Remembering Martyn Ellis

[Wiganer1]

one guy i wished id got to meet properly and have a chat with....

quite a character i understand and certain one behind the decks

got quite a few of his wigan spots on tape..played some good stuff too

[Guest]

one guy i wished id got to meet properly and have a chat with....

quite a character i understand and certain one behind the decks

got quite a few of his wigan spots on tape..played some good stuff too

I am sure that you would have got on well with Skewsy ( Skews was Martyn's real name ) , Mark : he was a great character , and was always one of the lads , despite making a name for himself on the DJ circuit .......

He is sadly missed by all those who knew him .

Malc Burton

[Julianb]

He used to fancy my (now) sister in law when we went to the Torch.

Great DJ ( with other people's records!) and a great character, but you couldn't get a word in when he'd been on the green and clears!

Last time I spoke to him at length was at the Mecca reunion night around '99?

His funeral was very well attended - seem to remember Timi Yuro being played and something else which I can't remember.

Sadly missed.

Julian

[Our Kid]

Remember fondly a night in Stockport with Martyn about 1975.

Anyway Martyn turns up at our flat (where we were skint as usual) and invites us out for a Chinese (which was pretty cosmopolitan at the time let me tell you!) on him.

After politely declining a couple of times we decided to give it a go,and Martyn the showman he was chooses a posh gaff where Johnny Mathis had dined the previous week.There we are and Martyn is leading us through this menu with all exotic dishes etc and some decent wine to wash it all down.Anyway when Martyn orders his dish he asks the guy for boiled rice with it to which the waiter says in a lofty manner that they don't deal in that low level stuff at his gaff.

Martyn replies "Wrong answer" which Mr Chan didn't quite understand.So we go through a procession of pigeon english speaking waiters/managers all explaining their lack of boiled rice to which Martyn's stock reply was (you've guessed it) "Wrong answer".

On we progress - more chat,more wine and a fine meal had by all.

Martyn then decides to tackle the dessert menu which again was missing one of his choices (back to the wrong answer scenario etc).I noticed the fantastic service we were getting at this place - it looked like all of Hong Kong were in the kitchen to attend to our every need.

We thanked Martyn for the treat as the bill came, and he suddenly shouted "GO!" and legged it. Hey thanks for the warning me owd; it's normal to co- ordinate a runner where I come from!!! Then I realised that all of Hong Kong were chasing us around these petrol pumps across the road and they had some fine chopping utensils to hand!

How we got outta that one alive I don't know but yup Martyn was one of the lads.

Agree that his music selection with other people's tunes was second to none.

RIP

Paul

[Ian Parker]

only met the guy once (briefly) at the kings hall, stoke in 97 for the Torch 25th anniv nighter. he was like a man posessed on that stage, full of life , especially when he played Williams n Watson.

[Jez Jones]

Remember him well from theTorch and hadn't seen him since then until a Sunday afternoon in Warrington in the late 80's. I was off the scene in those days and only had a possible annual or biannual dabble in to it

Anyway I was round me mates house and were bored sh)tless and he mentioned about this soul do in a pub/bar in Warrington.

Off we go and find it---and Martyn is the DJ and he was well on form. He had the loudest ,brashest Hawaiin shirt on ever and it was winter.

Anyway he was up and down from behind the decks, going for a slash, stopping to talk to people all over the shop ---and that was during his set

He didnt remember me , but my mate was shocked at his 'wide-eyed' demeanour ---I says dont worry about it--its only Martyn he's ok .

Yes a true 'character of the scene sadly with us no more

Edited November 22, 2008 by jez jones

[Pauldonnelly]

just listen to the first 60secs of the Major Lance live at the Torch Album who can ever forget those immortal opening words..."thats what you call a typical Martyn Ellis cock up don't don't record that you'll get me sent down, ok fellas, now ya know"...that WAS Martyn Ellis.

I dj'd with him at a gig in Newton le willows and he was full of it, several weeks after I was doing some research for an article I was writing about the Torch and googled the dj's, Martyn was first in and to my horror a story unfolded that he had died. It shook me up me big time it was if I'd lost someone close though to be fair I didn't really know him.

[John Elias]

Last saw Martyn dj at Heywood Civic,was a bit worse for wear and only spun one before he did a disappearing act falling thru the curtains,raised some eyebrows I can tell ya.RIP fella.

Edited November 23, 2008 by dancingcollector

[Ritchieandrew]

Remember fondly a night in Stockport with Martyn about 1975.

Anyway Martyn turns up at our flat (where we were skint as usual) and invites us out for a Chinese (which was pretty cosmopolitan at the time let me tell you!) on him.

After politely declining a couple of times we decided to give it a go,and Martyn the showman he was chooses a posh gaff where Johnny Mathis had dined the previous week.There we are and Martyn is leading us through this menu with all exotic dishes etc and some decent wine to wash it all down.Anyway when Martyn orders his dish he asks the guy for boiled rice with it to which the waiter says in a lofty manner that they don't deal in that low level stuff at his gaff.

Martyn replies "Wrong answer" which Mr Chan didn't quite understand.So we go through a procession of pigeon english speaking waiters/managers all explaining their lack of boiled rice to which Martyn's stock reply was (you've guessed it) "Wrong answer".

On we progress - more chat,more wine and a fine meal had by all.

Martyn then decides to tackle the dessert menu which again was missing one of his choices (back to the wrong answer scenario etc).I noticed the fantastic service we were getting at this place - it looked like all of Hong Kong were in the kitchen to attend to our every need.

We thanked Martyn for the treat as the bill came, and he suddenly shouted "GO!" and legged it. Hey thanks for the warning me owd; it's normal to co- ordinate a runner where I come from!!! Then I realised that all of Hong Kong were chasing us around these petrol pumps across the road and they had some fine chopping utensils to hand!

How we got outta that one alive I don't know but yup Martyn was one of the lads.

Agree that his music selection with other people's tunes was second to none.

RIP

Paul

Moving forward to 1976 & the Ritz all dayers, later on we used to go out for a Chinese takeaway from Washway road in Sale and get some more Fosters lager on the way back. Allthougt we never told Martyn when we were going and what time ,he was allways waiting by the car, and he allways got some free Chinese & Fosters, cos he was skint. Happy days R.I.P. Martyn one helluva character.

Regards Ritchie.

Edited November 22, 2008 by RitchieAndrew

[Citizen P]

Last saw Martyn dj at Heywood Civic,was a bit worse for wear and only spun one before he did a disappearing act falling thru the curtains,raised some eyebrows I can tell ya.RIP fella.

Ah, yes I remember it well.

Hadn't seen him since Wigan, first words to me were-ironically enough

" Kinell, Tony, I thought you were dead!"

ATB

Tony

[Guest]

just listen to the first 60secs of the Major Lance live at the Torch Album who can ever forget those immortal opening words..."thats what you call a typical Martyn Ellis cock up don't don't record that you'll get me sent down, ok fellas, now ya know"...that WAS Martyn Ellis.

I dj'd with him at a gig in Newton le willows and he was full of it, several weeks after I was doing some research for an article I was writing about the Torch and googled the dj's, Martyn was first in and to my horror a story unfolded that he had died. It shook me up me big time it was if I'd lost someone close though to be fair I didn't really know him.

To those of us who knew - and experienced - Martyn in his " prime " , seeing him near to end of his days , was very saddening . For all the outward bravado , he was suffering through illness very badly . I last saw Skewesy a couple of months before he sadly passed , and he told me that he was well and truly f****d off , and would be glad when it was all over ........

Even though I knew that meeting was likely to be the last time I saw him ( it was ) , the news of his death still came as a shock ........

Malc Burton

[Guest jake-skewes]

hi im martyns son jake

i was jus wundering if any1 had any old pictures or stuff like that of him

[Pauldonnelly]

hi im martyns son jake

i was jus wundering if any1 had any old pictures or stuff like that of him

I have a couple Jake...email addy please.

[Chris L]

He used to fancy my (now) sister in law when we went to the Torch.

Great DJ ( with other people's records!) and a great character, but you couldn't get a word in when he'd been on the green and clears!

Last time I spoke to him at length was at the Mecca reunion night around '99?

His funeral was very well attended - seem to remember Timi Yuro being played and something else which I can't remember.

Sadly missed.

Julian

He was indeed a real character and it's lovely people are still talking about him. A super DJ in spite

of the fact he had no or little records he seemed to come alive (more than usual) on stage, Martyn

was always destined to go out with a bang. Gone but not forgotten....................

Chris L

[Chris L]

hi im martyns son jake

i was jus wundering if any1 had any old pictures or stuff like that of him

Jake

The best of all is the one on the inside of the Torch CD from Goldmine, your father in his

prime doing what he did best DJ-ing at a Northern Soul venue. If you contact Paul Donnelly

he's made a CD from a tape I have of your dad performing at the Torch circa Oct 1972.

Good luck

Chris L

[Guest POTTERIESPECK]

I USED TO SIT ABOVE HIM ON THE BALCONNY AT Mr M's AT THE CASINO AS A SPRIGHTLY 16 YEAR OLD. TOTALY MEMORIZED ME FOR IS ENTHUSIASUM WHEN DOING HIS SPOT. AT WIGAN I PREFERED THE MAIN ROOM, BUT WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO GO NTO Mr M's FOR HIS SPOT.PURE CLASS FOR ME JAKE AND THAT WAS OVR 30 YEARS AGO.

[Guest jake-skewes]

Thanks for that photo if...if anyone has any others or funny storys bout him id appreciate it

[Guest Mark Holmes]

I had come over from the US on holiday and hooked up with my mate Ian Cusack (Que) who i used to go to Wigan with. Somehow we decided to go off to Kings Hall in Stoke and had met Martin in a pub in Thelwall where he lived (and I was from). Actually Jake, Que and Martin met each other outside the school as he waited to pick you up.

Anyway despite he doth protest we "kidnapped" him and drove down to Stoke. All he could talk about was how much trouple he would be in

Not exactly sure where the venue was Martin was giving direcctions !!!. He was talking about the Torch so much that I was convinced he was taking us there.

All of a sudden Martin shouted "STOP"..."are we here"..."No I need a slash"..

We eventually got to the Kings Hall and it was amazing the smiles and back slapping that Martin generated as he walked in to the Kings Hall. He was so happy.

It was the only time I had really met and spent time with him but he made the night a lot of fun. It was sad when I read the news on the Night Owl site that he had passed on.

Mark

Edited December 30, 2008 by Mark Holmes

[Guest jake-skewes]

I had come over from the US on holiday and hooked up with my mate Ian Cusack (Que) who i used to go to Wigan with. Somehow we decided to go off to Kings Hall in Stoke and had met Martin in a pub in Thelwall where he lived (and I was from). Actually Jake, Que and Martin met each other outside the school as he waited to pick you up.

Anyway despite he doth protest we "kidnapped" him and drove down to Stoke. All he could talk about was how much trouple he would be in

Not exactly sure where the venue was Martin was giving direcctions !!!. He was talking about the Torch so much that I was convinced he was taking us there.

All of a sudden Martin shouted "STOP"..."are we here"..."No I need a slash"..

We eventually got to the Kings Hall and it was amazing the smiles and back slapping that Martin generated as he walked in to the Kings Hall. He was so happy.

It was the only time I had really met and spent time with him but he made the night a lot of fun. It was sad when I read the news on the Night Owl site that he had passed on.

Mark

i still talk 2 que he's goin out wit my m8z mum lol i take it that my dad was always the life of the party lol

[Mark S]

Loved his spot at the Casino in the mornings , spent a drunken afternoon with him in a pub in Torquay in the mid seventies a character .

To Late still a top tune .

[goodisonturf]

I remember tracking Martyn down ( Took me over 4 years and he was only living 5 miles away) to do his first "Come back" spot for me at The Viaduct, he had to as usual borrow, beg or steel records to do the spot but he had lost none of his charm & wit.

I got him through this to go on searlings show and if you heard that it was radio magic as Martyn complete with carlsberg special brew caused mayhem in the studio but it was one of the highlights on the then JazzFM

[Guest N5OUL]

A big thank you to everyone who replied about my question regarding a 2002 mention of Martin Ellis.

I tried to follow the link from Front Page,but it went nowhere,hence the question.Very sad.

 

Absolutely fantastic dj,thanks dave T for his intros.

 

Anyone on SSource knew him personally who could relate Martin's dj'ing history a little ?

 

Mega respect.

[Mike]

Hi

locked the other thread as your post was a bit vague

have just quickly re-titled this one to reflect your post better

cheers

mike

[Mark S]

Spent a very vague drunken afternoon with Martyn in Torquay in the early 70,s a sound bloke madder than a box of frogs  

[Guest Dave Turner]

Here ya go with a thread from a few years back

 

[bri phill]

Martins first DJ spot was at a club called The Drokiweeny 1970 which was a part of Mr Smiths cabaret club in Manchester.

He did the odd spot with two older  DJs who had come from the  Jungfrau coffee bar club which had closed to make way for a drinking club called Time and Place George Best favourite venue.

I remember meeting him around that time and he bought a couple of records from me for about 10/-

[De-to]

a couple of piccys here...  https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=martyn+ellis+dj&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=6zQjUqe6CInm7Abpy4HIDw&ved=0CFYQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=677

[Steve Foran]

Anyone hear the story about Martyn and Fontella Bass? Needs telling!

[Guest Garry Huxley]

First met Martin when he was introduced to me by Tony Petherbridge at an alldayer around 73/74 ish and he borrowed some of my records so he could do a spot in the main room, and after asking why i haddent seen him dj'in for a while he replied "ive been away for a bit" later in the day i found he had been on holiday courtesy of her majesty and he had only been released a few days before. Top man and he bought me a drink,allways had time for anybody and realy friendly chap.

 

Garry

[Guest]

Hear the man himself!

https://youtu.be/965W8r25alc

 

Always remember Martin spinning Sandy Nelson`s Sock it to em JB and adding "Dr No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger" etc over the mic. 

Quality! 

 

Edited September 3, 2013 by Guest

[Jim G]

Martyn Ellis was what nearly all other northern "DJ's" have not been, a true disc jockey, entertaining and fun. 

 

RIP

[Jim G]

90 minutes of the Torch from 1972, Martyn Ellis, Tony Jebb and Alan Day, click on the video below. Also, amazing how many of the "Top 500" you will hear on this all from 1972... Including at 1.03.43 "I'm Gone"

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/garrykeen/the-torch-a-live-recording-from-1972-djs-alan-day-martyn-ellis-tony-jebb/

Edited September 3, 2013 by jim g

[Guest]

90 minutes of the Torch from 1972, Martyn Ellis, Tony Jebb and Alan Day, click on the video below. Also, amazing how many of the "Top 500" you will hear on this all from 1972... Including at 1.03.43 "I'm Gone"

 

Billy Sha-rae`s version was played long before EP`s, I think it was 77 when Searling played it at the Casino.

Edited September 3, 2013 by Guest

[Chris L]

Billy Sha-rae`s version was played long before EP`s, I think it was 77 when Searling played it at the Casino.

 

Both got played at the Torch, Nigel Martin had three copies. His dad worked for Canadian Pacific Airlines and used to buy on behalf of his son from Martin Koppel long before he became a known quantity. The story is that Nigel's dad asked for "Love you baby" which Koppel didn't have at the time but offered him 'I'm gone' we all know the rest.

[Guest]

Hi Chris.....I only (just) remember BS version from the Torch. Mind you....not a whole lot else nowadays. 

[Chris L]

Hi Chris.....I only (just) remember BS version from the Torch. Mind you....not a whole lot else nowadays. 

 

Thing is that Nigel had the only copies so it only got played when he was there.

[Guest]

Fancy being palmed off with with Im gone!.......pffff! 

[Guest]

Brilliant! notice how much"Atmosphere" he brings on in the intro´s give me a talking dj every time

 

Steve

After the Torch closed we used to thumb it from Burnley down to the Rank on a Saturday afternoon (me and a lad called Toothy) and then get the coach (50 pence) up to Wigan with the Stoke/midlands lads/girls. Anyone remember it being stopped at Keele services, and we were all marched off to be searched......they found nothing because we hurridly gobbed it all dry  on the bus .................I think it was keele

Edited September 3, 2013 by Guest