British singer-songwriter John Martyn, whose soulful songs were covered by the likes of Eric Clapton, died Thursday 29th Jan. He was 60.
Martyn's official Web site said the musician, who lived in Ireland, died Thursday morning. It did not give a cause of death.
A skilled guitarist and earthy vocalist influenced by folk, blues and jazz, Martyn performed with � and was admired by � musicians including Clapton, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Phil Collins.
Collins said Thursday that Martyn had been "a great friend."
"He was uncompromising, which made him infuriating to some people, but he was unique and we'll never see the likes of him again," Collins said.
Martyn was born Iain David McGeachy near London in 1948, but grew up in Glasgow, Scotland.
He took up the guitar in his teens, moved to London and released a series of enduring albums, including "The Road to Ruin" and "Solid Air," regarded by some critics as one of the best British albums of the 1970s.
Martyn never became a household name, but his songs were praised by critics and highly regarded by other musicians. One of the best known, "May You Never," was recorded by Clapton and a host of other artists.
Martyn had a reputation as a hell-raiser, and acknowledged that alcohol and drugs had sometimes led him into trouble.
"I've been mugged in New York and luckily I fought my way out of it," he told the Daily Mirror newspaper last year. "I've been shot a couple of times as well, but I just lay down and pretended to be dead.
"I guess I'm hard to kill."
Martyn had suffered health problems in recent years, and in 2003 had a leg amputated below the knee because of a burst cyst. He continued to perform, appearing at last year's Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.
Last month, Martyn was named an OBE � Officer of the Order of the British Empire � by Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to music.
There was no immediate word on survivors or funeral plans.
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John Martyn thread
Master of Sex
Sad Sad Sad.... Had the pleasure of seeing the man play in Birmingham Town Hall many years ago.... one man one guitar one amazing noise....
I'm going away to leave you, I'm going to leave you in disgrace
Nothing in my favour, got the wind in my face
I'm going home, hey hey hey, over the hill
Over the hill, hey hey hey, over the hill
Can't get enough of sweet cocaine, get enough of mary-jane
Going back to where I come from, going rolling back home again
Over the hill, hey hey hey, over the hill
Over the hill, hey hey hey, over the hill
Been worried about my babies, been worried about my wife
Just one place for a man to be when he's worried about his life
I'm going home, hey hey hey, over the hill
Over the hill, hey hey hey, over the hill
I'm going away to leave you, I'm going to leave you in disgrace
Got nothing in my favour, rain in my face
I'm going home, hey hey hey, over the hill
Over the hill, hey hey hey, over the hill
Bye Mr Martyn an thanks
Jax
Master of Sex
I saw John Martyn almost 20 years ago, at the appropriatley named Irish Centre in Birmingham,,,He came on stage with his guitar, a half pint of neat dark rum, and a huuuuuuuuge spliff. After every song (or before the next one, depending on how u look at it lol) he took a drink from the glass, a toke from the smoke, then launched into the next song.
A phenomenal player, racconteur, wit, and real party monster. another one bites the dust.
andy
Can i just add that i never heard of John Martyn before this morning, Ian Dempsey and Ray D'arcy both played two of his songs on their shows and was taken back by how good he was, so when i finished work i went straight on the internet and listened to many of his songs, tomorrow i will hit the shops and try and find his albums, hopefully they wont be hard to come by.
I will not know how much of a talent John Martyn was until i listen to his songs for a while but if the tributes he was getting today are anything to go by i will not be dissapointed,
I suppose my only regret will be not hearing about John Martyn earlier in my life.
