For some reason today he was on my mind. The late great John Martyn. Musician, songwriter, performer, but most of all beautiful human being. Flawed of course..but then which of us isn't in some way or other.
I first saw John play live in Milton Keynes outside London, back in the 80's. Back then we'd arrived late for his set and only saw the last few songs, but his music had been indelibly stamped on my mind.
I saw him many times after in Dublin. He was a frequent visitor to Ireland, and eventually moved here altogether and spent the last days of his life in these shores.
I've watched him played under the influence of alcohol and drugs...watched him play with anger and watched him play with a gentleness unsurpassed by any other musician in my experience.
But he always always played with passion. Even at his last gig on these shores, when he was very ill and barely able to play his guitar anymore..he still played and sang with passion if not the dexterity which I'd come to expect from him.
When he sang " Baby please come Home" from Grace and Danger that night I felt goosebumps all over my body. His eyes closed and tears rolling down his cheeks, he sang with a passion that was straight from the heart.
This was John Martyn to me.
The hopeless romantic and the joker...he could hold an audience in the palm of his hand for 2 hours..make them laugh and cry and take them with him on a journey through his pain and his joy.
When he died earlier this year, he left behind a large back catalogu of the finest music you will ever hear..but dammit..I'd love to see him one more time ... stand in the audience and lose myself in his voice and his playing.
Brilliant and all as the recorded music is...it can never replace the feeling of his live performances.
I miss you John.
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