A great loss to all of us. But at least he was still playing (and playing well)right up to the end. That's the way to go.

In a world where success often depends as much on how you look as on what you sound like, John established and sustained a viable career entirely on the basis of his musical ability. And once established, he was never content to carry on delivering the same familiar material to the same faithful followers - over the years he explored many different types of music, while always managing to sound unmistakably like himself.

And one thing more - he was an all-round good bloke, who will be missed by everyone who ever had the privilege of chatting with him about guitars, guitarists and guitar music over a pint.

Wassail!