Spellbound: The Story of John McGeoch (1/6)

"The story of John McGeoch, one of the most innovative and influential guitarists of the past thirty years.
Born in Scotland and raised in Manchester and London, John McGeoch was described as the "post punk Jimmy Page", a man with an experimental, uncompromising and unique style.
He was a distinctive player who could conjure up dramatic riffs and sounds that had never been heard before.
During his life he performed with no fewer than nine bands on the cutting-edge of music, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Visage.
Yet, despite this rich musical pedigree, his story has remained untold - until now.
Radio 2s Pete Mitchell talks to Howard Devoto, Siouxsie Sioux and Johnny Marr among others, as he shines a light on the life of this unsung guitar hero."
It's sad how completely obscure and underrated John McGeoch is. I stumbled upon this by chance and decided to upload it here for more people to listen to. Apologies for the lack of video content. It's more about the sound anyways. Enjoy.

[@guytunes1]

I knew John as a friend and neighbour on the river at Hammersmith from 1993 to his untimely and very sad death. He was a really genuine guy, with time for everyone, fantastic anecdotes and understandable vitriol at the music industry ! He was just starting to record again about a year before his death....who knows where that may have led.... Thanks so much for your time and industriousness in compiling this fantastic this story of his musical Life. Guy

[@adrianpierce3047]

what street name please,

[@brianmorecombe2726]

Died in his sleep at only 48,peaceful way to go but so young.Some of his guitar imo was the highest quality and just fantastic.

[@deadlegs187]

As a guitarist I can safely say he'll not be forgotten. His songs are a joy to play (when not impossible)

[@oldschoolm8]

Talk about underrated eh? Whenever guitar magazines do a top 100 best guitarists list, I never see him on it. It's mad, he was so ace!

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Or Geordie Walker.

[@garynorred4643]

👊👍

[@SebastianRodriguez-cq3qu]

True! Never mentioned. Creativity is off the table of reviewers, I guess.

[@sebastianrodriguez2932]

Ju Ju is his masterpiece. Boundless creativity

[@bluecat798]

Yeah man, I was a 21 year old punkette when I bought Juju. I totally agree with you-a masterpiece! John was and still is my favorite guitar hero! ❤

[@joshwallis]

I’ve enjoyed that record countless times and I still just can’t figure out how he gets a lot of those tones. Utterly brilliant!

[@raybrash375]

I cry when I think of a talent like John leaving us at 48. We live because of genius like him

[@SkeeterNYC]

Let's face it The Banshees made some of their best work with John McGeoch. Too bad that he didn't last longer.

[@neilgodfrey6578]

He wasn't obscure and unrecognised when he was playing, he was celebrated and respected, everyone who truly listened to music knew his sound.

[@choicey2748]

The only guitarist who could make the hair stand up on the back of my neck he was utterly fucking brilliant live

[@JimJWalker]

Very underrated. He was elite. Best of the best.

[@judeleese7783]

Into The Light.....I played that magical track over and over, his playing was mesmerising.

[@ntz7358]

me too !!!!

[@AngelGarcia-oy3yj]

Into the Light is his masterpiece...

[@guytunes1]

Yes, he really was a great friend and a real Diamond ; he came on holiday in France with his wife Sophie to see us one summer.....His alarm call was usually a tinkly tinkly very large glass of spritzer at about 11 if we were not up ! We really miss him; but his spirit and love lives on in our memories and, of course, his stunning innovative guitar playing ! Thanks again Guy : )

[@smellegantcode]

I watched the first 5 minutes of this video in full screen, not realising I was staring at a single static picture, yet still enthralled by the "visuals". That's surely the mark of great radio!

[@liamstrauss5477]

Rhythm of Cruelty by Magazine guitar parts are just incredible he was one of the best.

[@andreaprodan5616]

McGeoch was a FINE guitarrist. A man of taste, of energy.... a visionary. This KZbin 'find' is a gem. Thanks for uploading, thanks to Siouxsie, Devoto.... and to ALL who give their memories and opinions.

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

Obviously, everyone gushes over Shot By Both Sides but, for me, The Light Pours Out Of Me is the shining star. And no doubt about it Real Life and Secondhand Daylight are brilliant albums (for me, The Correct Use Of Soap and Magic, Murder And The Weather are too weak and disjointed). Cannot stop playing both at the moment!

[@olivierblandin840]

legends never die ,John Mac Geoch forever !

[@threadnugent]

Massive love and respect… so sad he passed…left a massive mark

[@permaveg]

Without doubt one the best and innovative guitarist's of the punk and post punk era, I'm proud to say I saw him twice with the mighty Magazine, he was a great guitarist and sax player. So sadly missed. Siouxsie said he was the best guitarist the Banshees ever had, just listen to 'Ju Ju' for proof of that. Scotland gave the world two great guitarist's, one John McGeoch and the other being Stuart Adamson, and booze took them away from us like a thief in the night.

[@MrHoefnix]

Another great guitarist from Scotland is Ian Bairnson. Not to mention Angus Young. They're not post punk guitarists obviously.

[@B17B25guy]

I met John McGeoch at 'After Dark' in Lockport, NY when Magazine played there to a small crowd in Aug. of '79. Our guitarist picked up several tricks and ideas that afternoon and evening after some chats.

[@farrahhassen]

Thank you for uploading all 6 parts. You just did a great public service by doing so, honoring such a post punk giant! Among many bands, you can't listen to Radiohead (especially The Bends record) without hearing his influence.

[@XellKamikaze]

Everything I've heard about John McGeoch is nothing but positive. Not only an amazing guitarist but a great guy. I wish I was fortunate enough to have met him. Thanks for the comment! :)

[@patricklindsey1308]

The light pours out of me ( him) John..

[@johnbarry1965]

What Hendrix was to the 60's, McGeogh was to post punk, my Guitar hero!!!!!

[@rongravy]

I saw him in 90 with PiL front row on acid. Amazing show. RIP.

[@asquietas]

Impressive...

[@thehowlingterror]

Thank you to the BBC for making this.

[@TheEndofBeginnings]

Amazing and influential, RIP John. I would kill for a Guitar Hero: Magazine

[@Devito46]

What a great guitar player he was. Thanks for uploading ! I saw him live with Magazine (lucky me) and with Siouxsie and the Banshees.

[@philipmartin5757]

Sorry but there's so few to lay claim to but someone who left Scotland for London in 1971 and studied at Manchester Poly in 1975 was not 'born in Scotland and raised in Manchester and London...' That'll be born and raised in Greenock in Scotland if accuracy's ever important...

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Legend.

[@Qwerty543-q3d]

Real life . Thanks for this . Me and my bro , he's our proper guitar hero .

[@landonweb]

Really thanks for uploading this!

[@stevemckenna2401]

For me the most underrated guitarist of all time. Period.

[@jameshenderson2863]

He either played on or directly influenced the playing on pretty much every record I bought in the 80s. I love his playing still.

[@fraser9056]

After listening to Magazine he inspired me to start playing the guitar. Never looked back. A truly outstanding guitarist. Sadly missed.

[@MCNOISE666]

I missed this when it was broadcast, so thanks for posting!!!

[@themodernday5699]

Thank you for uploading this!

[@exeuroweenie]

If any guitarist could make soundtracks for the dreams I have,it'd be him.

[@fellspoint9364]

9A Batoum Gardens, Hammersmith….1984 . The scene of many wild and delightful evenings …Anglo-American rock-a-billy parties that certainly improved international relations. Dear Johnny boy was likely in attendance…quite a unique era.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

He reached his peak just as the cutting-edge stuff began to turn away from guitars and move towards electronics.

[@tommym1966]

Pleasure listening to this. Many thanks for the upload.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

legend FACT RIP john

[@mwjppgg]

Que buenos guitarrasos que tenian los temas de Magazine!

[@rikkrude4923]

Best guitarist ever. I think the spot as #1 can be between him and Johnny marr. Fuck slash no one comes close to this guy and marr

[@asquietas]

Fuck yeah man

[@beckfreak2000]

Saw him with Magazine ,thought he was a true original then. will last forever in the ranks of electric guitarists.

[@Guedzilla]

Oh wow! Kudos to you for uploading this stuff!

[@mOdWrx53]

Thanks!

[@richies6420]

Sure do wish there were visuals to this

[@JJONNYREPP]

Spellbound: The Story of John McGeoch (1/6) 1337pm 16.4.23 as a lover of magazine - i could say it doesn't hurt too much to listen to some chaps chat about their fav musicians... though it is beyond me just cos folk like us enjoy such and such a musician why it's assumed they must have heard of the plebian prole-y fanbase...

[@jonfletcher147]

So special with Siouxsie

[@erosssselavy]

Thanks for post this!

[@timmoral]

My thanks...

[@earinsound]

i haven't even watched this yet...but THANK YOU anyway. Mr McGeoch was an amazing guitarist.

[@asquietas]

It's a radio programme...

[@Nivenization]

Thank you.

[@fadgadgeter3352]

....the reason why ive played guitar for 40 years....fuck the rest...he was the best.

[@ALNITAKT]

Thanks for share!

[@geoffreysmither8572]

I'm guessing after 2 and ½ minutes of a fuzzy picture of John, that there is no video with this.

[@asparagusbear3323]

radio show?

[@shaynegray9099]

Hahahaha!

[@asquietas]

Jeez, it's a radio programme

[@jgmccabe]

Would love to have seen this as a TV program rather than a radio series.

[@jimymichigan]

In the last few years we in the U.S just started getting info on bands like siouxsi and early 80 bands and certain influences they had on each other. And the different sounds they posessed..

[@archbishoprobert]

Johns. Contributions. Are. Huge

[@Devito46]

@Devito46 And The Armoury Show aswell.

[@terrypussypower]

McGeogh was *THE* sound of UK post punk guitar. Whenever I think of McGeogh I think of him sporting his Yamaha SG, the first one I'd ever seen, and thinking it was the coolest sound ever!

[@ivorlongshot]

terrypussypower You can't beat a Yamaha SG, I've got a 700s & it pisses all over my 76 Les Paul.

[@halcyon289]

Check out Carlos Santana playing one. Incredible sustain and tone.

[@ricardopralon4763]

Great musician. Inimitable style.

[@XellKamikaze]

Magazine - Motorcade

[@julesfruhauf7331]

Rip 😭

[@dinastanford7779]

Have you seen his biography published last year.

[@moomoochacoo]

were you born a "few years ago" im sure there has been info on the 80s bands before the internet.

[@moomoochacoo]

he said swagger

[@exeuroweenie]

Thanks for this,loved his work with the Banshees.I doubt even Jimi Hendryx could have come up with something like Follow The Sun or Voodoo Dolly.

[@iangrant9958]

You kind of sound racist. Why did you have say Jimi Hendrix? Jimi Hendrix was a genius just like John McGeoch was a genius. Stop comparing guitar players..... they all contribute to guitar music in different ways.

[@lucasramirez2292]

@@iangrant9958 hendrix is constantly considered the number 1 guitarist. but i do agree hendrix could not have made the guitar parts in voodoo dolly for sure.

[@elalek8444]

Alguien que quiera subtitular en español?? 🖤🖤

[@olafbigandglad]

are there any guitarists out there who know the chords for permafrost, specifically the chorus?

[@heavydutydudes]

@TheEndofBeginnings for sure

[@valjrart6702]

Its this just the sound rippied of a propper documentary(with video, i mean)?

[@asquietas]

It's a bog standard, dated Radio 2 programme from years ago

[@projectx605]

whats the song in the beggining?

[@Joaquin00]

Please could you activate the subtitles in Spanish, it would be very important to me

[@clairekilduff5930]

It’s McGyoch not McGeeoch.

[@speakertreatz]

I'm glad someone's said it, I thought I was going mad. we would pronounce it McGyock (phonetically) in Ireland and I've always read it that way. All these lads and their Gee-och.. thanks for clarifying it :)

[@clairekilduff5930]

@@speakertreatz I'm Irish so it was driving me mad too 🤣

[@speakertreatz]

@@clairekilduff5930 :) sorry, I thought you were Scottish, Kilduff sounds very Scottish. This coming from a guy called Paisley.

[@clairekilduff5930]

@@speakertreatz haha well I know there are alot of Kil names in Scotland. And the only reason I know how to pronounce geoch is cos the Irish and Scottish languages are very similar. Not that I can speak either 🙄

[@speakertreatz]

@@clairekilduff5930 lol neither can I. We can pronounce McGeoch right though :)

[@fourganger88]

What is that song at the beginning?

[@Warrogue1]

Motorcade by Magazine

[@pureswitch]

Show them how to play the harp john. RIP,

[@spiritualcramp8000]

put some fanger on those flat harps bro.

[@padraigsisk4057]

Himself and Stuart adamson were legends. Oops still are

[@ulfgar26]

he was my hero. he was sadly a heroine addict. that answers your question x x

[@galetinm]

ulfgar26 actually I think it was booze.

[@pearlsforheroes1639]

Too many birds spoiled the broth, and scag presumably.

[@Warrogue1]

ulfgar26, Can you cite a source for that?

[@Teeb2023]

_"he was sadly a heroine addict."_ He had a thing for women of great repute and fortitude?

[@AmazinglyGayPhil]

Whats the song at the start ?

[@gabriellatamney2660]

It's Magazine - Motorcade

[@AmazinglyGayPhil]

@@gabriellatamney2660 Thank ypu sorry i came back for my fill saw my comment never expected a reply. Thank you Kindly

[@gabriellatamney2660]

@@AmazinglyGayPhil Happy to help! Magazine are great, highly recommend