John Martyn Documentary - Johnny Too Bad
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- BBC FOUR pays tribute to musical maverick John Martyn, who died at the age of 60 on 29th January 2009, with an intimate documentary portrait originally transmitted in 1994. This honest and often blackly hilarious film shows Martyn at home in Ireland, during the lead-up to and aftermath of an operation to have one of his legs amputated below the knee.
Contributors include sometime collaborator and buddy Phil Collins, Ralph McTell, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, fellow hellraiser bassist Danny Thompson, John's ex-wife Beverley Martyn and younger generation fan Beth Orton.
We see a man incapable of compromising his creative vision, from his folk club roots in the Sixties, through a career of continuous musical experimentation. Along the way there is a surreal roll-call of accidents and incidents, including a collision with a cow.
Producer Serena Cross
Director Serena Cross
Some time after I fell in love with his music, I had the great good fortune to befriend Johnny Too Bad, gig with him, jam with him, get high with him, fall about laughing. As well as being massively talented, he was one of nature's gentlemen, and wickedly funny. To know him was to love him. I'll always miss him. Much respect.
mad respect for you mick - he is truly a musician's musician.
tell more...I enjoy this kind of stuff.
if you can be bothered to share. .
....I would be sincerely grateful
from Canterbury U.K.
please elaborate on your personal John Martyn experience. if you don't share, your gem will be ' lost forever ' , share and keep his legacy alive...please my friend
Back in the late 70's, I was playing my songs in a little health food restaurant in my hometown. A girl came up to me when I was done and said, "Have you heard of John Martyn?" I said, "Nope" She said, "Oh, you'd really like him! Wait right here..." She literally ran home to bring me her vinyl copy of "Solid Air" which she informed me I could not keep but could borrow for a week. I went home and listened to it and she was right. I loved it and I've been a fan ever since. I did get to see him "live" in NYC in the early 80's at the Bottom Line which was a treat. I like his acoustic early stuff best, but man, he was a terror on electric later on too. RIP John (if possible) ;~)
Back in the day, I made a 60 minute cassette of "Small Hours" playing over and over on both sides. I played the tape on a deck that would play one side of the tape and then the other continuously. So I basically had the song on continuous loop long before the digital world. One time I took acid with a friend, not a huge dose, but it definitely had our attention, and we had that tape on in the background for about 4 hours. Trippy to say the least. It was the soundtrack of my brain for a while there. Still love it to this day. So simple and so beautiful. So soulful. Whatever his demons may have been up to, I think they took the day off whenever he played this one.
There is no "category" musically for this bloke. He is... just John Martyn. Far out !!!
Tim Dorward.......I once heard John referred to as a "one man band" the quote continued.....a "one man Pink Floyd", very gifted man.
If I had to name one man who has given me the most enjoyment, from music, in my whole life, it would be john martyn. Just wish I could have brought him a beer before he left us. Thanks John.
Speaking now as a 71 yr-old myself, 60's much too young to go.
'Nobody's fault but mine', an anthem for the ages!
His guitar and voice are connected unlike any other performer. Bless the weather and bless John Martyn.
Great guy and good friend of my mother, who is also a great Real musician...
Had the pleasure and honour of meeting him at my house and listened to him jamming with my mum ! A legend RIP JOHN, X
I saw John a few times in what I think was called The Pavillion in Glasgow.It was right across the road from The Apollo,the main venue for rock bands in those days,but John always preferred the smaller halls,they were more personal.The Pavilion had a strong no smoking policy,and before John started the bouncers were frantically hauling out anyone who attempted to smoke a joint,but when John came on stage and started lighting up,the whole place erupted in a screen of dope smoke.And any bouncer who objected was told by John himself to leave these people alone.He always seemed to tour Glasgow during the mushroom season,and made references to the fact that he was out of his head on mushrooms.And after every gig,he would turn up(and I mean about five minutes after every gig) in Lauder's Bar,right next door to the Pavillion.He was totally cool to anyone in the pub who asked about how he was,in fact he was just a totally cool guy who fit in well in Glasgow.A great guy who,despite his bad side,has to be respected as a cool nutter.
DAVID CARSON MACTAGGART nice story, thanks for sharing.
Still miss John M so badly. Saw him many, many times and loved all of it. Rest in peace, pal.
Miss you John you are a true poet.
His explanation of what drew him to the echoplex.
I’ve only just discovered John Martyn in last few days. I’m 52. As a teenager ,I was always drawn to echoed or reverby guitar sounds. Durutti Column and early U2.
My favourite artist. Love from Nepal
I saw him supporting the the verve’s homecoming gig in 98, opened my eyes to a new genre, thanks John.
After his set that day he just said “I hope you dig your gig man”
Still love the John & Beverly Martyn album ..♥
Superb song writer singer and guitarist! R.I.P John"
RIP you beautiful soul. Your music has made you immortal.
I've only just found this and must thank you for sharing treasures such as these. I discovered John's beautiful music in '79, when I took a job fishing. A music nut, I found myself stuck up a river on a fishing boat (miles from anywhere for 6 weeks at a time) with no music! I'd seen the old Boombox so voiced my concerns and my friend produced 3 dusty old (but usable) cassette tapes that had been left behind, one of which was the magnificent Bless The Weather, my sanity was saved! All these years later and we can enjoy these gems at the touch of a button. Thanks again. RIP John.
I discovered him when I was in Australia in 1971. Like you, I look back on that moment as serendipitous. I miss him dearly.
Timothy Such......hi Timothy, yeah I'm an Aussie. I'll never forget the first time I heard JM, watching the sun set over hundreds of miles of ocean listening to the gorgeous Bless The Weather, the most peaceful feeling I've ever known.
He's my favorite artist all time....
Mine too.
I remember being young in the80' s & seeing John Martin play in Liverpool & I built up a spliff& threw it...he just sparked it up and played ...it was magical:)
Still miss you dad
When my small children, now in their 30s, got upset and a bit agro, the first few bars of solid air always calmed them right down.
Robin Harrison Funny you say that, I'm going through a while revisiting of my love for JM due to that very album helping soothe my new born at the minute. Start to finish and on repeat! What can I say? she has great taste in music already...
I took a chance on UA-cam suggested video not know anything about this guy. UA-cam never lets me down.
Beatific. A true artist. No one else like him...
Saw him live at one of his last concerts at Dublin's Vicar Street. He was in a wheelchair and I had no idea what he was saying between songs. Still a great gig mind.
November 2008. Was there myself. It was his last gig.
I had the great pleasure of seeing John on Yes' Toby's Graphic Go Kart tour in Roanoke VA in '74. I immediately rushed out and bought SOLID AIR and INSIDE OUT, which are still some of my favorite albums of the time. Just him and his acoustic guitar thru a Fender Twin along with the Echoplex(also fed the guitar straight thru the PA as well). Absolutely mesmerizing. Highlight was "I'd Rather Be the Devil" but everything he played was brilliant.
Thanks for uploading, brilliant to see this again.
Bless the Weather
Head and Heart
Solid Air
Over the Hill
Small Hours
Go Down Easy
Glorybox
Sunshine's better
....to name but few , some of the best songs of all time.
Thank you so much for posting this. John Martyn was not only a brilliant songwriter and charismatric live performer, but also way ahead of his time. Shame, he couldn't have helped his friend Nick Drake deal with some of his issues. r.i.p. john
RIP John sadly missed is your unique portrayal of the blues and that gravel voice . I will lay your songs forever ...may you never ...forget the solid air ! Brilliant DJEJ
34'12" " what's the biggest geezer in the place? I'm gonna hit him!".
True story.. a fried of mine who's a veteran lighting designer used to work and drink with John in the 70s and 80s. They once walked into a bar in the US and John said " you take the big fella,.. I'll take all the rest! My friend said he wished that just once during that period they they could go for a drink without it turning into the Wild West ...
Gratitude for this ...I have always loved his music,craziness, intelligence but I had forgotten, so long ago ;)
My first time hearing of him, the Nick Drake documentary brought me here.
wow ... you're so lucky April. ... If you've just discovered Nick Drake AND John Martyn, you've just passed into another greater universe that you should never leave.
Me too..the Nick Drake Documentary left me in tears 😢
The best documentary on this gifted and unique artist . .
Thank you, great post. Michael Eves, Glastonbury boss speaking at the Cambridge Union, said JM's set at Glasonbury in 78 was his all time favorite show. Quote "brought to tears".
I loved this guy a fantastic character outstanding musician, song writer and poet. Thank you John for just being you.
Glad I had the chance to see him live - wonderful and so passionate ::)
I saw John many times, never go a month without playing his music. Totally unique a one off. Miss you big man RIP
Thank you for posting. I watched this years ago and have been searching for it again for ages.
so lucky i got to see him play his last gig in glasgow something i will never forget
great film and starting point for anyone that does know John Martyn's music. such a fantastic artist!
A true musical genius
I never would have heard of him if someone hadn't remarked on America's cover of Head and Heart that he was the original artist. Good stuff!
The accent thing makes sense when you realise blues singers from anywhere but USA had to adopt an accent to make it the blues. Love this guy John Martyn
"Oh, the morphine was wonderful."
Thanks a million for the upload!!!
Such lovely stories in the comments
I also saw him many times. The best one was in a small church hall in Tottenham, London..
I saw him in Oxford when he did Grace and Danger. He died six months later.
One of my favourite songs is One World with David Gilmore live.
Happy memories.
I was in Oxford for that gig, he was in finer form than I expected to be honest.
So cool that the OP puts up stuff like this... (I saw John Martyn live several times...) Notice a poster below mentioned Nick Drake... (I get it...) I had FRIENDS who knew him when he lived in Ireland and apparently he was a GENTLEMAN... What can you say? He lived his life, he made his art and he left us music... RIP John Martyn. (Wish I'd met you, Man...) xx SF
God Bless JM. Rest in Peace brother.
Thank you BBC
Loved john.. mad as a hatter , kindred spirit...Saw him at Kendal brewery arts centre just before he died....john Richmond .yorks
very good .I use to see him in the Nelson in hastings. funny guy .
hope u are playing with elliott smith
it took me several radio shows based on john's music to be able to connect his old/new sounds --my freind robin called me one day and told me john had died--ihad another show planned,but the day before i had planned a john martyn show--idid it that day on kvmr-fm, nevada city, ca--ric o'shea
I still miss my old school buddy !
Just great.Thanks for the upload.
saw John at the apollo Oxford November couple of months before he died. Ment a lot to me that. Miss him
Not a single "Dislike" - that's more like it. Classy crowd in tonight, obviously ;-)
Maybe because there is nothing to dislike about this man! :)
Hi Steve!
God bless you Johnny boy.
A true soul man.🌃
I chose the vehicle and I chose the road-nobodies fault but mine -i'm in live or die
Proper good docu
I miss him so much ❤️
My former mate Chris kept asking for "Head and Heart" .. he'd had a few. Eventually John scowled at him. Thankfully things didn't escalate.
One of my favorite . Thanks
What a amazing man ! True scot's man
Great post, thanks. Re. John recording 'Glorious Fool' at the Townhouse starting at around 50:10 - would anyone know where that fab footage comes from? And is there any more anywhere online?
The Man ☮️
Anyone know what those crazy songs are or where I can find the whole grey whistle test performance? Can only find a few on youtube
Thank you.
It says above that this doc was originally broadcast in 1994, yet it mentions the collision with the cow as happening in 2002.
The BBC website still contains that quote, so I'd guess they've mistakenly quoted 1994 instead of 2004?
God, I love him.
Too bad there's no subtitles, english is not my native language and there's quite a lot that I can't understand.... would love to know the artist playing at 4'18'' (dark hair) ? Listened to that several times but I struggle really thx
Does anyone know the name of the musician he mentions after Joan Baez? I can't quite catch it
They don't make them like that anymore.
Will catch up with you later dude!!!
love the man
at 50.58 is that b a robertson
what footage is 30:11 from? I gotta hear that in full
"Uninvited cattle" .. .. ..
What´s the soundtrack in the very beginning ...?
+LSD25 It's Baby Come Home from the album On The Cobbles, which John's seen working on during the filming
Does anyone know more about John being shot?
From 31.02 whats the track and what show is it on? Looks like Whistle Test but cant find it anywhere!
It's Outside In, with Danny Thompson from the OGWT 16th October 1973
Rob's Music Cheers. It doesn't seem to be on youtube for some reason, all the other OGWT clips are though...
My hero.
Does anyone know whos covering Nobodys Fault but mine at 2/3 min!?
Davy Graham I think. I don't know the recording but from the sound of the rhythm section it could be from the Folk Blues and Beyond session.
anyone got any ideas about what the song is at 31 mins? new to martyn and these magical vibrations.
Outside In
is it on the bbc live album? extended version? hard to get a hold of.
The video is from the DVD available with the JM Universal box set. The studio version of the track is available on the album Inside Out, and an excellent live version is available on Live From Leeds.
cheers amigo. just there's something so haunting about that performance, and then blissfully free in the imporv, more so that the studio and leeds numbers.
ua-cam.com/video/EVGzzaZTNkI/v-deo.html
20:45 What's he saying there? I only understand "Don't look at me like that"
'Don't look at me like that, all you geezers up in Bolton I know you, 'eavy (heavy) mob'. For some reason, he had a thing about Bolton. The live version of 'You Can Discover' from the 'Over The Rainbow' album (Various Artists) mentions a 'lorry driver from Bolton'. No idea why...
I think he was playing a gig in manchester?
I cant make out the name he says at the 3:00 minute mark, could someone tell me please?
Davey Graham
Anyone know which performance 31:00 is from?
+Jonathan Old Grey Whistle Test 1973
+Rob's Music Thanks
+Rob's Music
My favorite performance of all time is from that season of OGWT: Terry Reid with Lee Miles and Soko Richardson performing "Without Expression".
+Jonathan What is the name of the song? I can find the clip of OGWT but not the track name!
+Alec Barr (alecbarr90) It's Outside In, with Danny Thompson from 16th October 1973