John Martyn - John Wayne

It is now a year since John Martyn died, and I can find no better way to commemorate this than uploading this excellent live version of "John Wayne".
It is from a German TV show in 1986, probably recorded during his European tour that year. A different show from what appears to be the same tour is available on DVD from www.johnmartynd...

[@TheSsalvesen]

Yes, one of the best versions of this song. ever. Poor ole John. He lived his life to the edge. He was brilliant, and a nutter. Lets celebrate this master and genius. To all of you who loved John., you know who you are. Love him, and lets not forget the master !!!xxx

[@krollpeter]

What a loss! Why he could not reduce his drinking, why, what a pity

[@suzannezoubeck5216]

He didn't want to for one thing. And for another, you have to replace one habit or addiction with something else and for him, he was self-medicating and to get rid of that crutch I'd have loved to have seen him in therapy with someone like Dr. Daniel Amen who's a psychiatrist who tries not to use psychiatric drugs if at all possible. He's the author of The End of Mental Illness. I don't think John could see living any other way. It broke my heart to see this brilliant man pickle his brain and put his body thru what he put it thru and die so young, but it was his choice and he accepted responsibility for the consequences. ❤☮🌎@@krollpeter

[@amandaloebner8169]

Christ this is still so brilliant

[@suzannezoubeck5216]

Thanks for posting! Fiercely beautiful...miss him much. ❤☮🌎

[@petersimmons3654]

Love when he does a shiver on the drum roll at the start LOL This is John at his greatest, a beast, scarier than John Wayne! He's the guitarists' guitarist for a reason.

[@peterperry268]

He was the mirror of my life. I knew him well.

[@markgardner1020]

Great band. And the bass player is sensational

[@Lucy-il9mo]

The sheer power in Martyn's voice is incredible! amazing version of this song

[@krollpeter]

He's at his best here with his John Wayne, it's the rendition I like most. He lived the song for 7 minutes, literally. Many of his songs are better and more powerful played live.

[@bokehintheussr5033]

The greatest midlife crisis of all time.

[@wingandaprayer]

First heard this in a small pub in Stirling when the band was "trying out" for a new tour - got a tip-off about it. Sat in the front row...terrifying!!

[@MsSamster34]

i've fallen in love!!! So wish i'd seen this guy when he was alive, OMG what a genius, what a voice! so Commanding but soft. I was introduced to this GOD on Saturday and i'll never look back. WOW Going to sooooo enjoy checking out all his stuff. ACE, RIP JM you GOD xx

[@noelwalterso2]

John Martyn at the height of his powers, fantastic.

[@yaseenbradley9829]

Love big John

[@youareveryundude]

At that time he played a gig 50 km away from where I lived - one hour before the concert my exwife denied driving me to the gig - I MISS JOHN MARTYN... and because of your upload I know what an incredible performance I missed...

[@MrCutterschoice]

herbert ebenbauer I hope that's why she's your ex wife! ;)

[@youareveryundude]

Rob Austin yes, John Martyn stayed forever in my heart - I can't say the same about my former wife...

[@JohnTLyon]

This is a great version of a great song! Kudos to the band!

[@krollpeter]

Raw, aggressive, a beast. What an incredible vocal delivery! So much better than the studio recording.

[@andreaprodan5616]

POWER, SENSUALITY, TRUTH... and what a band!!!

[@angusbla18]

this is fucking incredible. . . literally feel opiated

[@peterperry268]

Ohne Musik Pur....the best live version of John Wayne I've seen. Pissed out of his head and functioning on Pur adrenadlin!

[@carolynPaterson-tc9qj]

Band on this performance is Arun Ahmun on drums /Alan Thompson on bass and Foss Paterson on keys

[@maxinemckenzie5765]

Love this Band.The Hard~man act to follow! R.I.P John Martyn.

[@VenLon]

Fantastic. When I first saw him in about '92 he did this and the final thunder clap shook the entire venue... literally! We'll never see his like again...

[@guscunningham1303]

seen this amazing guy play live 10/12 time playing solo with a band and duets sadly missed .

[@Home8rew]

Saw him do an amazing version of this in Belfast in 1987 - one of the best gigs of my life 😎

[@pegasusdesire]

HAVE THE WHOLE SUPERB CONCERT *

[@Foghat1961]

Me too... a VHS video cassette somewhere

[@terryharrison5185]

Unfuckingbelievable... This guy was on a different level...

[@wuckle]

Awesome band

[@colinpm100]

What a talented guy JM was. Great band as well.

[@PLATINFERN]

Never will forget the Master.

[@ruudvanmontfoort2132]

great version, visited his concerts a couple of times in Holland, where he was quite populair

[@tammopokkel6769]

HE IS A CLASS BEYOND

[@lastrada52]

Sounds like good John even mined an area now owned by Tom Waits. This is actually incredible for a live performance. May even be better than the studio version. Martyn takes something bordering on maniacal and turns it into a melodicly intense classic. John Martyn was having fun that night. A wonderful musician. Always a delight to listen to.

[@GuildF40]

Anyone else believe he is John Wayne ?

[@markgardner1020]

Christ, that's some power there. But he needn't have worried, we prefer him to John Wayne

[@GFEBMX]

what a fuking voice man

[@KenHumphrey1]

I was once down my local pub, a man with a ten gallon hat walked over to me and introduced himself as Howard Hughes I wonder whether he was on what John was on when he wrote that song?

[@Rikk303]

I've never seen this gig before. It was much better produced on the album that I particularly loved and most hard faced Martyn afficianadoes detested. Piece by Piece. Given the intensity and passion, I'm surprised the cameraman (irritating but necessary I suppose) didn't end up in hospital! John was a big fella. One punch would take down an idiot, a sentence sung in his way would buckle the knees of anyone remaining nearly erect. Raw passion, almost hatred laced with vitriol and then "Angeline".....as sweet a song as you'd imagine. The spectrum of whisky......

[@krollpeter]

@Rikk Because - look at this face - he is John Wayne for 7 minutes. A show by itself.

[@peterperry268]

Best vid gig

[@yendytok]

F A N T A S T I C . . .

[@Deckylad]

LION

[@alidonli]

what a find! lol :)

[@katee2118]

Not for the first time this live version is better then the album - truly wonderful. By the way who is the keyboard player????

[@montgomerypython9966]

+Kate McConville It's always been my favourite version! That's Spencer Cozens on the keyboards, good isn't he?

[@COZZIG]

VENOM!!!!👏👏👏👏

[@stevencope6178]

this means war!

[@andrewgreenwood5664]

does anybody know who the band was

[@Foghat1961]

Alan Thompson - bass, Arran Ahmun - drums, Spencer Cozens - keyboards

[@deanrees10]

Aaron

[@pegasusdesire]

GUNSMOKING THEME*

[@KenHumphrey1]

This isn't the John Wayne the American actor I know of, he seems quite evil and threatening unless he's depicting John Wayne Gacey the serial killer

[@SupernalOne]

true, the singer's character believes he's a tough guy who takes no lip from women - not quite the moral Wayne of US westerns - Martyn worked in this vein after a divorce, I believe; try his Never Say Never, it's similar

[@KozmykJ]

It's a dig at Ronald Reagan. Quote - “I did the song as a kind of satire on Ronald Reagan and all that flag waving, apple pie and turkey stuff. Turkey being the operative word."

[@pegasusdesire]

___LOL____***BRO*

[@grakspakalack]

I disagree with you on two points: Firstly there is definitive proof that the threat of global warming is having an effect on socio-economic policies. Secondly there is no way that you can compare Ballack to Schweinsteiger. Two very different players.

[@markgardner1020]

Drink your milk....