01 UK, Brighton, Dome

 

[raymondo]

are you sure it wasn't 83 /84 ...?? i saw him there in october from memory , he was bladdered but nailed it.

Solid Air is an amazing album.

Yep. He could still play very well when smashed...he got completely lost in the emotion of his songs. Brilliant.

 

[sydney]

Nope, checked on his gig guide and it was

December​

1975-12-01 UK, Brighton, Dome

ah well it was the other one that i saw him ..x

 

[sydney]

he fell off his stool just about when singing " big muff" all over the shop....legend

 

[Binney on acid]

‘Sweet little mystery’ was a great song. I never saw him in concert, and to be perfectly honest, I never wanted to.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Very late to John Martyn. First heard him properly during lockdown when Luke Una was doing his 6 hours sets on t'radio and played Sweet Little Mystery. Instantly spellbound by it. Loads to go back through, trying to pick his albums up in charity shops.