John Martyn Down

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7858458.stm

In fairness, he was never going to make very old bones.

 

In communiqué

True. The BBC4 documentary about him a few years ago was good. No doubt
it will now be repeated.
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I normally couldn't GAF about people I've never met but that just made
me sad.

Saw him live more times than I care to remember and he's a regular
inhabitant of my playlists.

 

And Billy Powell:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7857676.stm

 

His website's a bit wobbly too.

 

Really? I've almost, but not quite, never heard of him. I mean, I do
recognise the name, and I might have even known he was a musician, but
beyond that - nothing.

 

As you are a guitarist I am amazed - but then we are talking acoustic
guitar and a vaguely folk idiom.

"May you never...

The documentary "Originals - Johnny Too Bad" is available as a torrent
on thebox.bz.


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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
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AceOL.

 

Not even sure I'd have known that much.

Checks guitars and repertoire. Nope, that's not the reason.

 

Possibly a generation thing then.

At least Renbourn and Jansch are still going and so is Carthy though
knocking on for 70.


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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
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Could be, yes.

Never heard of either of them either. But apparently they're all
comtemporaries of Ralph McTell, who was my original guitar tutor (via
a book, with Tab, and a couple of records). I suspect it's more down
to not being in the mainstream, no real hits, not seen on TV, sorta
thing.

I.e. they may be noteworthy in their field, but they're not exactly
famous.

 

Not heard of Pentangle?

I see Davy Graham went down in December.

Here's another name you won't of heard. Still alive but not performed
for years - Nic Jones.


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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Nice guitar. Very oldee-folky lyrics though.

 

I find that really quite surprising.

He's not to everyone's taste but I've been a long time fan and he can
certainly be viewed as a musician's musician. IMO, he had a bit of a
weak period in the late eighties but his published work before and
since is superb.

 

It might be a Jockish thing. I'm trying to remember if I first came
across him during my sojourn in the Land of the Porridge-Wogs. But I
can't.

 

Suspect not. I don't know about Ace but Champ and I are of similar
age. I guess JM's just been under the radar.

 

Mebbe's aye, mebbe's naw

 

Surprising. They reunited for a tour last year.

Right up there with Carthy in the open tuning stakes in my book. Oh,
yes, very 'traditional' indeed. But the modern arrangements and
accompaniment style make it easier on the ear.

Interesting article here:
http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart_nicjones_guitarstyle.htm
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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

"May you never" was a standard for years round the folk clubs. Here's
John singing it -

 

It's almost certainly not a generation thing - I'm practically young
enough to be Champ's ginger stepchild and I've got a few JM mp3s lying
around.

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ogden

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