Lou Martin

Louis Michael "Lou" Martin (12 August 1949[1] – 17 August 2012) was a piano and organ player from Belfast, Northern Ireland, most famous for his work with the London-based band Killing Floor, and with fellow Irish musician Rory Gallagher.[2][3]

For those of a similar name, see Louis Martin (disambiguation).
Lou Martin
Birth nameLouis Michael Martin
Born(1949-08-12)12 August 1949
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died17 August 2012(2012-08-17) (aged 63)
Bournemouth, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
Associated acts

Career

Martin started learning the piano at the age of six, and joined his first professional band, Killing Floor, in April or May 1968.[1] In 1969 Martin and Stuart McDonald were recruited by 17-year-old Darryl Read who formed a band for Emperor Rosko's brother (Jeff Pasternak) called Crayon Angels, which Read put together and played drums, while Rosko acted as manager. Martin later left Killing Floor to play alongside Gallagher, and is featured on several of Gallagher's albums, including Blueprint, Tattoo, Irish Tour '74, Against the Grain, Calling Card, Defender and Fresh Evidence.[2] He also played rhythm guitar on one track, "Race the Breeze" from Blueprint.[1]

After leaving Gallagher's band, Martin and drummer Rod de'Ath formed Ramrod, after which Martin played with Downliners Sect and Screaming Lord Sutch, and also toured with Chuck Berry and Albert Collins.[1]

Martin played in the Nickey Barclay band in London in the 1980s, alongside Barclay (ex-Fanny) on keyboards, with John Conroy[4] (ex-Sam Mitchell Band) and Dave Ball on lead guitar (ex-Procol Harum). The band played across London on the blues rock circuit during the 1980s at venues such as The White Lion, Putney; The Star and Garter on Lower Richmond Road; The Golden Lion, Fulham and the Cartoon, Croydon.

Killing Floor released an album in 2004 named Zero Tolerance, on which Martin participated.[5]

Death

After a period of illness including cancer and a number of strokes, Martin died peacefully in a hospital in Bournemouth, Dorset on 17 August 2012, aged 63.[6]

References
  1. "Gygax, Markus – Interview with Lou Martin". roryon.com. July 1988. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  2. Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Rock Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-312-1, p. 401
  3. Muise, Dan (2007) Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer and Trower, Hal Leonard, ISBN 978-0-634-02956-1, p. 25-29
  4. "John Conroy's Story". Tuvstarr.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-12-23. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  5. "Killing Floor – Zero Tolerance". Progboard. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  6. "A blue day for the blues - Lou Martin R.I.P." www.rorygallagher.com. 17 August 2012.
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