Talking with John Martyn

SS:- What sort of things have influenced you?
JM:- Alcohol, drugs, everyday life and all the music I've ever heard. I don't have any major influences at the moment. I can tell you the records I listen to more than any others, Alice Coltrane¹ mostly. If I want to dance and get drunk I listen to Tamla [Motown records] and I listen to Stevie Wonder if I want to bop about and get nicely stoned; I feel most comfortable, most harmonious, must musical with Alice Coltrane, that's really the one that's on all the time. My desert island disc. And also Leon Thomas' record, the one with Wayne Shorter.... oh, and Weather Report are the best band in the world. Just exceptional.

JOHN MARTYN has made six albums, two with his wife Beverly, and after seven years he's just coming out into the sun. Critics in both Britain and America have been talking about him for a long time, and groups and singers record his songs - numbers like Would You Believe Me?, Bless The Weather, John The Baptist, Stormbringer, and his signature-tune Head And Heart.

John Martyn will talk about anything without the slightest provocation, except his music. He's suspicious of words.

MUSICIANS are generally expected to progress, and 'progress' often means change.
The resulting preconceptions as to what a musician should be doing and where that should be leading to is sometimes the very thing that blocks his path. John Martyn, for instance, has for some months been holding the reins of acoustic and electric music. Since the two styles sound so diverse it's a wonder that he has not concentrated entirely on the latter, the newer aspect of his playing.