Pentangle founder John Renbourn dead at 70

Pentangle founder John Renbourn has died at the age of 70.

His body was found this morning (Thursday) at home in Hawick, Scotland, after he missed a concert in Glasgow last night. It’s suspected he suffered a heart attack.

Renbourn began his career as a solo artist before starting work with Bert Jansch in 1963. They put Pentangle together four years later along with Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox.

He returned to solo work then moved into classical music composition in the 1980s.

His manager, Dave Smith, said: “John was larger than life – game for anything. He was just finishing off a tour with Wizz Jones and looking forward to the next. He was always running weekend workshops all over Europe.

“He had an international fanbase because of his influential playing style. He was working right up to the end, and loved what he was doing.”

Renbourn’s last release was 2011 album Palermo Snow.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.