At his home and peacefully. Magnificent guitarist. Lucky enough to have seen him a couple of times.
https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/11/michael-chapman-british-folk-musician-dies-aged-80
Sad news about Michael Chapman
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See also: the Obit. thread…
Oh that’s sad. I had a run on listening to MC before the summer which led me to spring for a new guitar to develop that ragtime picking thing he did so well.
Gosh, I’ll miss his cantankerous approach to, well, pretty much everything. What a guy. What a talent. We caught his tour with Bridget St. John a year or two back; phenomena doesn’t come close.
I’m going to see the Ronno tribute Turn and Face the Strange (again) next weekend: MC figures in that story – I hope he gets a mention.
While I have been aware of Michael Chapman since my schooldays, (Peel used to play him fairly regularly) I had never really listened to him until a few years back when I went to see Ben Watt when he was promoting the Hendra album.
Chapman was the support and he was simply astounding. Ben Watt said that when MC came off stage Bernard Butler (who was accompanying Ben) just looked up at him and said “Thanks”.
As I result I started catching up with his work and managed to see him live again.
This is very sad news. I had hoped to see him at least once more. And I’ll give myself a kicking for all the years I missed.
He was a genuine talent who never got anywhere near the recognition and success he deserved.
Booked him for the Douglas Hotel Friday Folk Night back in 1879. My, he was an awkward sod! Took what seemed an hour to tune up and then wham and bamb and blow us all away.
I kept a signed copy of the first album which said “Great night, all the best” for many a year. Lost in the Great Move South.
I hope his guitar finds a safe pair of hands. Beautiful tone. A local lass, Sarah Smout, accompanied him on cello on some of his later gigs.
Indeed, she played with him on the 50 tour, as did BJCole. Exquisite show. I had a brief fanboy chat with BJ at Maverick festival just last week, and mentioned that show. BJ said how wonderful it was to work with him, little knowing he wouldn’t ever again.
Never seen Michael Chapman live but have lots of his albums from across his career.
Great musician and sorry he has left us.
The last time I saw him was with Bridget St John, BJ Cole and Sarah Smout, which was utterly sublime. We had tickets to see him in 2020, but it got pulled due to Covid.
His (older) voice was rough as sandpaper but his guitar did most of the talking. He made some great records in his latter years. The last couple, produced by Steve Gunn, are worth checking out. The instrumental album ‘Fish’ from 2015 is a favourite of mine, too.
A real talent and a great loss.