John and I became firm friends back in the mid-60s, when we were both callow youths starting out. However, he had considerably more talent than me in the digital dexterity department, and the rest as they say is history.

We have always kept in contact, and some years ago, he gave up touring to look after his ageing parents, back in Wales. Teaching guitar became his means of earning a living.

Last time I spoke to him, he was living in semi-retirement, teaching a bit, playing a bit when he felt like it, and was showing absolutely no inclination to go back to touring again.

Best albums:
Sky in my Pie (with Pete Berryman) and probably one of my faves of all time, re-issued by Transatlantic a few years back.
A suitcase shaped like that, sadly no longer available.

Best sound he ever got was on his first guitar, an old Levin, sanded down by John Bailey, action lowered for very light gauge strings.IMHO.

An absolute star, with a killer sense of humour, which not everybody 'got'- possibly the cause of the insulted banjo-player.