Dear John
We will miss you so very much.
So glad I went to see you in Manchester last year.
You will be greatly missed
R>I>P>

I met you once John, I was only 14 at the time. You couldn’t have been kinder and nicer. I love you and your music, forever. Bless you.

Dear John
What a sad loss we saw you quite a few times we will miss you.
God bless R.I.P

What a bloke he was. And Scottish which makes me doubly sad. A huge loss.

I was introduced to John Martyn back in college in 1978 and have been a fan ever since. I must have seen him a dozen times and have some great memories of a true original, great singer, guitarist and songwriter.
My best buddy from college flew over from the states to share a joint 50th birthday which culminated in seeing John at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in November. He was on great form and was grace itself when we bumped into him in the hotel bar.
It’s hard to believe he’s gone but the music will live on.
John Wayne, Johnny Too Bad, Rock On!

Devastated. A true artist and Legend.

Magical music, very original a unique blend of soul and spirit.

‘Out of the west came a glorious fool’

It wasn’t til I watched a couple of the old videos that I realised how sad his passing makes me… beautiful chocolate brown voice in the form of a great teddy bear of a man… My John Martyn cds are now among my most treasured possessions… Rest in peace, you are sorely missed already xxx

‘May you never lay your head down, without a hand to hold, may you never make your bed out in the cold…. Please, won’t you please, won’t you bear it in mind
Love is a lesson to learn in our time…’
and May you RIP!

His voice and lyrics moved my soul. What a great loss.

loved you gone but will never forget

theres only one world love u xxxx

I’m gutted John has left us ive worked in the music industry for 28 years although i have never worked with him he was one of the few artist ive paid to see (at least 30 times] my claim to fame was passing him a joint on stage at the town & country club London
i dont know who was more chuffed me or him Thank you John & God Bless

God Bless you john & thank you

He’s not dead – he’s in here!x

We used to go down and watch John at Les Cousins in Greek St, I think when we were 17, that being 1969. He would do all-night sessions with Roy Harper. He tought me many tunings and was a good-bad influence. He was stoned, spliffing, which he sowed into his act stuffing a spiff inbetween the machine heads of his guitar.
He was the greatest and the best and unique. He didn’t know when to stop doing whatever it was though. Loved him.

Wish I could sing and play like you!! God rest your soul. Love Peggy and Dave.

My words cannot express my sadness.
I introduced my husband to you as “the other love of my life many years ago.”
I saw you in November 09 in Glasgow and you were fabulous.
Thankyou for the music and memories youve given.

Huge loss, been a fan since Bless the Weather. The best of Scottish music

One World. One man, with a voice to sooth the Devil and the venom to raise Hell. A Graceful musician, who was dangerous to cross. The musician’s musician who just couldn’t sell out and wouldn’t take any Bullshit. Love him or hate him, (any many did both), but respect his integrity and credibility, for it may never be seen again in the music business. A genius in the shadows of fame, fortune and celebrity, a Well kept secret who lived, loved, suffered and died as we all do, but really did do it ‘his way’.

There will be deep sorrow felt by more people than the world will ever know, by us, the silent minority who recognised the monster talent that was John Martyn. May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold, rest in peace forever John, the world is changed with your passing.

So sad… Saw john only last November when he played to a packed house in St. Albans UK. Wasn’t looking very well then sadly. Before that back in the ‘Glorious Fool’ tour days at Hammersmith. What a truly unique, talented and flawed guy. He has left a fabulous legacy in his stunning recordings for all to enjoy. RIP John.

The Unique John Martyn
Will Be Greatly Missed
God Bless.

one of the best will be missed terribly…his music lives on

You have been the soundtrack to my adult life since I saw you in Lancaster back in 1977. You were so good, as you were when we saw you at the Lowry last year. I have a special memory of once being the only one around at a sound check: you turned to me and asked my opinion of how you sounded.
“Small Hours” will affect me even more profoundly now that you’re gone. Thank you for the music you made. Rest easy.

Saw John play at Brighton Dome in November. Lasting feeling is the inner beauty – “Love is the lesson to learn in our time” says it all. Keep it with you.

I had never heard of him until about 6 yrs ago,when i saw him live in preston,i had a migrane that night,but still had a great night of johns dulcid tones,he will be missed by many,my thoughts are with his family.

RIP John I will miss you greatly. I am privileged to have shaken your hand once.

Say hello to Nick for me.

God Bless You John as you blessed the weather…sleep tight sweet raconteur x

So sad to hear the sad news this morning. A pleasure to have been able to see him a few times in his final years in Ireland. I’m sure he will now find peace where he has gone. His music is sublime and will be listened to for decades to come.

I Miss you already.

What a man. RIP

The world’s a sadder place now you’ve gone. Fond memories of a few swallies with you in the ‘Wee Train’in Galston and a great night seeing you in Fat Sams in Dundee. Lie is a ’sweet little mystery.’

The world’s a sadder place now you’ve gone. Fond memories of a few swallies with you in the ‘Wee Train’in Galston and a great night seeing you in Fat Sams in Dundee. Life is a ’sweet little mystery.’

John Martyn’s music got into my soul! There were so many times, or places I’ve been, people I’ve known and things I’ve seen.
Altered states of mind and things of that kind. I’ve been in love, so in love, couldn’t love you more! Got laid, worked and played. I’ve been happy, I’ve been sad, blind and unkind.
So many emotions, memories projected like a music video of that time, that place and that album. My life has been inspired by his music, and his sound will always fill my head and heart, and take me to the river and over the hill. Thank you for such a beautiful thing.

‘One World’.

My daughter was working backstage at one of Johns gigs.. she asked him ” I know your busy John but ive brought some of my dads cd’s in… it would mean the world to both of us if you could choose one and sign the cover….” He signed them ALL and put a different message on each one…
He is a genius and a lovely man and we’ll miss him and his sublime music… goodnight big man x

A little bit of us goes with your passing but a lot more of you stays with us.
Your sweet tones carried us all this far.
Rest in Peace.

You dirty rotten …

Who do I listen to now?

You’ve been the soundtrack of my life since a woman I loved was singing “Head and Heart” and I asked her what that tune was.

I’ll miss you John. But the music is always there.

Saw John probably twenty times between 1979 and 1995. No two gigs the same, no two interpretations of his own songs without some innovation. If I had to take ten CDs to a desert Island, five of them would be John Martyn. Rest in Peace big man – lord knows you’ve earned it.

So sorry to hear about John. Only able to see him once performing ‘Grace and Danger’ a superb evening in Liverpool. His music and his unique personality will live with me forever, I feel I’ve lost a friend. Condolences to his family.

One of the greatest ’secrets’ of music. A guitar genius, a voice of pure heart, lyrics from the soul. One World, John.

John Martyn was unique, brilliant and will be sorely missed by the small but loyal fanbase that has stayed with him through the years. I have never known an artist who has been so universally unknown yet who could inspire such rabid devotion amongst the fans he did have. I saw him live many times, but the show that will always remain with me the most was a hastily arranged gig at the Marquee shortly before the release of ‘One World’. He took requests from the floor, sent waves of echoplex guitar swirling round the room via his qaud sound system. It felt like having an old friend playing just for you in your living room that night. Thanks for that and all the rest JM

This morning the world is, if it’s possible, a worse place without you. You were the soundtrack to my soul, thanks for the joy and I hope your drinking all the whisky.

God Bless and keep you always. Gonna hoist a few swallies tonight for ya me old son.
Love

OVER FOREVER RAIMBOW PEACE JOHN

I’m so sad. I’m usually immune to deaths of ‘famous’ people – but this guy was the musical backdrop of my life from 1975 till now. Unique.

Wonderful, great big hearted, Celtic soul-singer. Brilliant musician, incredible singer & amazing composer. I only saw him once, early eighties in Cork Connolly Hall, around the time of “Grace & Danger” (my favourite album), and while I wish I could have seen more often, that gig was a dream!! My condolences to his loved ones. KH

Been a fan of John’s since the 60’s and saw him last in concert in 2004-great musician and a sad loss.

I saw him dedicate May You Never at Les Cousins to some Greek waiter he knew who’d come downstairs for a spliff. He kept eye contact with this bloke right through. I don’t think anyone drew breath for the whole song. Magic. You were a beautiful boy.

What a man, what a loss.

,,,,our best customer has died!!!!

“You’re jut like that fat an’ crazy brother of mine
And you know that I love you true”

A plus mon pot – je te reverrai

A+

I just discovered his music very recently. Great songwriter and great voice. Too bad so many people in my generation aren’t familiar with his stuff.

RIP and thanks for making some great music.

A heavy heart in Bermuda…but the music and the spirit live on.

I hope they have distortion pedals up there in heaven. Tou’re a saint now, give’m hell John. We’ll look for the echoplex in the thunder from now on. What a man.

RIP, John.
Guy was genius.

RIP, John.
Guy was genius.

RIP, John.
Guy was genius.

First saw him opening solo for Yes in Toronto many years ago, blew the audience away…Thank you John, for everything you gave us, you’re singing with the angels now, where you belong.

such a sad day,to hear about johns passing,his music has always inspired the inner depths of my soul,so many memories.got all ur cds john,will be playing them all come spring and summer,i hope you are happy wherever you may be,thankyou john for being in my life. god bless

I feel so sad, like I just lost a very good friend, saw John many times,one very special concert for me was in Leap Co Cork shortly after John had his leg off,my heart goes out to his family and Spencer Cusens who was like his right hand,will always carry you in my heart John x

John Martyn was the musician who made me see that there’s more than ‘ordinary’ pop music. The first album of John I bought was ‘One World’ without hearing a note of it; just after reading a great review in a major Dutch music magazine (OOR). It changed my musical horizon. Thanks for that, John. I will miss you more than I can tell.

What a shock. I was in love with this mans music,and a little in love with him. My fav tracks were “Hung up”and Angerline.
I can not bring myself to play his music at the moment to cut up.
You will be sadly missed John. RIP.

What can I say?!?!
I am sat here listening to your beautiful music as I do oftenly!! I cannot believe you have gone and I will never get to hear you live again. I’ve been listening to your music for the past 11 years and will continue to listen more and more. I appreciate everything you did for the music, you have touched many people with your sound, lyrics and beautiful beautiful guitar playing. I only hope you are up there with guitar in hand and whiskey on tap
You’ll never be forgotten, love you John.
x

Skin up!

First time I saw you, you were playing at the Glasgow Folk Centre. You, and Archie Fisher, Hamisch Imlach and Billy Conolly with Tam Harvey. The place was mobbed, the atmosphere was heaven and you made me want to play guitar. That memeory will always stay with me. Hope the sun shines for you, wherever you are.

Ahh, John – gonna miss you man…from the first listen of Bless the Weather I was hooked, blessed, blown away, and somehow you kept it going, changing, loving – even through solid air. So glad we got to hang a few times over the years…Give our love to Nick if you have the chance…we’ll be along soon

John,
Couldn’t love you more.
Loved your influence on Linda Lewis, Phil Collins and Clapton, as well.

I’m very sad to hear of your passing, dear John Martyn. Your songs of life and love/love gone wrong are with me always. Thank you for giving us this great gift. My condolences to your loved ones.
You will be sadly missed, John. R.I.P

the father of trip-hop, John Martyn: truely a warm, great, full soul & very highly underrated… just back in last May, Steve Winwood told me himself that it was his great friend, John Martyn’s sound he liked alot most, & that he was in ill health to keep cherishng his memory & that it all was up coming. They were both firsts on the Island record label.

just want to be one of the many listed here who already dearly miss John Martyn, and whose love of his music survived so many changes in time and trends…thank you, John Martyn, for your awesome talent and soul reaching music, and for sharing it with the world which stopped to listen.

His music was magical. I remember many years ago when I was young and had just split up from my partner and listening to fine lines alone in my flat. Your music was much more than fine. A huge hole now in the life of anyone who loves really good and unique music.

i have loved you ever since i heard one world,every time a saw you in concert you where great,apart from the time you could’nt stand up at the junction in cambridge,it just so happened i was introducing another couple to your brillant talant,ha ha.they still ended up loving you as much i do. love and miss you.

only just heard,so very sad,i only have the solid air album as my friend ollie years ago was playing it at a party and i bought it the next day..listened to it many times and loved it…beautiful…will buy all of johns ablums now,never knew of john until then but so glad i do….rest in peace John…funny that i was listneing to solid air recently and my boyfriend was amazed by it and hadnt heard it before,great to intrrdoce him to it..x

John Martyn occupies a place in my heart reserved for artists few, and diverse – Dylan, Sam Cooke, Joni Mitchell – can’t think of anyone else right now….. a wonderful and unique artist

You did not go gentle into that good night,John Martyn! I remember you well from Adelaide, (Australia)in teh seventies. You decided you didn’t like the plush new Adelaide Festival Theatre and came on with tomatoes to throw at the people in the front row. I was glad to be a bit further back! But what a concert, and what beauty in your voice, the music and lyrics. Oh, and did I mention your smile? Divine! I still play your music, it will never age. You will always be remembered. I hope you have found peace now. Kathy McMahon.

I met John in 1986… He was playin here in Germany and he gave me an autograph on his latest cd..” Philentophy”…. He wrote ” Philentrophy means, The Love of Passing Time” yours John Martyn… He played music from his heart. Thanks a lot John, where ever you are. Iḿ sure….youre in heaven!

Best wishes
Wally

cant think of words to express how pissed off i am with this sad news

cant think of words to express how pissed off i am with this sad news

The man who created the soundtrack of my life has gone. I saw JM live 15 times – some awesome, some a little blurry – but always an experience.
All the best big man

I was given the Piece by Piece cd about ‘94 to listen to from an uncle and thought it was some of the best music I had ever heard. I had heard of John Martyn but had never really listened to his music but from that time on collected everything he recorded and can honestly say he’s the only artist I know of that never released a bad album. I saw him many times over the years at the Pavillion, Renfrew Ferry and various other venues such as Castlemilk Community Centre and the Cottier Theatre in Hyndland and the Glasgow music scene won’t be the same again. Thankyou for the music.

For me, in music, there are 3 primary colors. There is Tim, Nick and John. With them, I shall not want. On this very sad occasion, I am wondering what Danny Thompson is thinking, the most superb of all bass players, who contributed so much to the sound of each… In the early days, John’s records always seemed to arrive in the winter. I remember coming home from college in a blizzard, only to find Solid air waiting for me at the local record store. The 28th was the worst snowstorm of the year in my home town and it was only fitting that John should pass the next morning….BLESS THE WEATHER THAT BROUGHT YOU TO ME. CURSE THE, CURSE THE, CURSE THE STORM THAT TAKES YOU AWAY….ABSOLUTELY IRREPLACEABLE!!!

Remember him on a double bill at Dundee Uni with Al Stewart. A great night. John was just starting to experiment with the echoplex sounds and was almost climbing into the soundhole of his guitar, singing into it. Unforgettable!

For some strange reason I felt compelled to pull out all my JM vinyl last Friday, but it wasn’t until today that I learned he’d left us! I’ve been moved by John’s music since I first heard Solid Air in ‘73. So sad, R.I.P. Big Muff.

Genius is not too strong a word for John Martyn. His voice and his playing were sublime.

In 1977 I was on holiday at Maria Island Tasmania, where we were camped. It rained the whole time, and I met a guitarist – I had my flute and a group of us took daily shelter inside an old wheat silo with tall concrete walls. He sang May you Never, and a lot of other John Martyn songs, and I learnt them and we played. When I returned to Brisbane, I bought “Solid Air” – what a sweet, strong inspired artist, great guitarist and beautiful singer he was. His passing has taken me back to a time of beautiful peace, and I know he is there now.

Sometimes you stumble onto genius. I did one night about eight years ago at Strandhill north of Sligo. “You must go hear him,” a friend said, so I did. I guess his ship never landed in the major ports of my native America. I was told that Disco knocked him out of the water about the time “Sweet Little Mystery” came out. What a valuable shipwreck he was.

First saw John at a folk night at the Victoria Pub in Newquay in 1970 whilst I was living down therein a tent with Greg Lakes brother and selling newspapers on the beach, Ended up changing a guitat string for him on one of his guitars as it broke during a number. Got into Stormbringer with my old friend Schlepp whilst tripping in the hills around Glossop. Saw him do a re-union gig with Beverley at Manchester Uni sometime in the late 70’s?. Seen him many times since and listened when glad and sad. Good luck old friend

Its been a few weeks now since John left us and I have have been thinking about him and how important he was to me and what a big influence he was . Without doubt the finest contemperary acoustc guitarist in modern times . And his personality had that really attractive mix of “bad boy /gentle soul which was so irresistable to me growing up and subseqently fighting my own personal demons – Bless the weather that brought you to us john and curse the storm that took you away – go down easy

Tabs

Now You´re over the hill… “Song of Summer” sitting in a peachtree in 1979… what a huge loss for the guitar world. You´ll always stay in my mind and in my tunes
R.I.P (

“may you never lay your head down in the cold” – not you, my dear friend in heart. sometimes you played like if you “rather be the devil” your “well kept secret” songs like a “sapphire”… they will always be in my “head & heart”.
john martyn, one of the best songwriters, singers and guitar players of the 20. century has passed away, i am driven to tears and glad that i listened to your songperls since more than 30 years now. now you are “over the hills” -take a breath from “solid air” – peace is with you

john – thank you so much for your music!

big muff!

willow

John’s music, his voice, his sound and particularly, his acoustic guitar playing have always and will always inspire me.

Very, very sorry to hear this (rather belatedly) bit of news. His music still provides a soundscape as I drive home through the country. Absolutely love his playing with Danny Thompson. Rest easy John

I’ve just heard that John Martyn has gone. His has been one of my ‘inner musical voices’ for 30 years along with people like John Mayall, Bert Jansch and Danny Thompson. What a sense of loss…

John you will be missed very much. I only found out yesterday, and I was so shocked. I thought you’d live forever. Rest now my friend.
Your friends in New Zealand will never forget you.

Only a so few in Bohemia know of the greatest Bohemian ever..

I want to find good pop music. Help me please.

Shock, JUST found out he’s gone.
Great musician, soulful singer … truly one-of-a-kind.

His tune, ‘The Man Who Taught you How to Dance’, on, I think, the ‘Grace & Danger’ album, is a CLASSIC. Every woman has got to hear that song at least ONCE in her life … Serious.

Only found out recently about your passing, I’m still in a state of shock (although Blind Freddy could see your time wasn’t long. First heard Solid Air as a long-haired uni student tripping on mushrooms in front of an open fire. The music felt as if it were absorbed into the pores of your body, I’ve been a huge fan ever since. Saw you finally in Amsterdam, a mirror ball spinning above your head (and one inside my own. I remember you singing “Somewhere over the rainbow” GOD knows I hope you’ve finally found your peace where the rainbow ends. I also feel as if I’ve lost an old friend…

Was blissed out all weekend listening to your music opened my heart then found out you died in January. You brought love and joy and inspiration and took us to a spiritual dimension with your heart opening music. Love you hope I meet you in my next life.

Can you hear me from up there
The way you soared lifts me up
I like the red stain on your fretboard
Im climbing up the walls I just cant stop

You showed me love was everywhere
Even in you and I
Big John I’ll rest with you now
But I’m the only one who’ll cry

Your soul touched mine Big Man.
I miss you today more than I did last year.

Give em heaps!!!

Still listening John
First saw John 20th October 1971 Playhouse theatre, John Peel session. and many times in the 70’s
once in the 80’s, big regret never after that, but always followed and got the music. hope to hear “willing to work” soon ! We are all so grateful for the soundtrack to our lives!!!!!