I've just learned that John Pearse has passed away in his sleep several days ago. I didn't know him except through participation in the acoustic guitar newsgroup on USENET years ago, but his passing should be noted here, as he (by his account) was instrumental in the introduction of the flat-back bouzouki to Irish music. I don't know how much truth there is in it, and I can't do the story justice, but he claimed to have had a Greek bouzouki which suffered a catastrophic structural failure following contact between someone's foot and the back of the instrument. The local luthier was unable to repair the coopered back, but rigged it up with a guitar-style back, which Pearse didn't like the sound of at all. So, goes his story, he swapped it to Johnny Moynihan for a mandolin. The coda of the story is this: it seems when Moynihan brought it to the band, they agreed with Pearse: "Could you not get the mandolin back?" they asked. But fortunately, he was stuck with it, and he stuck with it and now we've got bouzoukis everywhere you look.
Now, as I say, I don't know that that story is true, but it's a good story, and worth telling, since Mr. Pearse is no longer here to tell it himself.
John was my guitar teacher, and a great storyteller. He wouldn't necessarily let hard facts interfere with a good tale.
He did have an interest in obscure instruments, in association
with John Bailey (who may have been the "local luthier" above).
John had a delightful nature. I am very sorry to hear of his passing.
I remember meeting him in the mid-'60s', when he was performing in folk clubs, and he was certainly a showman, who could indeed tell a good tale. He certainly claimed to have had a flat-back variation of the bouzouki built long before anyone had any idea of a use for it.
If you find those early videos of Steeleye Span playing in somebody's house, I believe that is actually his home, so you could say that he was a catalyst for two different and important events in the developement of folk music.
Well, I got my grounding from Bert Weedons' 'Play in a Day", but I do remember watching "Hold Down a Chord" later. My guitar teacher, Jack King, had been a pupil of John's previously, so there is a link.
John Pearse, RIP
John Pearse, RIP
I've just learned that John Pearse has passed away in his sleep several days ago. I didn't know him except through participation in the acoustic guitar newsgroup on USENET years ago, but his passing should be noted here, as he (by his account) was instrumental in the introduction of the flat-back bouzouki to Irish music. I don't know how much truth there is in it, and I can't do the story justice, but he claimed to have had a Greek bouzouki which suffered a catastrophic structural failure following contact between someone's foot and the back of the instrument. The local luthier was unable to repair the coopered back, but rigged it up with a guitar-style back, which Pearse didn't like the sound of at all. So, goes his story, he swapped it to Johnny Moynihan for a mandolin. The coda of the story is this: it seems when Moynihan brought it to the band, they agreed with Pearse: "Could you not get the mandolin back?" they asked. But fortunately, he was stuck with it, and he stuck with it and now we've got bouzoukis everywhere you look.
Now, as I say, I don't know that that story is true, but it's a good story, and worth telling, since Mr. Pearse is no longer here to tell it himself.
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: John Pearse, RIP
John was my guitar teacher, and a great storyteller. He wouldn't necessarily let hard facts interfere with a good tale.
He did have an interest in obscure instruments, in association
with John Bailey (who may have been the "local luthier" above).
John had a delightful nature. I am very sorry to hear of his passing.
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by oldstrings
Re: John Pearse, RIP
I remember meeting him in the mid-'60s', when he was performing in folk clubs, and he was certainly a showman, who could indeed tell a good tale. He certainly claimed to have had a flat-back variation of the bouzouki built long before anyone had any idea of a use for it.
If you find those early videos of Steeleye Span playing in somebody's house, I believe that is actually his home, so you could say that he was a catalyst for two different and important events in the developement of folk music.
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Remember "Hold down a chord"?
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by John J.
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Well, I got my grounding from Bert Weedons' 'Play in a Day", but I do remember watching "Hold Down a Chord" later. My guitar teacher, Jack King, had been a pupil of John's previously, so there is a link.
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Jack King?, that wouldn't be Wayne's brother would it?
# Posted on November 4th 2008 by mcknowall
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Sorry, oldfart syndrome, who is Wayne King ?
# Posted on November 4th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Oh, an even older fart than me !
More likely Jack's dad.
# Posted on November 4th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Not me!
# Posted on November 5th 2008 by mcknowall
Re: John Pearse, RIP
Sorry, that was Joe King
# Posted on November 5th 2008 by mcknowall