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Heaven and Earth
One World 2CD Deluxe
Live at Leeds 2CD Deluxe
Solid Air 2CD Deluxe
Grace & Danger 2CD Deluxe
BBC In Concert CD
4CD Boxed Set
Boxed Set
Live at the BBC DVD
BBC In Session CD
Out of all the concerts I saw John at, the one that stands out the most is a gig in wexford in Ireland where before the gig I was chilling at the bar having a few pre gig pints. As I drank the bottom out of the last this giant of a man sat next to me and ordered. I then realised that it was John, we sat and drank for a bit,had a small chat about things. The night moved on and John was on fire. Just before he sang may you never he dedicated it to me, which at the time I couldnt quite believe. The gig finished on rock salt and nails and john walked off the stage with that huge staff he had. Everyone was getting ready to leave after the usual cries of 'more'. Then John came back through the doors, sat down and said, 'thats the bloody kitchen in there, dinner looks lovely'. He said he hadnt played an encore for many a year and then finished with nthe finest johhny too bad i have ever heard. That is for me the best JM gig of my life.
ReplyDeleteI recall John playing in Jubilee Gardens in the Late Eighties, It was a GLC free gig. Also on the bill was Gill Scott Heron, but John just blew the face off my skull,again.Standout moment was a marvellously long version of "I don't want to know." Beautiful weather, beautiful girlfirend, beautiful day. Glorious stuff.
ReplyDeleteJubilee Gardens, 2nd June 1985, great gig with Foster Patterson, got a tape of it somewhere
ReplyDeleteMy friend, Jason, and I went to buy tickets for the gig at the Mean Fiddler (89-90) on the afternoon of the gig. They had sold out! Head in hands we turned away on our return journey and we were passed by a frantic looking roadie looking very dismayed, carrying a guitar case. We offered him a hand and sure enough it was John's roadie running very late. We helped him load everything in and organised a few things on the stage. He put us on the guest list! We returned and entered the gig and we were all blown away, it was an awesome set.
ReplyDeleteAt the end after an emotional encore the roadie called us up and invited us backstage. AAhh! said John showing his appreciation for our help earlier we had several beers and a few Jazz rollies and he signed our bits of paper "To the argonauts".
A week later he played Woolwich tramshed (I think) and we were in the audience again, being blown away by yet another perfect set. He looked out to the crowd and shouted in full Glaswegian "Ahh the argonauts, Y'alright chaps?", how cool did we feel. I still have that scrap of paper with his signature.
The Royal Exchange Manchester in 1990 (The Apprentice tour) wins hands down for me. Theatre in the round setting, John strutted on ('walking' doesn't do it justice!) and played three stunning acoustic songs unaccompanied and was then 'surrounded' (as he put it) by his superb band (including the magnificent Alan Thomson) and played an equally stunning electric set. He finished with a version of 'One World' which defies description - it was truly beautiful and was met with a few moments of absolute silence at the end, before a tear-stained standing ovation! Having seen him many times before (and since) - this one stands out. If I were able to travel back in time to experience it again, I would. Not just the best John Martyn performance I have witnessed, but the best performance I have ever seen. It was a privelege to have been there. Richard Homer
ReplyDeletefirst gig was approx 28 years ago. I was a snap of a lad - just 18. It was at Bradford College in the student bar. The gig itself was absolutely amazing and my young ears were left happy and ringing. Of course, I smoked far too much dope and almost passed out in front of the P.A. stack. JM himself was a whirlwind of angst and love, the band were as tight as a ducks chuff and from that day on i fell head over heels in love with the man! Seen him many times since then, the last time was July 08 at the Leeds Grand, never imagined that it would really be the last, last time. JM told this very funny joke about a bird impersonator, the whole house was full of love, respect and admiration. It was over far too soon and before long i was on the last train home. And that was our goodbye...
ReplyDeleteThe Lowry, Salford, May 2004. After seeing John literally every time he came within a hundred or so miles of Manchester since about 1980, this one really stands out. First time I'd seen the 'one legged' JM. Most of the gig he was in a wheelchair and on absolutely top form. For the encore he WALKED on (with a big stick) to a standing ovation and I felt the entire theatre become completely enveloped in LOVE, so overwhelming that the hairs on my arms stood on end. He sang 'Never Let Me Go' and the emotion that filled the room was absolutely unbelievable. Stunning, absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteSt Davids Hall Cardiff November 2008,
ReplyDeleteGrace and Danger brought alive, JM rocked!
300 mile round trip, unmissable! Great gig great band, such a shame never again.
RIP Big Feller
It's got to be the one now released as 'Battle of Medway'. John stood in for Tim Hardin who was 'ill' at the Ash Tree Folk Club in Chatham. The place was heaving and john played a blinder and now I can listen again on CD.
ReplyDeleteCheltenham Town Hall, 'No Little Boy' tour. John had requested that the venue seating be changed from the usual rows to individual round tables with 4-5 chairs around each..a real 'supper club' vibe was created and we chatted with other fans convivially before John came on. Fantastic performance, with Rock Salt & Nails being the stand-out, John just burned on that one.
ReplyDeleteSaw the Grace and Danger tour in November amazing made me cry.
ReplyDeleteI know that there were many amazing gigs with John at the helm, but the one I always remember wasn't a gig at all, but one night on the balcony outside The Lord Nelson pub in Hastings Old Town (his local when he lived in Hastings) when he jammed with a friend of his.
ReplyDeleteIt was one of those magical summer evenings that will never be forgotten.
Nov 5, 1979, Mountfield Hall at Liverpool University - first time I had seen J M. Nothing but him, tubular steel canvas upholstered directors chair, his acoustic guitar covered in a huge variety of bits of tape and the echoplex. The layers of sound just built and built. The student technical bods were getting a little excited with the lighting to a point where, mid song (I think it was 'Jelly Roll') John just stopped playing completely and politely asked the guys to tone down the illumination saying 'I feel like a fucking Lancaster Bomber up here!'. Musical genius and amazing raconteur.
ReplyDeleteIsaac.
there's some great stories and recollections here...keep em coming...it makes for top notch bedtime reading!...Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCirca 1991 at the Hofbrauhaus, Bristol
ReplyDeleteI was told not to go & see Him by my friend in
London who had seen him "the worse for wear" at his concert there but I just had to go!
John came on alone & obviously in a foul mood
& murdered the first two numbers. We were all sat cross legged on the floor. It was an "intimate" venue. When the Band turned up
John snarled at them "Nice of you to turn up!!"....they must've been late!.
So I stood up & everything John sang I echoed back to Him....things just got better & better
& every song just improved on the last!...
At one stage John introduced the Group & he said ......on Drums.....on sax....on Bass....on keyboards & "This Guy in the Audience!"......
It was a Hoot!......
Gone was his Anger!!
He gave a fantastic performance that night &
in the interval I sought out his girlfriend of
the time...Deborah....& asked her about the London Gig. She had been there & admitted it had been a disaster!.....
After the Gig was over I went forward to the stage to look at the guitars & one of the Roadies who was also Glaswegian came across to
me & said "Stay on....Meet Him!" & I said no
I couldn't.....but he insisted & said "Wait there...." & he went to get John. He appeared
in his Napoleonic Great coat & shook my hand
with a firm handshake (No mamby pamby shake for John!)....& I said to him "You gave us more Joy as students than any other Artist"
John looked suitably embarrassed & then I said
"When I got back from Saudi Arabia I bought every album you'd ever produced"
He said "You sound like Me!!...I make it! & then I blow it!!".....He was almost the same height as me & we stood facing one another for
several moments....He then proceeded to the Bar
& picked up a crate of beer to take back to his house......
That was the only time i actually met John but
it is etched in my consciousness forever....
I am so glad that I got the chance to say these
words to Him & a Tear actually came to his Eye.
John trashed his body at times but he didn't
deserve to lose his leg & the resultant gain
in weight that ensued. He was a handsome Man
in his Youth & had the sweetest Voice that anyone could imagine & if you listen to John Martyn & Kathy Mattea in the Transatlantic Sessions singing "May You Never" on Youtube
you will understand Why?...we All loved Him.
At the end of that sublime recording with his old friend & sparring partner Danny Thompson
He says in a Cockney accent that he had picked up from Danny.
"I Liked that ONE!!"
& WE liked everything that He did!!
Didn't We?
The World is immeasureably the sadder for John's passing but we will still remember Him
every time we listen to his Music or just find
ourselves humming one of his numbers when we least expect it.....Today, John would have been 61 but it was not to be.....but the Man
that He was who lived Life the way He wanted to Live Life, He would not have wanted us to Grieve......but yet we do anyway.
John was a True Genius but also He was an enigma & noone could work out the code.
Doug Reid
Well said Dougie.
DeleteMost memorable was probably Glastonbury CND Festival in 1984. Actually I didn't even see him, just heard him. I was 18 years old and just spent a very heady weekend with my then boyfriend at the festival. We were on our way home on the Sunday evening and had walked the miles (seemed like miles but might only have been a few metres!) back to the mini parked on some country lane....when out of the valley came the sound of John Martyn. Don't think we even realised he was on the line up. Needless to say we sat down on the side of the road and listened to the gig before setting off home. Saw him before and after that at the Guildford Civic throughout the 80s and after a long gap the last concert was at Basingstoke in 2005 (when I was pregnant with my son....at least I can tell him he went to a JM gig!). I'm so glad I got to see him one last time. It bought back so many memories and the music still blew me away. Thanks John for your contribution to my life. Louisa
ReplyDeleteOh where to start. The first - Limerick, Ireland, 1980 - you never forget your first ;-) - the last (I moved to South America in 1995) some time in the early 90's. I was at the Shaw Theatre in 1990 when "Live" was recorded.
ReplyDeleteBut the best - 1984 in Limerick again with just him and Alan Thompson, a drum machine and a keyboard. The two of them made a tower of sound and I'll never forget it.
All in all, I probably saw John a dozen times - all different, all brilliant.
i'm 30 yrs old and didn't even hear jm until about 6 yrs ago. wish i'd of heard him sooner cuz theres really no need to listen to anythin else, i coulda saved a fortune on cd's!
ReplyDeletei saw him twice. the 1st and best was warwick arts centre. i was so chuffed when he played jelly roll blues. johnny too bad sounded apocolyptic. 2nd time was solid air tour @ robin hood club, bilston. so glad i got to see him b4 it was too l8.
btw i'm havin to submit posts twice, any1 else hav that problem?
TOO MANY COME TO MIND BUT 3 STICK OUT WEXFORD CORK DUBLIN
ReplyDeleteI wrote this listening to One World.
ReplyDelete1974 opening for YES at Madison Sq Garden in NYC. 2 beams of white spotlight Just him , acoustic and effects. I was blown away. While playing someone threw a frisbee way over the crowd John looked up and said "Coooool " His music is forever. After a time I rediscovered his music while living in Eldorado Springs , CO and it fit so well as I was goin thru Lonely times Happy times in such a beautiful place. His songs will always remind me of there and all that is.
You are missed John.
I've seen the man six times in concert. Every one was an utter triumph. Soaring, melancholy, inspiring, brilliant.
ReplyDeleteSadly missed, but will live forever through his beautiful music. Here's to you JM!
Seen him probably about 8 times end74 to about 86/87 -last one was a Saphhire concert in Sheffield. Most memorable was the very first one -Sundays Child tour, but he played solid air and other stuff. Purely solo, him, his incredible voice and his incredible guitar work and sounds he made. That was Lancaster Uni winter 74. Those were the days he was also billed as 'the one man Pink Floyd' by the way. Personally I thought he was much better than PFloyd- his music absolutely staggered me -partly cos I had never heard him before. The ambient music- the smell of dope in the air- the pints o beer-and when asked 'can we come up on stage with you John?' (appaprently a tradition before at Lancaster Uni) he says "yeah-dont f__k about"...he got surrounded by mainly women sitting around him onstage and could hardly see him after that. But that first exposure- absolutely incredible -the combination of sounds and voice with those great compositions. To this day 'You can discover' seguing into that bit with the echoplex...takes me straight back..and raises the hairs on my skin-*every* time. A musical genius -difficult to define- but you know it when you see and hear it. I did, at that concert, 35 years ago.
ReplyDeleteMy first and last in an ironic fateful circle called 'Grace and Danger'. My first in 1980 when he toured the Album. A solo 'Johnny Too Bad' that layered sound on sound and left us open mouthed. A soul in torment, with an unbearable need for release with 'Hurt in Your Heart'.
ReplyDeleteMy last, November last year in Oxford when he retoured the same Album. Still on form and the music speaking effortlessly across the years to the thoughtful ear. The last song I heard him sing was 'Never let me Go' - a shame we all had to let John go!
Attended the return after the amputation gig at Connollys Of Leap in West Cork Ireland.This was a real special event and we were so priveleged in Cork to be able to witness this.Amazing gig which later appeared on the BBC documentary Johnny Too Bad.
ReplyDeleteHi my favourite gig was at Blues West 14 Holland Park Kensington on June 1st 1996. A very small and intimate gig that John played especially for ME and my husband MARK(although John didn't know, long story will tell if anyone is interested!!!!) Was a truly amazing experience partied until 6 in the morning with the band Alan, Spencer,Karl and Jerry (bless his soul). Got a signed poster of the event takes pride of place in front room!!!! ALL LOVE and undying thanks to BILL BAXENDALE xx
ReplyDeleteDave Dick said...
ReplyDeleteMost memorable was the classic 1970s concert [if you can remember the date you werent there!] with Danny in the Solid Air days...Glasgow City Halls..
A persistent heckler on a balcony seat eventually annoyed John so much that he put down his guitar, disappeared through the back of the stage ...and reappeared on the balcony, pushed his way along to the offending individual, punched him in the face...[to huge applause, this was Glasgow!]...then walked back to the stage and carried on as if nothing had happened!?
Favourite gig?...Glasgow late 70s early 80s in the Pavilion Theatre, Renfield Street...
As I walked in to my seat I was met by a lovely smoky haze...
Early in the [solo] gig Joh tried to talk to the audience and asked why they were all being so quiet.....a glasgow voice from the back..."were all too stoned tae answer John..." lead to a huge wave of knowing laughter...
The music was fantastic...the power he got from those rhythms and the use of echoplex was unbelievable....
Great gig, great music...a great loss.
Favourite meeting?...some time in the winter of 1980/81 I leant John my guitar at the Star Folk Club in Glasgow when he joined his old mentor Hamish Imlach for a couple of songs. When he gave it back we chatted for a minute and I cheekily asked him to come along to my gig in Hallibees Cafe [Glasgow West End] the next night...
Stunningly...he actually did, on his own and proceeded to play for half an hour, doing requests for me and my mate Jim Gilbert...and then said he wanted to back us up as he never got to play accompaniment...."gie us more of that bottleneck Dave" will live forever in my memory!
Among the tips he gave us two unknown guitarists that night was.."always remember rhythm its the basis for everything you play"
When I hear people bad mouth him for his Mr Hyde character, drunk and abusive..I always tell them about the John Martyn I met, sober, friendly and incredibly encouraging to two lifelong fans..
We miss him.
Brewery Arts Centre 2008. Last time I saw him. So glad I did. He was the dogs and the band was tight as a fist. I saw John I don't know how many times since Keele University in 84 (Sapphire with FP)but this was the best. Small venue, good sound, John talking to me and nobody eles...
ReplyDeleteAbout 10 or 15 (who knows?) years ago John played an acoustic evening at the old Concorde 1 on the seafront in Brighton. It was superb. Just John with a guitar in a very small space. One of the best gigs I haave ever been to. I think he played aa second gig straight after in the same venue. Completely brilliant in every way.....
ReplyDeleteIn 1980ish I was 15 and saw John in concert I think it was at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth (can anyone confirm?) - I was dancing in-between the rows seats and remember feeling like he was just singing to me; he was wonderful. I’ve just listed to Head and Heart over and over; when you hear the man sing all my worries are back in perspective...
ReplyDeleteNovember 16 2006 in Wexford Ireland. It was my 50th birthday and my wife organized a weekend away in Wexford to see John play at Whites Hotel. She also managed to slip a note to John asking him to sing Happy Birthday during the gig. This he duly did, leaving me in seventh heaven. Happy days. A great loss to us all.
ReplyDeleteLancaster Uni early eighties, 21st Cambridge Folk festival under the stars and Cambridge again at the begining of the Solid Air Tour not long before he died. Cried tears of joy that he could still produce such amazing music. Got a ridiculously oversized T shirt as it was the only one left but hangs in my bedroom - says it all 'John Martyn compared to what?'
ReplyDeleteSaw John a number of times thru the early eighties in Ireland. Standout would be The Rosehill Hotel in Kilkenny (now defunct I believe) on an otherwise drab Sunday evening. An amazing solo gig played to no more than eighty like minded souls.....the echoplex reach intensifying as the pall of smoke increased in the room. Great days indeed and as many have stated here already, a one off troubadour whose legacy is the connection he made thru his voice, guitar and persona.
ReplyDeletesmoking ban!!! absolutey criminal, John should be seen in a foggy, pungent atmosphere soaked in guinness/whisky/spliffs. Take your pick
ReplyDeleteOne beautiful summer evening in Regents Park, a few tracks of which are on the One World Deluxe. One of the most memorable gigs I've ever been to.
ReplyDeletePlease, please, please release the the whole concert. It was every bit as good as those few tracks suggest.