John Martyn: Some People Are Crazy

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   Subtitled "The John Martyn Story", this 200 or so pager  was easy reading during my travels to Switzerland and  back earlier this week. The combination of HMV's discounted price, believing the quote from the Independent: "One of the music books of the year" and some curiosity about the man, had me buy the biography.  If it was one of the books of the year, then it doesn't hold up against Andy Summers autobiography. 

Written by a fan of Martyn, allowed time with Martyn and access to many friends, but turned away by those (unnamed for the most part) who would rather not contribute, we get a rather dry chronological retelling of Martyn's life, sectioned by chapters relating to some major LP release (chapter titles  often taken from a line in  a song). However, in his favour the author John Neil Munro, is not guilty of gushing fanzine prose. There are attempts to explain the various interrelationships that come and go out of Martyn's life - e.g. with his ex wives, Nick Drake, Danny Thompson, the booze/drugs, etc.  but too often I felt the author was scratching the surface on the basis of not knowing enough or not wanting to risk being too judgemental. Beware the appendices, e.g. listing gigs are far from complete. I came away from the book thinking I don't really like John Martyn the person from what details were provided (but I also came away from George Harrison's biography Dark Horse, also liking the man less).

Summary: a quick and easy read of an outline biography, which won't demand too much of the reader. I've read many better and more that are far worse. More a book for those who are already fans of Martyn's music, than one for those who have a sneaking curosity but need some reasons for buying into Martyn's music.

Edited by Dick Heath - August 01 2008 at 08:31

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