News
John Martyn 1948 - 2009
1:37 PM GMT 29/01/2009
John Martyn, British folk pioneer and one of the finest guitarists of the last forty years, has died at his home in Kilkenny, Ireland. He was 60.
A statement on his official website reads: "With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning."
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
A full obituary will follow shortly.
Here's his Old Grey Whistle Test performance of May You Never in 1973.
And here's John speaking backstage at last year's MOJO Honours List ceremony:
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 1:37 PM GMT 29/01/2009
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So sad. A gentleman, visionary and extraordinary performer. Modern music owes so much to his inventiveness. A voice gone that will not be forgotten. I'll be listening to Grace and Danger tonight.
Posted by Conor at 3:05 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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We've lost another giant! A unique talent. May we never forget.
Posted by gumby at 3:23 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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What a tremendous loss.. but he lives on in such beautifully performed music that he created. My personal favourites were Grace & Danger and London Conversation. What a sad sad day. Goodbye John xXx
Posted by Isobel I at 3:58 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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The greatest singer of all time. I've considered this and I really mean it. I will continue to treasure the recordings he has left for us. I'll miss the music you would have made had you stuck around a bit longer. Love you John - Steve Perkins
Posted by Anonymous at 4:22 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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The greatest singer of all time. I've considered this and I really mean it. I will continue to treasure the recordings he has left for us. I'll miss the music you would have made had you stuck around a bit longer. Love you John - Steve Perkins
Posted by Steve Perkins at 4:23 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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He ranks among the greatest. I saw him play many times and on his day he was the stuff of legend (when he wasn;t too drunk of course ;)
He has left us with a beautiful and timeless back catalogue - and some great memories, for which I say thank you John.
Posted by Matt at 4:29 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Such a huge loss. You created such beauty in your music. Rest easy John.
Posted by Dave at 4:53 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Words fail me - although they never seemed to fail John. I met him in Dorking when I was 16 in 1968 and he bought us a drink when we didnt have enough money to pay him for a great gig he'd just done for us! He was fantastic then and has always been under-rated except by real musos. This is a terrible loss to us all although not unexpected. Cheers John! Heather Kenefick
Posted by h.Kenefick at 4:55 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Such a huge loss. Thank You for creating such beauty in your music. Rest easy John.
Posted by Dave at 5:04 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Words fail me - although they never seemed to fail John. I met him in Dorking when I was 16 in 1968 and he bought us a drink when we didnt have enough money to pay him for a great gig he'd just done for us! He was fantastic then and has always been under-rated except by real musos. This is a terrible loss to us all although not unexpected. Cheers John! Heather Kenefick
Posted by h.Kenefick at 5:14 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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RIP John. You truly were an inspiration.
Posted by Patrik G. at 7:43 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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music shines a little less today! Cya big fella, one of a kind. Neville/ Warwick
Posted by Anonymous at 7:54 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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John was a friend of mine from the past.....as Island recording artists, we played many gigs together, and drank many a pint! He was unique, there was never anyone quite like him....his guitar style was a one-off, the way he could play a drum roll on the strings as the plucked and strummed, he sang like that too, pulling something different out of the ether.....tremendously sad to hear this news, having never seen him for many years personally........may his talent ring on forever....
Billy Ritchie
Clouds
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:27 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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John was a friend of mine from the past.....as Island recording artists, we played many gigs together, and drank many a pint! He was unique, there was never anyone quite like him....his guitar style was a one-off, the way he could play a drum roll on the strings as the plucked and strummed, he sang like that too, pulling something different out of the ether.....tremendously sad to hear this news, having never seen him for many years personally........may his talent ring on forever....
Billy Ritchie
Clouds
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:27 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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John was a friend of mine from the past.....as Island recording artists, we played many gigs together, and drank many a pint! He was unique, there was never anyone quite like him....his guitar style was a one-off, the way he could play a drum roll on the strings as the plucked and strummed, he sang like that too, pulling something different out of the ether.....tremendously sad to hear this news, having never seen him for many years personally........may his talent ring on forever....
Billy Ritchie
Clouds
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:27 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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So sad to hear this news tonight........we were friends and fellow-artists on the Island Records label in the late sixties.......we did many a gig together, and drank many a pint together too! He was unique, there has never been anyone quite like him......the way he could play a drum roll on the guitar strings as he plucked and strummed.......he did that with his voice too, brought new nuances to phrases, made lines come to life with his individual way of doing things........may his talent ring out forever through the years....
Billy Ritchie of Clouds
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:31 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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An absolutely amazing talent equally revered in rock and dance music circles. Hugely influential. Check out youtube for the performance of " Small Hours" and be awed.
RIP John
Posted by Adam K, The Hague at 8:38 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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My teenage daughters bought me the 'Ain't No Saint' box for Christmas. They walk around the house humming his tunes. They love John too!
He was one of my all time favourites. His best stuff is timeless music, perfect music, with not a note out of place, truly magical. Though the second side of the records dipped in quality somewhat in my opinion. It was as if he couldn't quite produce forty minutes of music on an album. It wasn't for lack of talent, but maybe lack of discipline. Other, lesser musicians, found ways to fill out records to hide their lack of material, but John seemed unwilling to play that particular game. Perhaps his level of sublime, near perfection, wasn't possible over a whole record?
Live he could be breathtaking, a wonder, or dreadful. Sometimes I think he was almost afraid of his own talent and brilliance, his outstanding creativity and ability to innovate and push bounderies out there. He merged styles and genres and crossed purposefully over musical walls.
I think he lack of commercial success, when he was making outstanding music, hurt him deeply, though he did his best to hide his feelings and sort solace in drink and drugs. Others took many of his ideas, commercialised them, simplified them, rubbed off the edges, the grace and the danger, the heart and soul, and had massive global success, and the fame and money that goes with all that. All the things that in a fairer world should have been John's.
Posted by Michael von Kruger at 8:48 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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if john martyn isnt on the front cover next month i will never buy mojo again. if a legend like cave can grace it then mr martyn deserves similar reverance. time for some sundays child and guiness. rest in peace john from all those you touched.
Posted by Rodster at 9:04 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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if john martyn isnt on the front cover next month i will never buy mojo again. if a legend like cave can grace it then mr martyn deserves similar reverance. time for some sundays child and guiness. rest in peace john from all those you touched.
Posted by Rodster at 9:08 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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i saw John play@ a dozen times, i count myself very lucky, he is a big loss to us all.
Posted by Ade at 10:36 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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oh my god, can't stop crying. john, we couldn't love you more. your voice and music will outlive this planet - RIP
Posted by Herbert Ebenbauer at 10:43 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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I am comforted today knowing that so many feel as heartbroken as I have felt today. It's a bit of a lonelier planet without more of John's luminous playing and impassioned singing to keep us in touch with what real beauty and soul is all about.
Fare thee well, big spirit.
Posted by Chuck at 11:06 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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i will miss seeing him perform so much. i have enjoyed his concerts for about 37 years now, sometimes he was a bit pissed and a bit obscure but mostly he was stunning and superb! Particularly at Ronnie Scotts in Birmingham about 10 years ago. He has been a shining light in my life for so long , I will miss him so much. Rest in peace, john.
Posted by Phil Tetley at 11:47 PM GMT 29/01/2009 Report Abuse
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The creator of the soundtrack of my life has gone. Thanks big man and rest in peace.
Posted by The Lad Sharp at 7:12 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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The biggest influence musically for me both lyrically and playing wise.
He manifested to express himself, and all we can do is carry on and expand within the depths of his path, so that his pain that he carved out from himself, may you never realize.
Hopefully this world will now learn and grasp a true essence of itself from the original troubadour. Peace be finely with you.
Love you big man and will remember you always.
hari-Om
Posted by martyn wong at 9:31 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Johnny fair of face broke into my heart in 1969 and took up permanent residence. We renewed our relationship only 3 times over the years until in 2006 when I thought the sight of this large shambling rambling man would break my heart. Then I closed my eyes, opened my ears and discovered how wrong I was... Johnny Too Bad had never gone away, and he never will! because
his music has a place in my heart forever.
God bless Big Man
Posted by Keith at 10:40 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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The biggest influence musically for me both lyrically and playing wise.
He manifested to express himself, and all we can do is carry on and expand within the depths of his path, so that his pain that he carved out from himself, may you never realize.
Hopefully this world will now learn and grasp a true essence of itself from the original troubadour. Peace be finely with you.
Love you big man and will remember you always
hari-Om
Posted by martyn wong at 11:06 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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one of the greats has left us. Rest in peace John.
Posted by vance at 11:38 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Amazing performer. He passed away in his home in Kilkenny in Ireland not Glasgow.
Posted by Fan at 11:39 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Amazing performer. He passed away in his home in Kilkenny in Ireland not Glasgow.
Posted by Fan at 11:40 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Amazing and passionate performer. True legend of music world. He passed away in his home in Kilkenny in Ireland not Glasgow.
Posted by Beth at 11:42 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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I saw John so many times in Galway and just wish this news was not true... you will leave a big void in the music world....
lots of love to mama T...
Posted by Adrian Johnson at 11:59 AM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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It is with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye, as i remember my hero. I DANCED INFRONT OF JOHNY AT A GIG IN BOURNMOUTH.He looked down and chuckled as he did and said puppy dog dancing in the sun. i will keep that memory with me forever. Along with every song that got me through the bad and every song i cried to with the good, every song that i saw an early morning to after a heavy night before. i love you johny. rest easy as you do in my heart, jay xxxx
Posted by jay at 7:04 PM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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It is with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye, as i remember my hero. I DANCED INFRONT OF JOHNY AT A GIG IN BOURNMOUTH.He looked down and chuckled as he did and said puppy dog dancing in the sun. i will keep that memory with me forever. Along with every song that got me through the bad and every song i cried to with the good, every song that i saw an early morning to after a heavy night before. i love you johny. rest easy as you do in my heart, jay xxxx
Posted by jay at 7:05 PM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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It is with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye, as i remember my hero. I DANCED INFRONT OF JOHNY AT A GIG IN BOURNMOUTH.He looked down and chuckled as he did and said puppy dog dancing in the sun. i will keep that memory with me forever. Along with every song that got me through the bad and every song i cried to with the good, every song that i saw an early morning to after a heavy night before. i love you johny. rest easy as you do in my heart, jay xxxx
Posted by jay at 7:05 PM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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I now know how many people felt in 1977 when Elvis died or '80 when Lennon was killed. I'm 37 but this is the first time an artist has passed away who was someone whose music was a huge presence in my life. I feel pretty tearful and it's quite weird. He will obviously be HUGELY missed but lovingly remembered.
Posted by PM at 8:09 PM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Our John...no more. Deep lyrics and musical excursions that will only ripen with age. Be well.
Posted by dgcirkus at 9:03 PM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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I am so upset by this desperately sad news. Albums like Outside In, Solid Air, One World, Grace and Danger have been a constant throughout a live.
Posted by Henry at 11:58 PM GMT 30/01/2009 Report Abuse
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John Martyn, totally unique, and that is SO rare.RIP.
Posted by Anonymous at 12:57 AM GMT 31/01/2009 Report Abuse
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John Martyn, totally unique, and that is SO rare.RIP.
Posted by Anonymous at 12:57 AM GMT 31/01/2009 Report Abuse
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John Martyn, totally unique, and that is SO rare.RIP.xxx
Posted by Anonymous at 12:58 AM GMT 31/01/2009 Report Abuse
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I can hardly believe the news, I feel like a part of my life has just evaporated.
Farewell, John. May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold.
Posted by Tony at 1:23 AM GMT 31/01/2009 Report Abuse
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Time to raise a glass to the Big Man. Gawd bless ya, Guv'nor! I thought I knew all the wonder that he'd brought us until picking up the "at the BBC" DVD and having the hairs on my arms stand to attention at his performance of One World on OGWT with Field Commander Thompson and Gaspar Lawal.
Even my Mum was gobsmacked.
Last time I saw John live he talked of praying for death only to discover there is no God.
You may have got your wish, John, but the rest of us will miss you dearly.
Posted by Psodal at 4:37 PM GMT 02/02/2009 Report Abuse
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Sad sad sad
Posted by radiocitizen at 10:37 PM GMT 02/02/2009 Report Abuse
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One day without you...........
Posted by Geoff Dunn at 8:05 PM GMT 11/02/2009 Report Abuse
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