b'John SmithJohn is another signpost on myhealthier ones such as Cara Dillon roadmap.He was just aboutand Lisa Hannigan. unknown, and emailed to ask aboutSo far, John has bought two six a guitar. He was booked to play atstring guitars from me, plus one the Ullapool Guitar festival and wastwelve string, a mandolin, a mandola one of the reasons I started to goand a bouzouki. Oh yes, and one fan there, so I have John to thank for allfret, eight string, baritone, resonator the new contacts I have made thatcutaway guitar. He sends me bottles way. He is remarkable, very softlyof unusual whisky, which he buys at spoken and mild mannered untilThe toffee shop. I have finished the he starts to sing and play, oh boy -last one he bought. John? every audience is knocked back inHe once described me as a Mad their seats, almost in shock. old Badger. Jim Ronayne saw John has toured with John Martynthat, and said, he may be a mad and Davy Graham, in both casesold badger, but hes our mad old just before they died. Consequently,badger. I think they meant it kindly.older and more fragile artists now avoid working too closely with him and take a nurse along with them just in case, and John has taken to playing with younger prettier 66'