Renesongs
I recently came across this on Youtube - enjoy
AlanRatcliffe
Brilliant! Thanks! One of our unsung and sadly departed greats (and his long-suffering V ?).
PeteM
Woweeee.... what a sad loss. When was this?
Renesongs
This was filmed at the Stags Head Cape Town in 1991 - John died tragically in a car accident while driving to a gig in Hermanus on 10 November 2002
The Flying V that was with John in the crash was kept by his Father Alex Mair until his death in August this year. I believe the guitar has been passed down to John's son Jason Mair.
Keira-WitherKay
what a sad loss, John and I crossed paths a good few times and i knew him from sweat band days when i was in cape town , and after that too when he was doing solo shows .... which were incredible........ like watching hendrix ..... years later i found myself back in Cape town and john even organised a few gigs for me close to his tragic accident ...... he was not only a great musician....... but he had a good soul too
Dave-the-Pub-muso
Yea, I used to watch him play at the Keg in Rondebosch - he played the "V" with his teeth, with beer bottles - he was amazing! RIP
Jack-Flash-Jr
Awesome stuff. Anyone seen the *other* Band 'o Gypsys around? John reminds me a bit of their quieter moments. I used to watch them around JHB when I was a teen... and I think they're still active. Best part, I believe they had the name about ten years before Jimi ?
MoJo-JoJoe
I missed this when it was first posted. WOW what a blast down memory lane that was!! I think Alan's comment of "unsung great" is spot-on. Thank you Rene for posting this!
Riaan-Combrink
I had the privilege of experiencing the 'Doctor's Blues' live many times - including at the infamous Stags Head circa this time. Wow 8)
Keira is spot on regarding John not only being a great player, but also a really nice guy. Was fortunate to get to know him better before he passed on.
Can't remember if I've told my favourite Mair story here on GFSA before: was at Stags Head - in 2000 if memory serves - and this drunk straggler chirps at the end of a rip-roaring "its all over now' that John was miming the solos. Jeesh! This was quite audible, as - can you believe it - there were only ten or fifteen people in the place at the time. Not one to suffer fools, John walked off the stage, and goes to sit right in front of this guy with the V in hand. Literally face-to-face with like 20 cms between them. John said that he had spent his entire life learning to play his instrument, and was wondering if this guy really thought he was miming? Upon getting a muted 'yes' from the guy, John unleashed an incredible version of the song sans backing, with extra solos and every trick I thought I had ever seen or heard on a guitar. Four minutes of axe madness. With the final note ringing, he announced a break and coolly put the V back on stage and walked outside for a smoke! The straggler slinked off sheepishly to a nice round of booing from the small, but appreciative, crowd. Classic stuff.
AlanRatcliffe
John used to regularly bring his V into the shop I was at to get pickups replaced because he would wear through the pickup bobbins with his pick, breaking the coils (he was a hard player - look at the pick wear on the V's body). He also used to sweat a lot on stage (hence the band name Sweat Band) and he would rust the Bridge and pots completely solid every two years or so.
One day he was wandering around the shop, pre surgery V in hand and I said "Gee* John, that guitar looks like sh*t!". He stopped with a puzzled expression on his face, lifted the guitar up to eye level and slowly looked it over like he was seeing it for the first time. Then he turned to me with a huge grin and said "Well, I think it looks just right!".
* May not the exact word used...
