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Some People are Crazy: The John Martyn Story
John Martyn is one of rock music's last real mavericks. Despite long-term addiction to alcohol and drugs, he produced a string of matchless albums. Loved by fans and critics, loathed by ex-managers, he has survived the music business he despises for forty years. With contributions by Martyn, many of his lovers and over twenty musicians who know him well, this book documents his upbringing in Glasgow and rise through the Scottish and London folk scene of the 1960s, recalling his many subsequent highs and lows, and his friendships with the lost great souls of British rock music - Nick Drake and Paul Kossoff. This title includes rare, previously unseen photographs, gig list and discography.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 13, 2020
Is John Martyn The Most Physically Transformed Without Being Transgendered Musician of all time?
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And all you need is thirty years and enough booze and coke to float several battleships. I just bought the big John Martyn box set, yeah, of course, being from the generation who has had to buy everything three times. Apart from the music, the best thing was this quote from Beverley, his first wife. When the booze and diabetes and whatnot finally got to John they said he'd have to have his left leg amputated. He called up Beverley and said "Do you think anyone will want to have sex with me ever again?". She said "Well I won't but you could try Paul McCartney."
from this
to this
to this
And all you need is thirty years and enough booze and coke to float several battleships. I just bought the big John Martyn box set, yeah, of course, being from the generation who has had to buy everything three times. Apart from the music, the best thing was this quote from Beverley, his first wife. When the booze and diabetes and whatnot finally got to John they said he'd have to have his left leg amputated. He called up Beverley and said "Do you think anyone will want to have sex with me ever again?". She said "Well I won't but you could try Paul McCartney."
July 20, 2011
Actually, as music biogs go, John Neil Munro's John Martyn story is more readable than most. 'Some People Are Crazy', published in 2007, is as complete a coverage of J.M.'s life as makes not much difference.
Munro's love and affection for the artistic output of his subject shines through here, without any obsequious flattery. Martyn's musical career, from the Glasgow folk scene of the mid 60's, playing alongside the likes of Hamish Imlach, the Incredible String Band and Bert Jansch in Clive's Incredible Folk Club, all the way to the BBC Radio Two Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 is covered warts and all, and in John Martyn's story there are some big warts.
Here is a man who single handedly could out Spinal Tap most in the business and he did that for around forty years. It's all here. Bar room brawls, enough alcohol to float a battleship, more drugs than Boot's the Chemist, a few wives, groupies galore and yet, some of the most laid back acoustic work of his era. At least three albums of his, 'Solid Air', 'One World' and 'Grace and Danger' could be included in any music collection.
I finally got to see the man play live, all twenty four stone of him, in a wheelchair with one leg amputated, in November 2008. He played just five more shows before he finally left the building for the final time in January 2009. As John was quoted as saying "You can't mess with Father Time can you? He's going to catch you, whether you run fast or slow."
Munro's love and affection for the artistic output of his subject shines through here, without any obsequious flattery. Martyn's musical career, from the Glasgow folk scene of the mid 60's, playing alongside the likes of Hamish Imlach, the Incredible String Band and Bert Jansch in Clive's Incredible Folk Club, all the way to the BBC Radio Two Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 is covered warts and all, and in John Martyn's story there are some big warts.
Here is a man who single handedly could out Spinal Tap most in the business and he did that for around forty years. It's all here. Bar room brawls, enough alcohol to float a battleship, more drugs than Boot's the Chemist, a few wives, groupies galore and yet, some of the most laid back acoustic work of his era. At least three albums of his, 'Solid Air', 'One World' and 'Grace and Danger' could be included in any music collection.
I finally got to see the man play live, all twenty four stone of him, in a wheelchair with one leg amputated, in November 2008. He played just five more shows before he finally left the building for the final time in January 2009. As John was quoted as saying "You can't mess with Father Time can you? He's going to catch you, whether you run fast or slow."
October 21, 2017
One of my favorite singers whose songs have stood the test of time and stuck with me over the years. Great book and very informative. I laughed out loud at the very outset of the book when I read the 2 conflicting opinions of JM - a loveable rogue it seems when all said and done. Watching and listening to his work and seeking out new stuff after reading the book is going to be interesting ...
November 22, 2017
Master musician but pretty poor human being. Written before his death the author is too inclined to let Martyn's behaviour off lightly.
There was a reason so many key characters didn't want to be involved in the book.
Perhaps now is the time for a more penetrating look at the life of this contradictory character.
There was a reason so many key characters didn't want to be involved in the book.
Perhaps now is the time for a more penetrating look at the life of this contradictory character.
July 17, 2024
Good account of the life of a true original of music. The book doesn't shy away from his darker side
January 18, 2009
he's made some great albums, he's an arse, many people who have worked with him still think he's great but some of them think he's vile.
no real analysis in the book - lots of text from clippings and what looks like one-shot email interviews.
disappointing
no real analysis in the book - lots of text from clippings and what looks like one-shot email interviews.
disappointing
June 9, 2018
Quite interesting if you like reading countless people trying to convince you how wonderful he was while also recounting his various binges that made him inlikeable.
It was a struggle with the same negative scenatios playing out in each successive year of his life.
It was a struggle with the same negative scenatios playing out in each successive year of his life.
February 9, 2009
Well-written biog but has to be said the subject of the book comes across as a bit of a twat.
August 30, 2010
A bio of one of my favorite musicians, with some nice background on the recording, but who sadly comes across as being something of an unlikeable person.
April 3, 2018
Good book. Kinda sad though
Loved the book. Pretty even handed and forgiving off the great man's faults. We will never see his like again
Loved the book. Pretty even handed and forgiving off the great man's faults. We will never see his like again
May 8, 2019
Good read
Enjoyed the book and didn't gloss over anything. Undoubtedly a musical genius but certainly flawed. I will be checking out his back catalogue.
Enjoyed the book and didn't gloss over anything. Undoubtedly a musical genius but certainly flawed. I will be checking out his back catalogue.
October 8, 2024
OK reaf
August 6, 2011
I had the somewhat dubious honour of seeing Martyn drunk, performing an incoherent blues dirge in Kilkenny a few years ago only for him to end the song by stumbling on top of Sneaky Pete's pedal steel and nearly demolishing it and was very please to read the account of that gig here.
Martyn is a miracle. The fact he is still alive is just astounding and this book gives us some idea of the trail of destruction left behind in his hell-blaziing wake. At times funny, disturbing (Martyn once downed a bottle of rum in one gulp before a gig) and sad, i read it with relish in one sitting and delved back in to his back catalogue after. Perfect for a rainy day and several bottles of whiskey.
Martyn is a miracle. The fact he is still alive is just astounding and this book gives us some idea of the trail of destruction left behind in his hell-blaziing wake. At times funny, disturbing (Martyn once downed a bottle of rum in one gulp before a gig) and sad, i read it with relish in one sitting and delved back in to his back catalogue after. Perfect for a rainy day and several bottles of whiskey.
September 21, 2012
Written before John Martyn's death this isn't a posthumous cash-in. What it is is a well-written, balanced biog of a very talented individual who by his own admission didn't make it easy for people to like him. The reason being the all too common scenario of a beligerence and boorishness brought on by and exasperated by a dependency on copious amounts of alcohol and drugs which polarised the opinions of those who knew him.
If you didn't know the man though what is important is the joy he brought through his music and this is well researched with interesting details about his albums and how and under what circumstances they were made and how his music evolved and went in different directions.
It has got me listening to his music again so that can't be a bad thing.
If you didn't know the man though what is important is the joy he brought through his music and this is well researched with interesting details about his albums and how and under what circumstances they were made and how his music evolved and went in different directions.
It has got me listening to his music again so that can't be a bad thing.
May 15, 2012
John Martyn was one of the biggest shits around, by some accounts. And by others not. A contradictory fellow, who lived life large and made the most unsettlingly sublime, beautiful music of the 70s. One can only wonder what he would have produced if, like Waits, he'd met his Kathleen and cleaned up his act. I was lucky enough to see him give a blistering performance in Edinburg in 93. Lucky because I have yet to meet anyone here in South Africa who got to see him play, despite the fact that he was massively influential to several generations of guitarists in my home town.
I enjoyed this book despite the flaws pointed out by other reviewers.
I enjoyed this book despite the flaws pointed out by other reviewers.
April 12, 2008
It's poorly written especially after reading Joe Boyd. I did read up to Solid Air and have decided that great song (and songs from the album) though that is I'm not all that interested in John Martyn. One piece of trivia I learned is that we share the same birthday — the now notorious date of 911.
October 9, 2009
John Martyn often adopted the swaggering persona of a Glasgow street brawler in wierd apologist counterpoint to his writing like a lyrical poet and playing and singing like an angel. This book documents his life and explores his contradictions impressively. A must for all fans, as the cliche goes.
November 18, 2011
Not brilliantly written but some fascinating moments, facts and insights into one of Music's all-time greats
July 14, 2012
A solid biography which takes a balanced view but falls foul of the main trap for most music biogs- becoming somewhat list-y and slipping into cliche.
October 5, 2016
A great musician and a greatly flawed human being. One of those rare people where it is better to just listen to his music than learn about the demons that drove him.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews