John Martyn - I'd Rather Be The Devil (1973) live at the bbc (excellent quality audio and video)

[@mikesharpsongs]

1973?! Meanwhile, here I sit at 47yrs old trying to write and play music I thought only existed in my head! I am freaking out now!!! Thank God for John Martyn

[@totonto]

Brilliant

[@robinbrown4706]

Rightly considered by those in the know as one mother of a guitar player and a guy who is at home with the darkest of sides, beautifully done and with just the scent of something wicked close at hand; total quality.

[@trw5653]

is at home with the darkest of sides... too old to explore the unnecessary nitty gritty... just appreciating music and artist hitting that channel

[@Bh-jn8xl]

My Dad introduced me to John as a wee girl, he's passed now and im sat here just enjoying this moment. Thanks for posting ❤

[@johnpbh]

As I did to my wee girl... I hope John's music brings back many happy memoreis of your dad.

[@higgs923]

Old Guy. A girlfriend introduced me to John Martyn back in 1972. Never stopped listening to him.

[@jimhood1202]

How does he do it? Rock solid rhythm that never misses a beat AND singing so far off that same beat at the same time. So expressive, the man surely was a genius.

[@michaelparry7160]

Genius is a word used with impunity sometimes, But this boy definitely deserved deserves the title. He was a right clever bastard.

[@stevemoncure3390]

You are absolutely right. He was my friend, and I miss him terribly. His fingers moving in a blur, snaking out and delivering blistering rhythm and dead on timing. He and Nick Drake were good friends. I know, I was there in London in '69 when John and Bev released Stormbringe rand Five Leaves Left. Played liar's dice with both. Nick was the quietest man I ever met. Shy, and utterly brilliant.

[@danfernandes5607]

Yeah a right polymath like Leo da Vinci or Michelangelo. What a stupid comment.

[@ingenius-vr7113]

@@danfernandes5607 Its a sad truth of life that some people are born to be twats so they have no choice. You qualify. I also knew John and if anyone qualifies, he does. Ask Phil Collins, Dave Gilmour, or even Eric Clapton who once said that John Martyn 'was so far ahead of everything that it's almost inconceivable'. Insignificance becomes you.

[@frankcarmack1442]

I saw John in '74 open for Yes. He and his guitar thru a Fender Twin Reverb, an echoplex and that was it. I rushed out the next day and bought SOLID AIR and INSIDE OUT. Never looked back. Ferocious is a word which comes to mind in his regard.

[@fantasticmaitrefox8326]

@@danfernandes5607 you are stupid here, genius isn't about being polymath

[@johndamienreilly]

Had a fight with John Martyn at Dublin airport in 1992 (he lost his temper) Told me he was a Freemason. I called it the mafia of the mediocre. Didn't stop me appreciating his incredible artistry. Had a big influence on my songwriting and performance. Have a listen.

[@ResidentMich]

One man, one guitar, one beautiful sound.

[@joannebeauchamp1169]

I have been a fan of John Martyn’s music since 1973! 50 years! Just one listen, and you’re hooked for a lifetime! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@chrisoleson9570]

Never heard of this singer before today, reminds me a lot of Tim Buckley

[@andrewtreynolds]

he gets under your skin and stays there

[@tomasotorinesi7156]

Dub Blues. Amazing. John Martyn was an incredible artist.

[@TIMDRY]

Sublime! Innovative! Years ahead!

[@danfernandes5607]

If you go to Dublin, be sure to pop into Whelan’s on a Sunday night. There’s a blues band called ‘Dublin Blues Cartel’ and seeing them and Mick Pyro perform this is something out of this world. Peace.

[@doyoumind9356]

I saw this on the tele in 73 and knew I was onto something. Seeing it in 2019 and even more amazed at what those fingers are doing.

[@johnedgcumbe843]

Pure Genius - intellectually and technically.

[@berniarmstrong]

So much more powerful than the version that appeared on "Solid Air". This was the track on OGWT that made me rush out and buy everything he'd done to date in 1973. Genius!

[@MissLizzy882]

I always find his life stuff is mesmerising compared to his recorded songs (not that they're bad). This guy was made for the real deal live experience.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

OGWT, along with John Peel, was quite probably the springboard for so many groups during the 70s. Saw him here one of the first times

[@keithdixon6595]

Me too!

[@roddykennedy9476]

One of my “go to” music moments on KZbin. Transcendent. Not of this world. Not fair.

[@robinshumaker7412]

Sometimes I think this fella must have been from another dimension. Absolutely brilliant..

[@slim1278]

Wow never heard of john martyn. I'm almost jealous that you've got all his music to hear for the first time. Enjoy

[@eugenejward8111]

Saw JM open for Traffic and he had 20,000 in the stands, most who had never heard of him mesmerized then screaming for several encores with Traffic waiting to take the stage. JM's 1st U. S. tour. On my top ten concerts lists

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

Nice one, he was a truly gifted musician. Worst nightmare must be to play after him lol

[@violadrone4285]

My father saw JM on that same tour... way up in the top of the theatre. He could barely see John Martyn from where his seat was, but he could hear him and that's what mattered. He's always relayed to me that he had never heard anything like it before, not even close. He ran out and bought Solid Air shortly afterwards. Nearly forty years later (2011 or so), I was introduced to John Martyn by a compilation played in my dad's car stereo and I was similarly enthralled. In that moment, I knew I would have to hear as much of John Martyn's music as possible. Sadly, by the time I got into JM, he had died. I'll never forget that spark of hearing his 70s material for the first time.

[@peterfreeman6677]

Wow. That was ... amazing. Just amazing.

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

He was a very special kind of special

[@GeorgeDawson-rb2wl]

I think John was born with two brains to be able to play and sing together like that. Brilliant!

[@nickhker3756]

If there is a heaven, John will no doubt be up there messing with the delay and echo and coming up with new mind blowing stuff. Truly a fine artist.

[@leighcecil3322]

Seen him live in Brisbane Australia 👍... original & talented...! RIP brother 🍻 he could make shit box guitar sound incredible 🍺

[@stevious7278]

Was lucky enough to see him live in Sydney in the late 70's. Just him, his guitar and effects. Superlative!!

[@paulramon3353]

me too, half empty hall at lunchtime Sydney U

[@okidokeee]

this man is a burning bush!!! So glad I got lo listen to him!!!

[@bianceblr]

I'd ask the question why has this only gotten 52,000 views... but why bother... John Martyn, absolute ABSOLUTE musical maverick... would've given my two front to see him perform live in his prime.

[@johnhopkins9917]

It was extraordinary. I saw him perform the full solid air set in about 1974, with most of the artists on the album including Thompson and Pegg. I had imagined there were lots of mutitracking dodges on the album. I was astounded when they rendered the full sound of the album.

[@judeirwin2222]

your two front WHAT? Boobs? Legs? Testicles?

[@rodneymarshall3688]

Sublime. A (tortured) genius.

[@dannygillan5689]

Unbelievable playing by JM on this!

[@ferenchegedus3256]

Saw him in Stockholm it was ……..🙏❤️

[@jesseperrett3692]

Saw him in Seattle twice.Shook his hand after the show & got a signed CD.

[@RareNoiseRecords]

Breathtaking

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

Nobody will ever know John's secrets - that skill and that sound belongs to one man! Trust, I spend a lot of time trying to learn it :D

[@GuildF40]

Thank the stars this was recorded . Epic J.M style here

[@suzanneengland8978]

Dam. He was good.

[@carlosalbertodemendonca5805]

This post-rock, mathrock! Amazing tunes and vibes.

[@ricklanders5645]

Saw him play this in '73 at Warwick University....and twice after, another time in D.C. Amazing artist.....

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Liverpool Uni 1976 and he blew the hall away (considering the whiff ..., quite literally)

[@pyaarzindegi1346]

The most unique song I have ever heard!!!!

[@judeirwin2222]

Pyaar, no. There are no comparatives with "unique". It means "one of a kind". You can't have a more or less unique thing. It is or it isn't ;end of story.

[@donnarawlinsfrench220]

Had the privilege of hearing a bonkers version of this at the Cropredy Festival in 1987 - recorded it all on my mighty Walkman. Every moment, including John's grumpy moments with the sound crew and the lovely drunken moments on a puny, yet heroic C90 tape.Would swap any present moment to be there right now! I have the best version, bar none, of this wonderful JM track. Happy days!

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

I was there as well. I got free tickets from the bloke in charge of the lighting and was in the lighting tower for fairports set. Just as June Tabor came on he said he needs a pee and asked me to do the spotlight. He saw the look of panic in my eyes and said, don't worry, she never moves! haha .... thank gods she never moved from her spot in front of the mic stand hahahaha

[@tvo2563]

@@TommyRobertsMusicChannel 87. I know I was there. remember JM [I think, it's a bit hazy ] June Tabor? I think I was fully out of it by then.

[@g4joe]

OGWT The best. These clips will be picked up in space by those Aliens from "Galaxy quest" as historical records. Thank you Whispering Bob.

[@matthewmaus]

Hendrix and then John Martyn. There's no-one else, xxx

[@eugenewardjr.3506]

Matthew Braim I agree on your picks as the two best ever. Personally I can't say one was the better of the two. Totally different styles and approaches to music & creativity.

[@roballen5718]

david gilmour

[@suzannezoubeck5216]

Thanks for posting!!! Great version of this tune. God, I loved and still love this guy (but what a bloody handful off the stage). Gone too soon. ❤☮🌎

[@krisscanlon4051]

John your music and ghost keeps me moving on in these mid aged yrs esp when i am trying to get thru the journey to the other side... you are there motivating me. Peace brother.

[@tonydevine8193]

Stumbled on this because a friend posted it on Facebook. Never heard of him before. Fantastic guitar work!

[@griiseknoen]

1973? Wow! This made me reconsider a lot of what I thought I knew about musical history. I always thought Brian May was the first to do the _"playing with the delayed guitar signal as a second instrument - thing"_ on Queen's "Brighton Rock" in 1974. This is more than a year before that. (It also reminds me of what Gilmour did on "Run Like Hell" in -79, and what The Edge did on "Pride" in -84 and on just about every other U2 song after that...) Does anybody here know an even earlier example, maybe? If so, let me know in the comments. I'd love to learn more about this.

[@IFeelSoTongueTied]

he worked with Gilmour, highly suggest you check it out

[@alanburns538]

Manuel Göttsching is my favourite echo-delay guitarist, closely followed by Richard Pinhas - reckon John doing this was at least around the same time, perhaps slightly before!

[@danu6718]

Great comment.

[@danu6718]

@@alanburns538 I will check these two musicians out now. Thank you.

[@mapatterson22]

@@alanburns538 I think he invented the technique!

[@DDCCO61]

I had a chat with a drunk John in a chipper in Kilkenny.

[@micksands961]

Great. This track and dealer are my fave JM.

[@ingridwollheim7606]

Yep!!

[@michaelolson5554]

god damn this makes me go to my special place...

[@michaelhusselbee2087]

Never heard this version of Skip James's classic before. Nice.

[@siamesee88]

Echoplex is wonderful

[@swordghoti]

Superb song.

[@richardwhitney7133]

I remember (amazingly!) watching this on the Old Grey Whistle Test 50 years ago! Of course I immediately set about getting my hands on an Echoplex & Barcus Berry P/Ups.....the timing is everything.....still a work in progress for me!!!!!

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

Awesome, he was such an unrecognised genius

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Classic from the depths of the OGWT ..... better than anuthing we can produce even today. Just imagine how big he ciould've been ..., and, in contrast, just be grateful that the big players in the music industry didn't get their claws into him

[@raphaelrousso7124]

A Genius revisited by a Genius

[@Lupocide]

Hell yeah.

[@AngieOwlglass]

yes

[@MrPhilforbes]

We know where the edge stole the sound from after listening to this !! Although many won't except this fact but can't be denighed when u listen lolol . Love JM seen him live few times in vicar st Dublin was some operator !

[@rolomuir8441]

let the lesson be learned if you are that good no need to open your eyes !

[@iansomerville4163]

What a talent .

[@tantiannifa]

Excellent Audio? Maybe. Excellent Video quality: nope. Anyway, thanks for sharing a masterpiece.

[@zeproductionsbluemoonmedia]

Unique ...

[@tigerscott2966]

He said he wanted to be the devil....is anyone listening out there?

[@DJPeteypie]

Heard this version back in the 90s when UK Gold was replaying OGWT in the early hours. Absolutely blew my mind. Much prefer it to any other version recorded or released of this song, the guitar playing just wins hands down

[@johnfloridis62]

I knew John was a bad ass, but I confess I never knew he did stuff like this. As a performing guitarist myself, I’ve been working with sending an acoustic guitar signal through either an amp or amp modeler for quite some time. I knew that Ben Harper and John Butler did something similar and John Butler always credits Jeff Lang as well. But I certainly didn’t know this went back to 1973!

[@batmanm16]

Some things haven't been doon for a reason but theres no reason for anyone else before him who walked the face of the planet to not to do this like I mean wow that performance was incredible and john's guitar wow and his vocals were great too

[@stevemoncure3390]

I was John's friend and roadie when he and Beverly and Wellsly were in Woodstock, New York doing Stormbringer. I was a guest of Island records for two weeks in London with John in December of '69. I played liar's dice with Nick Drake.Went to a gig with John in Manchester. Tough crowd. One guy, one guitar. Blew the roof off the place. I miss them both. Never again.

[@revup67]

interesting commentary - thanks for sharing the story.

[@piptaylor99]

Steve did you introduce JM to the Echoplex and other Maestro effects when he was in teh US?

[@arvindjaggi2706]

Dude’s an animal!

[@pfdsmyth]

++good

[@caseyjones0113]

❤️❤️❤️

[@josephgrady2129]

Fucking genius

[@hepcfree]

Devil LIVED

[@daniellarge9784]

Great song. Ed Keupper does the best version IMHO on his Today Wonder album.

[@1ginner1]

Makes you wonder hat he could have done with a modern loop pedal. Genius right there.

[@wizardsf]

Tripping balls effects

[@fairtradefranck]

No one plays like JM , no one could or should attempt to. I don't want a copy of this , don't want to see a copy of the Mona Lisa or a new version of an old movie. Original and Timeless that's what he gave and it could be drink and and and .....

[@sherkinbrain]

Anger - which is a form of depleted Love - expressed through his guitar, I sense.

[@ksjoyjespeace]

Wowee !! Dave Matthews owes John his career !!!Well, steal from the BEST indeed !!

[@georgehall479]

Tearsx

[@jamesmurray9523]

BIG TAM AT HIS BEST !!!!!

[@totonto]

Back in the 70's my pal Nash the Slash and I were looping, following Fripp and Eno. We went to see John at a small club in Toronto. Larry's Hideaway. He came home with us Amazing night. I crawled around with 40 foot loops. Don't know Nash? Google him

[@bobidos123]

Tripping at 4 mins.

[@MrTendrils]

Makes me think of Kanye West. Not. Holy Shit. Thank God or music that means something. Thank You, John. Hope you´re well.

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

Love this comment! x

[@davehorrocks1223]

Does it get any better?

[@gordonschenck1672]

Would love to hear Billy Strings or Matteo Mancuso try this. I think either could. But they would only be paying homage.

[@sportbrand1171]

I’d radder be da dabull.

[@michaelolson5554]

where can i buy this? love this song....

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

It comes from the album Solid Air but not sure if the BBC video is available. The album is wall to wall greatness though :)

[@eugenewardjr.3506]

michael olson If you absolutely must have this in your collection l suggest searching for Live At Leeds.Both Solid Air & Leeds are gold, Leeds has much longer versions of this & others like it I paid $20 in '84 for a vinyl used copy. Still have it &Filter Wouldn't Wouldn't sell it For !$200. Took a few years to locate the vinyl. Good hunting. I should find it on Amazon. They have everything else in the world.

[@theredraven]

There is a DVD of his stuff at the BBC which includes this performance (as well as his appearances on "Rock Goes to College"). It's in the bonus features. I'd also highly recommend the BBC album he did "In Session at the BBC".

[@michaelolson5554]

Eugene Ward,Jr. thanks for the info. gonna look about and find it... thanks man

[@michaelolson5554]

Ultimo Tiger. Right on, gonna look it up. thanks man.

[@juliejones717]

apart from lusting after this man big style, please appreciate he is a self taught guitar genius....use of echo pedal is amazing combined with the fab lyrics.....anybody who has a problem with his vocals....step 1...gt a ten bag ...step 2 get spliff ready ...step 3 lay back and a enjoy....hey,i know he was a bad boy,but lets be honest here and agree the badder the better x

[@crimsonrush]

The warped sensibilties of a stoner. I wish he had been in your life so he could have given you a good thumping.

[@fransmuller7993]

Martyn was born in Beechcroft Avenue, New Malden, London, England to an English mother and a Scottish father.[3] His parents, both opera singers, divorced when he was five and he spent his childhood alternating between Scotland and England. Much of this was spent in the care of his grandmother, as well as on his mother's houseboat. He attended Shawlands Academy in Glasgow.[2] At school, he was a keen rugby player. On leaving school he attended Art College in Glasgow, but left to pursue his musical aspirations.

[@francesclarke6808]

Ed Sheerer, take note, the original looper/delay rhythm man...

[@alantracy6757]

It’s 2019 and still no one has figured out a lesson on his chords ?!!! 40 yrs later ... Try and find a lesson in his dadgad tuning for yourself ... nothing that’s how good and mystifying it is

[@Jonpriley]

What's clever is not really the technique, and definitely not the tuning (although both are obviously critical), it's way he uses the Echoplex, set to repeat at a different tempo to that of the song (every three 16ths). Once you get that working, and tune to DADGAD, it's not too hard to sound like John Martyn. Not as slick and cool as him, of course, but near enough to understand.... I do agree that there's a surprising absence of teaching materials in that right-hand style, which he more or less invented.

[@stewartcohen7683]

@@Jonpriley Right you are about his right hand--but the crux of it seems to be the timing between both hands, which is slightly out of phase like a good ragtime. You can hear this on the songs he plays with no echoplex quite well-he gets kind of a wavy rolling rhythm going that way. It is then even more amazing that he sets the Echoplex on top of that like you note, an extra layer of rhythmic complexity. His work with Danny Thompson has that going as well, and no effects other than the genius of Danny Thompson joining in. I think what continues to fascinate me about watching these videos (now that we can-I've been listening to his work for decades) is that they show that he knows exactly what he is doing with his timing and he is so fricking fluid.

[@Wolfington]

Saw JM open for the Verve in Wigan...well, apparently I did, but I'd taken these ace pink pills and don't remember a fucking thing about it. Which is a real shame as he's ace.

[@GuildF40]

I know he'll steal her back

[@MarquisSmith]

Hagrid grabbed the wrong wizard.

[@adysimm9774]

Run like hell🤔

[@iggypopshot]

Dave and John were friends. Something there somewhere

[@craigdamage]

Effects on an acoustic? Is that even legal?

[@Queen-of-Swords]

I have been watching some of these just to get a feel for John Martyn, my father liked his stuff, I do like his neat, well crafted songs. However this type of noodling is not for me really.

[@SkifflerRecordings]

Looks like a Yammy FG

[@gillesserrigny6324]

Yes, John plays on a good old Yamaha FG-180 for this tune. He was playing on a Martin D 28 on all other songs of this vidéo. The Yamaha was probably his first good guitar. Before definitively playing on a Martin D 28 (few years on a great Guild D 55).

[@seanmcardle4905]

FOR FUCK'S SAKE.IS THIS REAL?

[@brucebherman7721]

Yep, WEM Copycat (echoplex later on), Fuzzbox, BigMuff, Vox Wah pedal :-)

[@reeceburton7864]

elliott smith he's the greatest songwriter he didn't write duds this guy did tho

[@kennyjeanful]

Amazing musician but a very troubled soul.

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

Yeah he sure was, he was his own worst enemy sadly.

[@trw5653]

@@TommyRobertsMusicChannel aren't we all?

[@bobidos123]

Tripping at 4 mins.