Author:Graeme Thomson
I don’t read tend to read too many rock biographies but this one is exceptional and darkly compelling. Mainly drawn from new and insightful interviews with the likes of Beverley Martyn and Danny Thompson (of course) plus a cross-section of his contemporaries and those fortunate or unfortunate enough to come across Martyn at various stages of his career and life.
I first discovered his music in the early 70’s – probably around the same time that I found Nick Drake and had started to develop my own guitar playing and song writing. The two of them instantly appealed and in particular Martyn’s deceptively easy slappy fingerpick style was an early influence (Nick’s more precise playing was beyond my comprehension). As with all your early heroes you then tend to follow them religiously wherever they may go and in my case up to and including this book.
The story is told chronologically and charts a sad and inevitable arc of decline physically and mentally almost from the off and artistically from the end of the 70s. The stories of his abuse of both himself and others are occasionally very funny (those mainly involving his partner in crime Danny Thompson) but the ongoingness of it all eventually wears everyone down; managers come and go unable to cope with the madness, fellow musicians whilst loving the music are never sure what he’s going to do next. It almost feels like one long suicide note – the excesses of drugs, violence and alcohol make the majority of those more infamous bad boys of rock look like pussycats. But there are moments of great tenderness, as there has to be to produce such heartfelt and gorgeous music, and over the final couple of decades he reconciles with his estranged daughter Vari.
Thomson doesn’t pull any punches – this is a warts and all story which whilst recognizing the musical genius also paints an unforgiving picture of a tormented and at times obnoxious human being.
It doesn’t change my opinion of John Martyn’s artistic career though – I always think it important to separate the music from the musician (why would anyone listen to say Van Morrison if they couldn’t?). That run of albums from the late 60’s up to Grace and Danger in 1980 is sublime and there were a few good ‘uns after that as well and nearly always at one or two great songs on every album. I was also lucky enough to sees him live a few times and certainly on one of those occasions he was heavily under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and barely able to stand or speak but incredibly as soon as he started to play it somehow all came together.
As I said at the start it’s not a comforting read but well researched and written and above all honest and unflinching.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
biographies about artistically talented but troubled human beings
One thing you’ve learned
In the main that his life was way more tragic than I had thought and the famous stories that have done the rounds over the years are rarely funny when placed in the context of that life. Also one small point – that Paul Wheeler was a friend of both Martyn and Drake (that most unlikely of combinations).
here is a lovely version of the book’s title
That’s wonderful. How revealing it is, that he could conjure up blissful, mellifluous soundscapes of great ethereal tenderness and beauty, painting places he could only imagine but never visit for himself, and then within seconds of finishing the piece, betray an innocent child-like vulnerability with please-like-me, throw-away joshing from the stage. He could only feel comfortable sharing himself through his music.
Wonderful book…..
Read a bio of him last year – not sure if it was this one or an earlier one.
Wonderful musician. Horrible, horrible human being
Some People are Crazy, possibly.
Excellent review, FF.
I remember reading this extract in the Guardian when the book was published
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/15/nick-drake-john-martyn-complex-friendship-small-hours-extract
Interesting that Solid Air that was written for Nick was released a year before his death:
“Maybe Solid Air was meant as a kick up the bum”, was Danny Thompson’s reaction.
The book goes into a lot of detail around the relationship between the two. I always thought it was a case of John being protective towards the rather more vulnerable Nick but it comes across as a far more dynamic and proper friendship with fallings out and Nick more than holding his own and apparently once angrily accusing Martyn of selling out with his pedals and fuzz boxes. Apparently it was Paul Wheeler who told John that Nick had died and typically his reaction was obtuse – he laughed, went to see to Beverley and said ‘He did it’ and then disappeared for 2 days.
The song Solid Air is probably the finest musical eulogy Ive ever heard because of its mixture of honesty, emotion and the music itself just conveys Nick Drake. Probably JM’s high water mark (IMHO)
Think I will buy this one. I have a ticket stub for a Bert Jansch / John Martyn double bill. Only Martyn performed. They got into a drunken fight on the plane down to Oz and Jansch had his fi get broken.
On that concert, before the gig a friend saw this dishevelled drunk fall out of a taxi – it was John Martyn. Needless to say the concert was excellent.
My younger brother was lucky enough to bag a front row seat at one of John’s gigs, and was then astonished and delighted when John handed him the joint he’d been smoking as he came on stage, so that he could attend to his guitar pedals.
My Christmas gift from my Dad, which arrived two days ago.
It’s a great read.
Definitely a book of two halves. I enjoyed the period that produced his greatest music, as you say, up to Grace and Danger in 1980. I endured the slow and painful descent from then on, with much collateral damage along the way.
Worth reading though, for the detail of the folk scene of the 60s in London and Glasgow. The insight from Blackwell and others on the recording of the classic albums is also really interesting. I knew a little about the unique ambience of the Small Hours session, but the book puts you right there on the lakeside.
Of Martyn’s relationship with Drake, I got the distinct impression they had a falling out, perhaps because Nick knew how badly John was treating Bev and expressed his disapproval. For his part, John would possibly have said some things to Nick he would come to regret. Hence his reaction on hearing of Nick’s death.
Didn’t Nick have a crush on Bev and exhorted her to leave John?
It’s possible, though Bev has never said anything more than that they were close and that Nick was well aware of the less than blissful domestic situation chez Martyn. That may be a subject tackled in yet another Nick Drake biography, being prepared by the writer Richard Morton Jack, in cooperation with the estate of ND.
Just like to mention a bit of a forgotten album ‘And’ which came out in the mid 90s. It’s in the top 5 JM albums for me and shows him starting to lean in a slightly trip hop style whilst still being absolutely John Martyn. Not on Spotty for some reason. This is probably the best known track but it’s strong throughout.
It is a great album…
I bought this album!
I thought this book was already out of print. Been checking prices got pretty silly, into the mid £20’s range. But in seeing this thread i check and see price is back at £15. maybe a paperback version is upcoming. I want to give this a read. I read Some people are crazy, an okay read but didnt really go into enough depth. Time for me to grab this one.
He’s a fab player and has a sweet spot with the vocals around Solid Air but the slurred thing annoys me. Enunciate!
I love the slurred thing…..To me it’s the point where the music, vocal and songwriting merged and produced his best work culminating in the totally fabuloso “One World”
His singing slur was full on elocution lessons compared to his spoken word.
But, yes, I agree, using his voice as a sound and am instrument rather than to convey information.
I like his covers album too
The book I read was indeed Some People are Crazy. Did the job in terms of getting me to dig out the records again. Was also shccked to learn he apparently earned more off Eric Clapton’s cover of May You Never than he did from all of his other albums put together.
I was also inspired to check out the Johnny too Bad doc that BBC ran a few years back (still up on Youtubs last time I looked for anyone who’s interested).. Ultimately sad to see how such a singular artist literally pissed his talent and eventually life up a wall.
I’ve tried so hard throughout the years with this guy. Same with your other hero, Van Morrison. No matter how many times I’ve tried I’ve always come back to the same conclusion. Just doesn’t make the cut for me.
great review – I will get this book as I love his music and his character is interesting enough to write a decent biography about.
Often referred to as a monster I doubt he could be any worse than Mark Lanegan whose autobiography I am currently reading.
Fantastic read. Made me revisit the albums, including some from the ‘Phil Collins’ years. He was hard work, but a mix of mental disorders plus addictions plus personal myth belief can do that to a person. The harm done to people around him shows just what the impact of this lifestyle on reality can do: Beverly and the children never quite recovered. The music was fabulous whrn it was, and even when albums were weaker (mid to late 80s) there was normally a track or two worth listening to. I Don’t know the 90s albums. One factual error. There was no 1980 glastonbury festival. He played the 1979 Glastonbury main stage though. Fabulous.