John Martyn: Johnny Too Bad

A wry, unsentimental portrait of a brilliant, self-destructive musician that is funny and moving in equal measure.

Directed by

Serena Cross

Genres

Music, Documentary

Starring

John Martyn, Beverley Martyn, Ralph McTell

Overview

This honest and often blackly hilarious film shows Martyn at home in Ireland, during the lead-up to and aftermath of an operation to have one of his legs amputated below the knee. Contributors include sometime collaborator and buddy Phil Collins, the late Robert Palmer, Ralph McTell, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, fellow hellraiser bassist Danny Thompson, John's ex-wife Beverley Martyn and younger generation fan Beth Orton. We see a man incapable of compromising his creative vision, from his folk club roots in the Sixties, through a career of continuous musical experimentation. Along the way there is a surreal roll-call of accidents and incidents, including a collision with a cow

How it feels

Melancholic, dark, satirical and warm. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Art, addiction, identity, survival

Content

Strong language. Mild violence, gore and sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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