Tributes paid to Northern Irish music journalist Gavin Martin, who has died aged 60

Tributes continue to pour in for Bangor-raised music writer Gavin Martin, who died while on holiday in Barbados on March 10, aged 60.

In Ireland's punk rock summer of 1977, when he was still a teenager, Martin co-founded and edited the influential fanzine Alternative Ulster – which a young Steve Morrissey contributed to. Stiff Little Fingers originally wrote their iconic anthem, 'Alternative Ulster', for a Flexi disc that was supposed to be released by the fanzine.

Martin went on to write for NME, having been first published in the letters section of the magazine at the age of just 13. He penned U2's first NME cover interview in 1981, ahead of the release of October. Later, he took on the role of Music Critic at The Daily Mirror.

In December 2017, he released Talking Musical Revolutions, a spoken word/punk collection of "teenage coming of age tales recounted in mid age repose and fire."

"I was an avid reader of Gavin's Alternative Ulster fanzine, which I used to buy along with Sniffin' Glue in Rough Trade, and his early NME dispatches," says Hot Press Assistant Editor, Stuart Clark. "He made Belfast sound like the punk rock capital of the world, which maybe it was back then. If Gavin Martin said a record was worth buying, that was good enough for me.

"I never got to meet him, but was incredibly excited a few years ago when he followed me on Twitter. We had a few back-and-forths, and he said some really kind things about Hot Press. He'd got on famously with the late, great HP writer Bill Graham, so we swapped stories about Bill and said we'd hopefully meet up one day for a pint. Sadly that won't now be happening, but I'm glad I got to tell him how the 13-year-old junior punk rocker me devoured the NME back in the day."

Renowned Northern Irish music promoter, manager and writer Paul Charles has also paid tribute to Martin – calling him "one of the good guys."

"He was close to a lot of musicians, but wasn’t scared of calling the tune when he felt some of their work was below par," Charles tells Hot Press. "The funny thing was the majority of artists really loved him for his honesty.

"His own spoken word art was incredible, very soulful and… that word again, honest," he continues. "The big thing about a Belfast audience is that if you’re the real deal they’ll support you to the nth degree. On the other hand, if you can’t cut it, particularly live, they can never feign their lack of enthusiasm.

"The ever-youthful Gavin Martin epitomised the Belfast audience. He was a good guy – with a heart of pure gold."

Music broadcaster and producer Mike Edgar – who was honoured for his Outstanding Contribution to Music at the 2021 NI Music Prize – tells Hot Press that Martin's passing is a "huge loss, and one that has come too soon."

"He grew up a stone’s throw from my own home here, near Bangor County Down," Edgar states. "I will remember him firstly as the man who truly can claim the phrase 'Alternative Ulster’, the title of his punk fanzine and of course classic SLF anthem. Alternative Ulster was the best 20p a music fan could spend as Gavin introduced you to Rudi and their likes!

"Our paths crossed on many an occasion and I remember my excitement at my band being mentioned in one of his columns in the early '80s," he continues. "If you were mentioned by Gavin you had been noticed. He guested with me on the BBC Across The Line Radio Programme many times, especially in our early years. Gavin was thoughtful, fearless , not short of an opinion and on more than a few occasions endearingly mad!

"If you loved music you fast realised that Gavin truly lived music – I always had great respect for him as I very quickly realised he knew a hell of a lot more about the genre than I! Gavin could be great fun and cuttingly amusing but he could also be incredibly straight, honest and uncompromising if he felt it was warranted.

"He was not in any way afraid of taking on some of the biggest names in music if he felt they were getting too big for their boots – He took no prisoners, nor was he afraid to champion those that warranted a leg -up! To bands from Northern Ireland Gavin was a true legend of a journalist, respected alongside his local colleagues Stuart Bailie, also of NME, and the late Bill Graham from Hot Press.

"Gavin’s contribution to the cultural fabric of these islands is immeasurable, he was a true one-off , the world of music will be a much different place without his talent, wit and insight. As a music family we owe him so much – Gavin we salute you!"

Belfast-based music writer and broadcaster Stuart Bailie has shared an in-depth tribute to Martin on Facebook, describing him as a "music writer, NME mainstay, poet, cuss, proclaimer, natural mystic."

"Author of many astounding features," Bailie resumes. "Interviewed Marvin Gaye just ahead of the singer’s death. Sat up with Youth on an infernal Killing Joke tour and they wrote letters to their mums. Sobbed with Strummer about deceased parents. Took peculiar phone calls in the office from Terence Trent D’Arby. Wrote well about Dexys, Ice T, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis..."

"He was nobody’s tame journalist," he writes. "His account of the U2 Lovetown tour in 1989 was luminous writing as he journeyed across Japan and communed with BB King. Gavin’s dad fought in the Second World War and was part of the liberation of Belsen. He later became a union leader. Gavin absorbed some of that sense of mission and righteousness. Gone shockingly soon..."

Taking to Twitter, The Pogues have shared an image of their NME interview with Martin – remembering him as a "brilliant writer, great company and a proper friend."

We are so, so sad to hear that Gavin Martin has died. A brilliant writer, great company and a proper friend. RIP 🖤 pic.twitter.com/CktmRQBhEs

— The Pogues (@poguesofficial) March 11, 2022

See more tributes to Gavin Martin below:

I'm gutted to hear of the death of music writer Gavin Martin. He wasn't just a fantastic writer he was a fantastic person. I loved that man. Travel on well, my friend. See you on the other side.

— Mike Scott (@MickPuck) March 11, 2022

Sorry to hear of the sudden death of Gavin Martin. From that generation of music journalists who started out by creating fanzines in 1977, he never lost the righteous opinionated attitude that drove those publications and his writing was the better for it. RIP.

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) March 11, 2022

So sad to hear Gavin Martin died. A brilliant writer, a hilarious, sharp, generous, eccentric & occasionally ferocious man. One-off. Once found him in the gents at NME circling the wall bogeys in ink, writing ‘you are a farm animal’ next to it.
“Someone has to!” he said to me.

— Ted Kessler (@TedKessler1) March 11, 2022

Gavin Martin was a brilliant writer, a lovely & fascinating man... gave a lot of us our first experience of writing about not-music when he helmed the NME's film, TV & books section... and provided endless inspiration in what he wrote. So sad and shocked to hear he's died. pic.twitter.com/rdnrecn7St

— John Harris (@johnharris1969) March 11, 2022

God bless Gavin Martin who penned for the NME. Never an enemy, his writings championed and celebrated the magics of music. Gavin, may you shine forever

— BP Fallon (@bpfallon) March 11, 2022

Sad to learn of the sudden passing of Gavin Martin, the creator of Alternative Ulster and journalist supreme with NME and many publications.

A poet and always very kind and generous with his time, wit and vast lyrical knowledge. I will spin his beloved Bob Dylan today in honour.

— Paul Connolly (@pb_connolly) March 11, 2022

So sad to hear of Gavin Martin’s death. He was a fearless writer and a passionate music lover. I have very blurry happy memories of my first ever album launch, second album, a pub and a lot of fuschia lipstick. Safe travels onward Gavin, you will be missed so much.

— Thea Gilmore (@theagilmore) March 11, 2022