| Author | Message | ||
     spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 2863 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeeeeesus, I can't believe it. I first investigated JM, years ago, when a guy I knew called Angelo kept on about him. Angelo was a guitarist, and I really liked his many varied styles, and one of his styles was using echo in his sound. He said his usage of echo laden guitar was chiefly influenced by JM. I had to look JM up. On doing so, I was delighted to find myself loving his sound from the off, I'd rather be the devil was the first song. Then i immersed myself in the album Solid Air. There was everything in there, soul, reggae, rock, jazz, folk, it blew my mind, and underpinning everything was this big man's beautiful voice. i adored his delivery, slightly hard to decipher, but it didn't matter, the same way it didn't matter that I knew not one iota what Stipe was rambling on about (still don't) throughout 3/4 of Murmer! Solid Air was really the ONLY album by JM for me, I have heard others, and I still want to explore his later stuff, but for now, Solid Air is just enough. This guy was for me, a bit like one of the great black blues artists, there was something so unique about this guy, fu*k knows what it was, but I am glad the world was there to hear it. RIP big guy and thanks for everything, you will be missed. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 1528 Registered: 10-2004 |
Spence, I haven't heard that much of John Martyn' stuff, but with what I did hear, I was certainly impressed with his guitar playing and his guitar sound, which as you mentioned, was really unique, using lots of delay and echo. In fact, what first brought him to my attention was the guitarist for the Passions (who I'm a big fan of), who stated in interviews that his playing (lots of arpeggiated melodies with delay and echo) was influenced by Martyn. And when I heard Martyn I could see the connection. Definitely a sad loss. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 404 Registered: 04-2005 |
Jeez indeed. First Davy Graham a wee while ago and now one of his disciples. Agree with Spence on his uniqueness and 'Solid Air', definitely his masterpiece, although I like 'One World' and 'Inside Outside' as well. Saw him several times live and it was a variable experience depending on his intake of alcohol. He represented something of a paradox (Scottish male trait?); capable of the most tender of ballads ('Couldn't love you more', 'May You Never', or 'Sweet Little Mystery') mixed with that aggressive side when drunk. A friend of mine from Biggar (Scottish borders) recalls how Martyn turned up in the local pub with his whole band in tow (having bought a farm in the area) and played all night long. A week later he was banned for life for starting a fight ! He once said "If I could control myself more, I think the music would be much less interesting. I'd probably be a great deal richer but I'd have had far less fun and I'd be making really dull music." This is a beautiful version of a beautiful song (with the great Danny Thompson on double bass). Remember the big man this way. http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ohmSPv-rtS Q | ||
| Mark Leydon Member Username: Mark_leydon Post Number: 210 Registered: 05-2005 |
Really sad to hear this. I saw John Martyn at Victoria Univerity in Wellington NZ back about 1977 and it is still etched on my memory as one of the best concerts I've ever seen. His guitar and voice were phenomenal - and he was a wonderfully warm and engaging performer. Spence - you are so right about Solid Air - what a beautiful album. I listened to it on the way to work this morning and it's amazing how well it has stood the test of time. Given his lifestyle I guess it's no surprise he didn't make old bones. But very sad none the less. Just found this great version of 'May You Never' on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi_wxype Gc&feature=related | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 2602 Registered: 05-2005 |
I must check him out. I've only heard a couple of songs. There was a hilarious story about his penchant for drinking and fighting in Uncut magazine a few years back. | ||
| cosmo vitelli Member Username: Cosmo Post Number: 60 Registered: 05-2005 |
Presumably you are referring to Mr Bruschini Spence? When the Blue Aeroplanes released 'Ups' with its echo guitar they were accused of ripping off U2 to which they are said to have responded 'f*** off we are ripping off John Martyn'. Solid Air is moost certainly 'the one' but there is definitely other stuff worth having. Sweet Little Mysteries - The Island Anthology is almost all you need, a double CD with 5 tracks from Solid Air but also the albums before and after it. 'Head and Heart' from Bless the Weather is surely the song that launched the Pillows and Prayers singer/songwriters and Andrew is right about One World 'Couldnt Love You More' is simply stunning. Let's face it though his vigorous health regime meant he was not destined for a lengthy retirement | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 405 Registered: 04-2005 |
Wasn't there once a story about nailing a carpet over a sleeping Danny Thompson ?! Reading the comments from fans on the Guardian site this morning, you begin to realise in what love he was held by a lot of people. The music was certainly his life and he always seemed 'accessible' to fans. I remember (literally) bumping into him on a street-corner in Edinburgh and he was wearing the most unflattering orange boiler suit. The tribute is here http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblo g/2009/jan/29/john-martyn-remembered | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1364 Registered: 01-2005 |
From Tracey Thorn's Myspace: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ction=blog.view&friendID=102188224&blogI D=467256964 | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 2864 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yes Cosmo, t'was Mr Angelo B himself. When we first started gigging with the BA's back in '87/'88 it would've been Ups I guess. But when we supported on the Swagger tour it was the beast that was And Stones...that was the chief inspiration for me. That particular song Ange said was inspired by Martyn. I also remember mentioning to Ange that it was wonderful and that what he had done with Stones wasmix John Martyn and john Barry in one full on blast. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 406 Registered: 04-2005 |
Recollections of a prison gig that Martyn played http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblo g/2009/jan/30/john-martyn-music |