Comments on: John Martyn is Dead http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:40:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: colin mckeown http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264949 colin mckeown Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:17:21 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264949 John I never met you but somehow you were my friend. From the first time I heard your music in school ,throughout my life I always went back to your music. YOU helped me through ome difficult times. You are a class act and I will miss the fact that I will no longer experience the excitement each time you released a new CD. You were unique and you were the business. Life can be so short but you live on through the quality of your songs. God rest your soul John you helped so many feel. Colin, Belfast. John
I never met you but somehow you were my friend. From the first time I heard your music in school ,throughout my life I always went back to your music. YOU helped me through ome difficult times. You are a class act and I will miss the fact that I will no longer experience the excitement each time you released a new CD. You were unique and you were the business. Life can be so short but you live on through the quality of your songs. God rest your soul John you helped so many feel.

Colin, Belfast.

]]> By: Mark http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264834 Mark Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:18:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264834 I was lucky. I saw him open for someone "famous" in maybe 1972, just after Solid Air. Can't remember the headliner but I never forgot John. Every person I met with a interest in music I turn them on to him. Most people never had heard of him here in the US. But what pleasure he has given me for these 37 years. Long live John Martyn! I was lucky. I saw him open for someone “famous” in maybe 1972, just after Solid Air. Can’t remember the headliner but I never forgot John. Every person I met with a interest in music I turn them on to him. Most people never had heard of him here in the US. But what pleasure he has given me for these 37 years. Long live John Martyn!

]]> By: marty http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264745 marty Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:39:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264745 john your music has given me such pleasure over the years and you will be sadly missed..........enjoy ur jam in the sky! RIP the big man wi the geetar marty john your music has given me such pleasure over the years and you will be sadly missed……….enjoy ur jam in the sky! RIP the big man wi the geetar
marty

]]> By: Jen http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264732 Jen Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:33:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264732 This great man, great soul provided so much depth and joy. He is a solid mountain, a tremendous figure on the horizon of music. So authentic, so fearless, so gifted and so giving. Our world was made better with him in it. Blessings to Theresa and all who loved him. Rest in peace. This great man, great soul provided so much depth and joy. He is a solid mountain, a tremendous figure on the horizon of music. So authentic, so fearless, so gifted and so giving. Our world was made better with him in it. Blessings to Theresa and all who loved him. Rest in peace.

]]> By: David Nash http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264699 David Nash Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:11:20 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264699 The world is quieter and less interesting. His passing is but little compared to the fact we all got to hear him and be moved by his muse. We are lucky to have his legacy 'Love is a lesson to learn in our time' The world is quieter and less interesting. His passing is but little compared to the fact we all got to hear him and be moved by his muse. We are lucky to have his legacy

‘Love is a lesson to learn in our time’

]]> By: Sean Kearney http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264677 Sean Kearney Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:46:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264677 I Never Knew you John, But I knew your Wonderful Music "Go Easy" John you will be deeply Missed. I Never Knew you John, But I knew your Wonderful Music “Go Easy” John you will be deeply Missed.

]]> By: Andrew http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264676 Andrew Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:46:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264676 The new just blew me off, losing John was like losing one of my closest friends. He has been, at times, the sountrack of my life and I cannot describe how sad it is to know that he is not anymore among us. God bless you John, and thank you for what you have given to me. The new just blew me off, losing John was like losing one of my closest friends.

He has been, at times, the sountrack of my life and I cannot describe how sad it is to know that he is not anymore among us.

God bless you John, and thank you for what you have given to me.

]]> By: martyn wong http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264672 martyn wong Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:04:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264672 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 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

]]> By: Gary Ostertag http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264653 Gary Ostertag Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:01:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264653 He was just astonishing. Martyn's version of Ben Harper's "'Scuse me Mister" (on the Church with One Bell") is one of the finest performances of a protest song I've ever heard. The first verse will stop you in your tracks. He was also VERY funny. This is from an interview given just last summer, on his opening for YES during their 1974 US tour: "That tour was a fucking nightmare! ... I <i>hated</i> that band. They were snotty horrible people who thought they were intellectuals. They were hot from the university circuit, just hateful. I quite liked the drummer, Alan someone-or-other, but the guitar-player I never could stand at any price. They came from Scarborough or something and played Beach Boys covers -- then the got into this "the frogs in the forest are flying away" shit and it was just horrible. And the didn't give a <i>fuck</i> about me, they didn't listen or care about what I was doing. It was very disheartening, but I'd go on a play another show to 200 people in a small club and they'd love my ass and pay me <i>twice</i> as much as those tight-fisted motherfuckers from Yes ever did. They were huge venues too -- the smallest one was about 20, 000 people. With Free it was fun, but with Yes it was terrible, <i>murderous</i>. If you play your ass off you might win two or three of them over, but it was <i>brutal</i>. Funny now, mind..." THE WORD, July 2oo8 He was just astonishing. Martyn’s version of Ben Harper’s “’Scuse me Mister” (on the Church with One Bell”) is one of the finest performances of a protest song I’ve ever heard. The first verse will stop you in your tracks.

He was also VERY funny. This is from an interview given just last summer, on his opening for YES during their 1974 US tour:

“That tour was a fucking nightmare! … I hated that band. They were snotty horrible people who thought they were intellectuals. They were hot from the university circuit, just hateful. I quite liked the drummer, Alan someone-or-other, but the guitar-player I never could stand at any price. They came from Scarborough or something and played Beach Boys covers—then the got into this “the frogs in the forest are flying away” shit and it was just horrible. And the didn’t give a fuck about me, they didn’t listen or care about what I was doing. It was very disheartening, but I’d go on a play another show to 200 people in a small club and they’d love my ass and pay me twice as much as those tight-fisted motherfuckers from Yes ever did. They were huge venues too—the smallest one was about 20, 000 people. With Free it was fun, but with Yes it was terrible, murderous. If you play your ass off you might win two or three of them over, but it was brutal. Funny now, mind…”

THE WORD, July 2oo8

]]> By: marianna http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264642 marianna Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:50:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264642 An umbearable loss. I will always miss you, dear friend. Marianna An umbearable loss.
I will always miss you, dear friend.

Marianna

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264602 harry b Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:49:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264602 ejh -- that's funny, I puzzled over your question for a while, and now Ii see it. It is one of the few Americanisms I use completely unconsciously after more than 23 years (and was just explaining to an old friend why I like it). My mum taught at the school Otway went to. I think. But not when he was there. ejh—that’s funny, I puzzled over your question for a while, and now Ii see it. It is one of the few Americanisms I use completely unconsciously after more than 23 years (and was just explaining to an old friend why I like it).

My mum taught at the school Otway went to. I think. But not when he was there.

]]> By: Mick T http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264601 Mick T Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:25:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264601 I was lucky enough to see John in Cardiff (November 21)last year, not a full house but the guy was superb although clearly in poor health.He had the capacity to bring grown men to tears with his vocal delivery(I know cos I was one). Good night John you touched a lot of peoples hearts,I hope you are at peace. Posted by Mick T I was lucky enough to see John in Cardiff (November 21)last year, not a full house but the guy was superb although clearly in poor health.He had the capacity to bring grown men to tears with his vocal delivery(I know cos I was one).
Good night John you touched a lot of peoples hearts,I hope you are at peace.

Posted by Mick T

]]> By: fabri http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264595 fabri Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:00:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264595 forever over the raimbow peace john forever over the raimbow peace john

]]> By: Annaick http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264593 Annaick Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:40:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264593 Very sorry to find Mr Martyn is gone. Saw him in Dublin only a year or two ago. His lucid moments showed breathtaking ability on the guitar, in stark contrast to his not so lucid moments- made me wish I'd seen him back in the day. Amazing musician and writer. Very sorry to find Mr Martyn is gone. Saw him in Dublin only a year or two ago. His lucid moments showed breathtaking ability on the guitar, in stark contrast to his not so lucid moments- made me wish I’d seen him back in the day. Amazing musician and writer.

]]> By: M. Peachbush http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/30/john-martyn-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-264592 M. Peachbush Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:20:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9356#comment-264592 I saw him open for Yes in the 70's (Tales of Topographic Oceans tour) at the Boston Garden. I enjoyed him, but most of the crowd didn't. Boy did I feel sorry for a single guy with an acoustic guitar, opening for a space-opera rock band. Oh well, may he never... I saw him open for Yes in the 70’s (Tales of Topographic Oceans tour) at the Boston Garden. I enjoyed him, but most of the crowd didn’t. Boy did I feel sorry for a single guy with an acoustic guitar, opening for a space-opera rock band.

Oh well, may he never…

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