Friday, January 30, 2009

I remember seeing John Martyn - who died yesterday - appearing at Ewell folk club in the room round the back of the King William IV. He asked if anybody could give him a lift back to Kingston. I believe he lived on the border of Surbiton and Kingston at the time.

I remember recognising the location for the cover photograph of The Tumbler. We used to look for it while walking through Home Park on our way to sports afternoons at Grist's.

I remember seeing John Martyn at Kingston Polytechnic - which now of course goes by the name of Kingston University.

I remember taking a video camera with me to the Greyhound, Fulham Road, and asking John if he'd mind me filming the gig. He was round the back, totally spaced out but smiling and said 'no, far out, peace man' etc. I had borrowed the camera from my Dad and unfortunately the video tape is reel-to-reel so I have no idea what it looks like. I must dig it out and see if I can digitise it.

I remember seeing John Martyn at Les Cousins in Greek Street, Soho. It was the first time I had heard him use echoplex and despite the discomfort of the church pews it was absolutely stunning, particularly in that tiny room.

I remember being disappointed when The Road To Ruin came out because there were jazz combos where the echoplexed guitar should have been. The album was delayed quite a while, because of printing issues over the cover we were told at the time, but I now find, according to the 'official' website, it was more complicated than that. I quote: 'John had disagreements with Joe Boyd over the production of this album and, because of the numerous overdubs; John felt that the recording lacked spontaneity.' He wasn't wrong.

I remember John Martyn releasing a live album from his home in Hastings. You could only buy Live in Leeds (named after an earlier album by the Who) by mail order. It was a limited edition and I think my friend Richard actually bought one.

I remember on one of Richard and my many evenings spent exploring the pubs of Soho bumping into John Martyn who was doing much the same with a friend of his. (Bass player - name escapes me.) We exchanged pleasantries and Richard and I later realised that this was the time of his divorce from Beverley/work on the Grace And Danger album.

I remember working out the chords to Winding Boy off of The Tumbler.

I remember being amused by John Martyn's Glasgow/mockney accent, particularly as I knew he was born about five minutes away from where I lived and was brought up. Admittedly he went off to live mainly in Glasgow when his parents split up and I would have just moved into Phyllis Avenue in Motspur Park at about that time, so our paths didn't cross until a lot later.

I remember hearing that John Martyn had lost a leg and assuming it was the diabetes or the drink. And of course it wasn't. He had a cyst behind his knee which burst.

I remember listening constantly to The Apprentice early on in my relationship with Margaret and feeling that every song on the album was about me, was me singing those songs about my life. How did he do that?

I remember exchanging emails with a well-known folk/rock musician, who told me that when John Martyn walked into a motorway service station the other musicians would go quiet, knowing that there might be trouble coming. And a lot of people have said the same. But he was special. And I don't think we'd have wanted him any other way.

I remember going to see John Martyn at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, a few years ago. (Just checked and it was eight years ago today!) My daughter had bought me a ticket for my birthday. He had already put on quite a bit of weight - he got even bigger when he spent most of his time in a wheelchair. There are pictures and a set-list here.

I remember Davy Graham, whose Folk, Blues & Beyond was the only album I have ever lent without getting it back. And Roger Curtis is dead as well!