15 Jun 2021
The 2021 edition of the John Martyn Gathering has been cancelled. The last weekend of June option could not go ahead because of the prolongued covid measures, and after examining the possibilities of the weekend of July 23rd one had to conclude that too many people would not be able to attend at a one month's notice. So the next chance to meet fellow Johnkies is probably going to be next January in Glasgow.
01 Sep 2019
Chris Blackwell was always a bit of a rebel. Born in London, raised in Jamaica, he was schooled at Harrow but scorned its uniform - especially the straw boater pupils were obliged to don.
01 Feb 2019
A poignant epistle to Nick Drake, the delicate folk jazz title track on Martyn's third solo LP emerged from a session "almost like a big jam"
26 Jan 2019
Soulmates don't always feel the need to tell each other their feelings. It would take the singer-songwriter John Martyn the best part of four decades to let Danny Thompson know, "You're my best friend."
26 Jan 2019
John Martyn played many roles in his three score years. Curly-haired troubadour, spaced-out innovator, thug, fisherman, wizard, wastrel, lover and fighter.
06 Jan 2019
For decades he made some of the most beautiful music Scotland has ever produced, yet his life was haunted by demons which tore apart his marriage and drove him to drink. Now the album which documented his divorce in heartbreaking detail is to be celebrated at Celtic Connections. Jonny Jobson reflects on the grace and danger of a true genius.
01 Jan 2019
Danny Thompson talks to Lisa-Marie Ferla about his legendary friendship with folk hero John Martyn ahead of a special night at Celtic Connections
05 Jul 2017
In 1978 I got a call from a drummer called Timi Donald, who'd been in the Pathfinders in Glasgow. He told me, 'John Martyn is looking for you. I'm playing with him – would you mind coming in? He's doing production work for Grace & Danger.' I was getting £100 a day for production, which at that time was fantastic.
Having come through the same secondary school –Shawlands Academy– as Moors Murderer Ian Brady, John Martyn was wont to present himself as a Glasgow tough in his darker days, a mask that suited him well as alcohol and drug use exacerbated his meanest tendencies.
Things come full circle as Martyn, whose acoustic beginnings gave way to forceful, brooding electronica, is stripped bare.
