1. John Alexander McGeoch was a Scottish musician and songwriter.
32 Facts About John McGeoch
1. 2.
John McGeoch is best known as the guitarist of the rock bands Magazine and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
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John McGeoch has been described as one of the most influential guitarists of his generation.
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John McGeoch was a member of the bands Visage, the Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd.
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John McGeoch began to play the guitar at 12 years of age, first learning British blues music, being influenced by the work of Eric Clapton, and that of Jimi Hendrix.
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John McGeoch took piano lessons for five years until the age of twelve.
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John McGeoch maintained an interest in photography, painting and drawing throughout his life.
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John McGeoch went on to play on Magazine's first three albums, Real Life, Secondhand Daylight and The Correct Use of Soap.
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John McGeoch left the band in 1980 shortly after the release of the latter album, frustrated with its lack of commercial success despite its recognition with music press critics.
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In 1979, while still a member of Magazine, John McGeoch joined Steve Strange's electronic band Visage along with erstwhile Magazine bandmates Adamson and Dave Formula, recording songs for their first single "Tar" and later, in 1980, for their eponymous album Visage, John McGeoch playing guitar and saxophone on the record.
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John McGeoch did not record on the group's second album, The Anvil, as it was recorded in London and he was unable to participate.
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When recording with Siouxsie and the Banshees in early 1980, John McGeoch entered a period of both creative and commercial success.
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John McGeoch became an official member of the group at the release of "Israel" in November 1980, which was the first single he composed with the band.
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John McGeoch recorded guitar on the Banshees' long-players Kaleidoscope, Juju and A Kiss in the Dreamhouse.
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John McGeoch was into sound in an almost abstract way.
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John McGeoch arrived in Madrid for a promotional stay in bad state and made several uncharacteristic mistakes at a gig.
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John McGeoch joined the band the Armoury Show which included Doyle as well as ex-Skids members Richard Jobson and Russell Webb.
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John McGeoch contributed to former Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy's debut solo long-player Should the World Fail to Fall Apart.
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John McGeoch had been an admirer of PiL, particularly of Lydon's lyrics, yet reportedly had previously turned down an offer from him to join the band in 1984.
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John McGeoch bought his first model in 1977 when the band signed its recording deal, which provided him with the finances for professional standard equipment.
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John McGeoch played on a 12 String Ovation acoustic guitar.
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John McGeoch used a MXR Dynacomp Compressor and a Yamaha Analog Delay.
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John McGeoch's amps were a Roland Jazz Chorus JC120 and two Marshall MV50 combos.
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John McGeoch used a Washburn Tour 24 guitar for touring during 1988.
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John McGeoch has been cited as a major influence by numerous guitarists.
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Simon Goddard wrote that John McGeoch was a "significant inspiration" on Marr.
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The lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood, said John McGeoch was the guitarist that had most influenced him.
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John McGeoch's riffs are so elegant and once you learn how to play them there is almost a zen like quality to the sound and movement of your hands.
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John McGeoch has a new brilliant idea for each song.
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Bradfield added that John McGeoch's guitar-playing makes "you realize you were listening to a new version of rock and roll".
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On 9 September 1981, John McGeoch married Janet Pickford, his girlfriend at Manchester Polytechnic, the marriage later ending in divorce.
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John McGeoch died at the age of 48 in his sleep on 4 March 2004 at his home in Launceston, Cornwall from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.