R.I.P. Bert Jansch; Read Our 2010 Interview

Celebrated Scottish guitar player and singer-songwriter Bert Jansch has died at the age of 67, following a two-year battle with cancer, The Guardian reports. Jansch’s folk-derived picking style was a huge influence on Jimmy Page on Nick Drake, as well as modern artists like Devendra Banhart and Vetiver.

We interviewed Jansch last year, during his stint as Neil Young’s opening act during the Canadian legend’s solo tour.

A lot of people, including Neil Young, have cited your first record as being very inspirational. What were your influences at that time?

I was listening at the time to people like Brownie McGhee. And I was really into some of the old blues singers like Leadbelly and Big Bill Broonzy. Not that I actually play any of their material, but they showed me what was possible. They’re fantastic.

What about in England?

At the time there were people around like Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, who I played a lot with. I listened to a lot of traditional music. Anne Briggs, stuff like that.

How did you develop your guitar technique?

I think a lot of the clawhammer picking-type stuff came originally from Scotland. I got it second hand from some Scottish players. Archie Fisher is one. And a guy who’s a lifelong friend but he doesn’t play in public, Len Partridge. He taught me a lot of blues.

Continue reading the interview here.