When an old cricketer leaves the crease….

Posted on January 29, 2009 by bobpiper

john%20martyn1.jpg

John Martyn has died, aged 60. I was going to write something as a tribute, but Steve at Occupied Country wrote a great piece about Martyn after he had seen him (barely) live a couple of months ago, so I’ll leave it at that. (The title is also knicked from Steve, although it’s really Hat’s off to Harper)

I don’t think I’ll get the chance to see him alive again, although he has given up smoking dope and drinks in ‘relative moderation’. On the other hand his description of a typical day back home in his Irish cottage doesn’t sound too healthy. Up to devour a healthy Irish breakfast and then an afternoon in the pub before wheeling home for a slap up dinner replete with the finest wines known to mankind.

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7 Responses to When an old cricketer leaves the crease….

  1. tony says:
    January 30, 2009 at 7:33 am

    Rest In Peace. A Great Big Britain.

    Reply
  2. Robert says:
    January 30, 2009 at 8:05 am

    So young, you might well enjoy your self when your young and have great memories but to die at 60 is so very young these days.

    Reply
    • Tim says:
      June 12, 2012 at 8:00 am

      60 is considered young,but for sure he won’t suffer the indignities of copping for some altzhiemer type thing,gawd bless ‘im,iv’e dug his music for 35 years…………

      Reply
  3. Andy Howell says:
    January 30, 2009 at 9:23 am

    I saw JM a couple of years ago – not a particulalry happy experience! I guess it is a miracle that he lived to 60.
    Still he leaves behind some wonderful music.

    Reply
  4. Brian says:
    January 30, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    My first experience of John Martyn was listening to Solid Air,in a remote bothy in the highlands,the coal fire was blazing away,the flicker of candlelight,(and a couple of large glasses of Highland Park)set the scene for listening to a truly great album,I was blown away by the effortless switching between genres,folk,pop,rock,blues,funk,I think that album was a ‘chill’album 30 years before that term had been invented.If there is only one John Martyn album you could have ,then that would be the one for me.’May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold,may you never make your bed out in the cold.Love is a lesson to learn in our time
    May you never lose your temper if you get into a bar room fight,may you never lose your woman overnight’RIP John.

    Reply
  5. bill jones says:
    January 30, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    Bob
    I saw a documentary about him not so long ago and a local gig he did in his pub; he looked pretty ropey until he started playing. Such a loss at 60- only just getting into his middle age but showbiz is not a very healthy life. Suppose we should thank God there are those who take it on as we are the real beneficiaries.

    Reply
  6. Sion Jones says:
    March 4, 2009 at 8:39 am

    found your site looking for images of john.
    Thought you might like this : http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hqljt/Mike_Harding_25_02_2009/

    Reply