Martin Skidmore [RIP 2011]

Martin is currently a few floors below me and spending the majority of his lunchtimes in Fopp these days :)

What is a LIVEJOURNAL for?

I will FAP again soon - just been too bloody busy with bands and stuff.

I'm DJing at the next Club Popular, Dr C (10 Nov and it's a Friday) so you have to come really. Or at least email me requests. Number ones only but there is much scope.

I do admire these people with the fortitude to say they're going to stop and then actually stop instead of just saying it.

no, you're right, ILX can be very elitist.

LiveJournal - classic or dud

Marcello seems to have his own long-standing (if somewhat changeable) views on the value of ilx.

it's all about hobowars these days.

haha xpost

Why are teh tribalwars.net massive always ignored?

Okay, it's only me but still...

Starry could nip downstairs and ask him, and see if he's got any snacks worth nicking.

This is a bit stalkerish, isn't it?

Telstar.

I'll come if you'll come to see Fractured at the Bull & Gate on Nov 24th!

xp

Even if Newcleus are not given their props. Hey, that rhymes!

Hahaha I can totally see him saying this.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5562223087_3b6966fff8.jpg

what were the first two Piranhas? Beautiful Stories #1, I'm guessing, and... Epicurus or Gregory? the pinefox's cropping gives no clue.

...wait, Conrad? That hideous-looking ETC thing was by a Tim Conrad and the Milestone dude who had a CBG column where he just talked about Hollywood and got a 15-year headstart on dismissing haters, right?

I still miss Martin.

He's around on LJ.

does lj know?

he is well-known

martin has had some very bad news recently - http://martinskidmore.livejournal.com/221531.html

i'm sure he would welcome yr gd wishes and positive thoughts

I was going to mention that but wasnt sure if he wanted it here or not. But yes, best wishes Martin.

oh - very good luck with prognosis and further treatment, Martin (-in-absentia)

Oh, fuck. I hope this turns out OK.

oh no, best wishes to martin!

Look towards the positive as he suggests -- best wishes for him, for sure.

I kept meaning to email him for ages and never did it.

If you're friends with him on Facebook I strongly suggest reading his note he just posted.

I'm not on FB, but he emailed me an hour ago as I emailed him the other day. I still haven't been able to work out what to say in a reply. All my best thoughts go out to you Martin if you're reading this.

<3

Absolutely in tears. <3

I've posted a sympathy reply on FB and I'd like to join in with you in support.

Ned/Suzy, i emailed martin but as i dont have FB please could you send him my support? Thanks.

This is just horrible. :-(

I don't know what to say, it's awful.

hopefully someone can pass on good wishes to Martin on whatever further developments or prognoses may or may not have occurred

i'm gonna give martin a call later today and will pass on ppl's good wishes.

Thank you, please do that.

Best wishes and internet hugs, Martin.

had a gd long chat w martin. he doesn't want his illness to be any kind of secret and is happy for ppl to talk abt it on ilx. he also thanked ppl for their emails and gd wishes, here and elsewhere.

one thing that wld cheer him up, i think, is to get many more submissions for FA
http://comiczine-fa.com/ - so get writing!

Im glad Martin knows all his online friends are here to offer him all the support he needs. Wish there was something we could do.

Martin has passed on. RIP.

RIP

I remember him from when I first started posting

:((((((((((

rest in peace martin.

terrible news. rip.

Goddammit.

More later.

RIP

aw no, I knew this was coming but still

RIP

;_;

RIP

Such sad news. RIP.

RIP martin :(

WTF?!!

I did not know this was coming...?

man. RIP. I am bummed.

:(

RIP

Terrible. Condolences to his family and friends.

oh no

RIP

RIP

ugh RIP

This is really upsetting. RIP Martin.
Wasn't expecting it as the last email i got from him was on june 21st and he said he was hoping for 2 or 3 months without treatment as the growth had stopped growing due to chemo and hoped he could put some weight back on that he had lost.

We lost a good guy.

Really sad to hear that. RIP.

Didn't know him personally but have always enjoyed his (many, many) contributions to The Singles Jukebox, and am also really grateful to him for getting me into the manga Nana through a lovely piece about it on freakytrigger.

oh man, RIP Martin!

This is terribly sad, he will be missed.

RIP

oh this is awful. i remember him posting about this on facebook ages ago and so i was kind of sadly waiting for this thread. r.i.p. martin. you were a good dude.

RIP :(

There's no doubt, Martin was a genuinely good chap.

One of my favourite ever pieces on Freaky Trigger, it's a really good way of remembering how Martin wore his great intelligence and his great insight lightly: http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2004/11/everything-they-say-about-soul-is-wrong/

Also, up the Gasheads.

Awful news. RIP :(

So sad. RIP Martin. x

I didn't know Martin but I'm very sorry to all his friends for their loss. It seems like a lot of people around here loved him. :( RIP.

Echoing everyone else here. RIP Martin. Will go to The Gas and think of you.

i didnt know Martin, but you could tell that he was a good guy, and he always had interesting shit to say about a bunch of different subjects.

What a wonderful person, I don't know what to say. I'm so glad I knew him.

Martin was one of the first ILX people I got to know when I first came here a decade ago and I always enjoyed chatting with him either here or over IM. This is a bit of a shock because I haven't been in close touch with him recently. We all lost one of the good guys today. :(

oh no, this is so sad. rip, martin.

:(

RIP.

. . .

RIP. Fuck you, cancer.

Terrible news. He will be missed.

So sad to hear this. He went out of his way to make me feel part of the wider ILX family when I felt like a total outsider, and I was always very grateful for that. RIP Martin and, yet again, a hearty 'fuck you' to cancer.

Such sad news, RIP Martin. I knew he'd been ill for several months and now hugely regret not having seen him in that time. Martin was one of the first ILXers I can remember meeting in the pub, as well as one of the friendliest and most sincere. And such enthusiasm, not just for pop music, I've never known anyone read like Martin - even this month he reviewed 10 books on his Livejournal, that's kind of inspirational.

this is very sad. RIP, and my sincerest condolences to those of you who knew him well.

so sorry to hear it. RIP.

oh no, that's terrible. RIP Martin.

Awful. I remember meeting him in NY around 2005(?) and he was an incredibly nice, smart guy, and of course a great poster as well. He will be missed. RIP.

Wow. He was contributing to the Singles Jukebox as recently as yesterday. (Wish he could've gone out on a better track.) RIP.

being that prolific while being so sick is really quite remarkable. rip.

RIP

One hell of a bar billiards player as well.

My memories, too brief and incomplete.

RIP Martin.

x-post - That was really touching, Ned.

RIP...really sad.

Rest In Peace Martin. And thank you for all you gave.

That made me tear up, Ned.

He truly was one of the good guys, in every way. RIP Martin, and fuck you, cancer.

Thank you all kindly. I was crying as I wrote it.

Really lovely piece, Ned. RIP Martin.

so sad.

i didn't know him but he seemed very brilliant on ilx.

RIP

very sad. despite his infamous frankness, the one word that always applied to him was "gentleman". RIP Martin.

rip, always seemed like such a good-hearted and intelligent guy.

Just heard this. So sad...

Did not know him IRL but was fond of him as a poster--very sorry news and my condolences to the friends and family who will miss him so :(

I was just wondering how he was doing, and if he was getting any better. Fuck. RIP.

RIP, and sorry to all the ilxors that knew him better than I did.

sorry to all his friends, and selfishly, that I never met him. adieu.

RIP Martin. echoing everyone's thoughts here - sorry I never got to know him but he was indeed one of ILX's best posters, and someone I remember who was incredibly nice to me when I first joined. Condolences to his family and all of those here who knew him.

Rest in peace Martin :(

really sorry and sad to hear about this. his posts were a highlight of my early ILX experience.

Damn. One of the few ilxors I've met irl and he was lovely, gracious and friendly. He raised the level of discourse here with intelligence and wit. I was sad that he felt he had to stop posting here and enjoyed it when I would bump into one of his posts on FT or elswhere. Just hope he's at peace now...RIP

Very sad, RIP.

only know him as a great presence on a lot of classic threads here, but he was always so engaged & good humoured, this is very sad.

He was always such a terrific guy, almost absurdly good to everyone. And he had such a great and honest sense of himself. Such sad news ... he'd only have gotten even better and smarter. Ned's right to point how he could even tackle this illness with grace and good spirits, and keep right on writing and thinking. I will really, really miss this guy.

What a lovely man.

I think some of us need to go to the Glasshouse Stores ASAP and raise a glass.

Whatever happens, count us all there in spirit.

echoing darraghmac's sentiments...

RIP, and sorry to all the ilxors that knew him better than I did.

count me in for many spirits; martin was my the first regular to befriend me. didn't interact w/ him lately, but always liked him and found his crankiness a good good thing, and espesh sorry to his family and friends.

Aw shit. Farewell Martin and good thoughts to all his friends :(

all this time i've been here and i didn't really know him ... but i remember his thoughtful posts (esp. from ilx's earliest days).

rip and condolences to his family :-(

He put me in my place on here once (I deserved it), and I really appreciated it. He was very good to talk to, very understanding and fair and kind. Sad day.

this is horrible. martin was a kind and thoughtful man.

WBS's wonderful tribute is up:

http://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=3885

:(

rip

I didn't even know he was sick. My mom's had the same type of cancer for the past 6 years; my uncle had it too and died within months of detection. I only met him once or twice at London FAPS, but he was always a friendly presence around here. From his postings, at least it seems he lived life fully. I just read his journal--harrowing stuff.

Aw man, 52?

He was indeed a total stalwart of the Jukebox, and also I Love WWE, in its heyday.

Sleep well dude.

RIP. I only knew him via his ILX posts and what I read by him on Singles Jukebox, but he had a distinctive and engaging presence. When I was first trying to figure out ILX, he was one of the personalities that came to life most obviously and vividly. Besides the intelligence and ranging curiosity, seemed like a fundamentally decent guy. I'm sorry to hear he's gone.

RIP

RIP Martin :(

i didnt know the guy as well as a lot of people here but from his posts he was a very genuine and honest guy. RIP.

I did not know Martin, but I am very sorry for the loss of your friend.

Never got the pleasure to converse with him, but saw more than my fair share of his posts in the archive...seemed a very thoughtful, respectful, and intelligent guy.

RIP Martin

So, so, so sorry to hear this. He was always so nice to me, and to everyone. I'm just glad I got the chance to meet him when he was alive. RIP Martin.

RIP

A great guy. Rest in peace dude.

i just went back and read martin's lj for the last few months, and aside from kicking myself for not trying to send a few more words along after the facebook post months back, i am really astounded by the grace and humility and charity in those posts. obviously i'm sure he had and expressed a wealth of different emotions as all this went on, but the...grace (no other word, really) of those entries, especially in the last month or so, was really remarkable.

Didn't know Martin that well outside of Jukebox, but he was easily one of our MVPs, and always a pleasure to read. Rest in peace.

Ach, this happened a lot sooner than I expected :( Martin kept on posting to his Liejournal most days, after his diagnosis he went on a spree of reading all the books he'd always meant to get round to, which I thought was a sweet way of spending one's valuable last times. His descriptions of treatment were hard to read and heartbreaking, and it is more so now as he'd seemed to rally a little recently. Rest easy Martin, you were a gracious, kind and big-hearted guy.

Livejournal. ack what a typo :(

i'm deeply sorry i never got to meet martin. he was a decent and reassuring presence on ile and ilc for years. he was a wonderfully smart and informed guy, seemed to have read and seen everything, and wrote very well about it. i spent a whole afternoon a few weeks ago reading his reviews at the comics site he edited. i meant to drop him a line to tell him how terrific i thought it was -- too late now. :(

reading all the books he'd always meant to get round to

I should tear up at "books before I diary" but it's so Martin and so indicative of what strongo so rightly identifies as grace.

so often I come across really excellent insightful posts on bumped threads and look to see who it is and yes, it's Martin. Always enjoy his Singles Jukebox contributions too. I'd have liked to have known him better, and my thoughts are with everyone who did. RIP.

Tom's tribute:

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2011/07/martin-skidmore/

Martin was the kind of contributor every community wants – quick to say something welcoming or smart, slow to anger, possessed of a working bullshit detector but enough of a gent to use it wisely. ILX would never have been any good without him and others like him in its early stages.

: ( terrible

RIP martin

Very sad, I knew him only from reading him here and on Singles Jukebox, but always appreciated his humor and insight and he seemed like a kind person.

RIP

i keep coming back to ilx because of what i saw in my early lurking days, though martin had very different interests than me and we rarely interacted he is part of what made this place special and we are diminished

wanted to send him some kind of simple words of well wishing or compassion recently but didn't, worried it would feel contrived given how little i've interacted directly with him over the years and years i've occupied the same virtual vicinity. but he was a good man, RIP.

Waking up to this is really sad. I admired Martin enormously as some kind of ultimate cultural polymath, he seemed to know something about everything, but he wrote in a such a human, accessible way so it wasn't intimidating how smart he was. I admired Martin because in his fifties he was probably living more than many do in their twenties. One couldn't help but find him frank, funny and engaging, and I know he's living a big hole in the world even bigger than the one on the Internet as a result. RIP Martin.

I believe his presence on ilx was mostly before my time - either that or we didn't bump elbows that much. still, I certainly recognize his name.

RIP man. fuck cancer!

RIP martin :-(

He was a kind man, good company, and a shrewd critical thinker, and I will miss him.

nearly ten years ago now, martin asked a group of his friends if we knew of any online communities that might interest him. i pointed him in the direction of ILX, and the rest is history.

i was friends with martin for more than twenty-five years, and am in no fit state to write anything very coherent just right now. but i can honestly say that i don't ever expect to meet anyone like martin skidmore ever again, and that today, a UNIQUE, one of a kind person has left us, left the world. He was a decent man and I will miss him very very much. In consolation, he was in a great deal of pain and misery at the end, and the hospital that he was in ensured that his passing was as peaceful as possible. He died with a large group of loving friends close by his side.

In one of his last emails Martin spoke of how wonderful his friends were to him. Helping him with everything and being there from him , he was never alone. I'd like to thank his friends for being there for him I know he appreciated you all so very very much.

Wish I had met him, he was a really nice guy and I wish I had emailed him more rather than a handful of times a year.
I don't drink so I'll listen to a funk album that isn't guitar focused! in his honour.

Aw nutz.
Martin was about the only ILX member to talk to me on the board other than Teeny. He was smart, kind and I wish I had known him IRL. *wiggy cries*

oh, and Ned Raggett too. Can't forget him!

Didn't interact with him very often on ILM, but I always liked his approach. Most of my interaction, if you can call it that, was from reading his Singles Jukebox blurbs and various comments he'd toss up on blogs. His insight and joy will certainly be missed.

didn't know him personally but read his contributions here and on TSJ - always one of my favorite reviews. heard the news while on a bus that was delayed on the side of the road, felt totally gutted and helpless - had no idea. RIP.

just sucks when ilxors die

oh, and Ned Raggett too. Can't forget him!

― Wiggywoo, Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:13 PM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark

would it spoil the mood of this thread if i began addressing Ned as "Raggyroo"?

hugely sad news. Only met him once or twice, wish it had been more.

Christ. I never met him, but I wrote for him. The boosts of confidence he gave me when I'd send him something meant a lot to me.

Awful.

Like many here I didn't interact with him (at all, I think), but was always glad to read his inputs on many topics, and I noticed his absence when he vacated the premises. RIP.

He offered me a place to stay whenever I was traveling around London. Never had the opportunity to take advantage of his hospitality, but it was always a huge relief to know that there would be some place I could go should everything else fall through. I wish I had gotten to know him better. RIP Martin.

I hate to hear this. :( Fuck cancer!

That article upthread about soul music is so great.

I seem to remember Martin and I talking over some of the general points that would surface in the article during my visit -- the article wasn't written then, of course, but the ideas were obviously very close to his heart, and not just limited to questions of music.

It occurred to me on the way home that I'd brought him a small gift of thanks when I visited in 2003, some Cholula hot sauce, in that I had no idea if it was common stuff in the UK. Turns out he wasn't one for spice in his food, if I remember rightly! But he graciously thanked me, and I wonder what happened to the bottle -- hopefully someone put it to good use.

Momus has posted a tribute. Turns out a recent song of his was inspired by Martin:

http://mrstsk.tumblr.com/day/2011/07/28

Rest in peace.

I am sorry to read this, I feel bad that I didn't catch this thread earlier. I only read some of his posts here, but he seemed like a really good guy. RIP.

I've kind of moved past shock and into anger as I've been reading back through his livejournal entries. Anger at anyone/anything (whatever higher power you want to believe in) that could take someone away so quickly. I hadn't realized just how recent the diagnosis was. FUCK OFF cancer.

A giant among ilxors. I have a pile of books I read because he recommended them here and another pile that I'm still intending to read for the same reason. He was missed on the recent speculative fiction poll. And yes, that freakytrigger soul music article was terrific. RIP, Martin.

i never really interacted with him here but back in my lurker days i'm sure i bought at least one book based on something he wrote here that made me really want to read it. so, for that alone, RIP

The speed of it was a dreadful thing - I went round to his with some friends to see WWE's Money in the Bank last Monday, and he was in good form. All relative of course, he was in some pain and astonishingly skinny, but it was a normal social interaction, him greeting us at the door and showing us out afterwards. He was also very happy that, thanks to a stent recently fitted, he'd been able, while out seeing friends the day before, eat a cheeseburger. And of course, he was endlessly knowledgeable about the wrestling, and generous with his knowledge.

RIP, man.

ILX would never have been any good without him and others like him in its early stages.

I wasn't around that early but when old threads etc pop up this seems completely and demonstrably true

RIP

RIP Martin. I remember him fondly from the days when he used to post here regularly. I'm sorry I never got to meet him in person.

And of course, he was endlessly knowledgeable about the wrestling, and generous with his knowledge.

Haha I'd forgotten that he was a fan! Great story.

Having known of and read Martin as an editor and writer on comics for almost twenty years, it was fascinating to get to know so much more of him when I found my way to ILX. It's been a delight to read his ever-open, always inquisitive perspectives on the Jukebox since he left ILX. And I was very happy, and am even more so now, to have recognised him leaving the 10th birthday FAP as I was arriving, and to have gotten to chat with him for a few minutes before he headed off (and tell him how he was missed on ILC, much though he demurred!).

It's really, really great to know that he must have had a strong idea how valued he was by friends and peers, and that there were so many with him right at the end. Goodbye, Mr Skidmore.

RIP, awful.

So sorry to hear this. RIP Martin.

Just a couple of memories, out of many, that I recall – neither of them deep, as such, but both oddly reassuring:

Martin, Mark S, Suzy and myself wandering around Brick Lane one Sunday morning back in 2003 – it was the time Anthony Easton came over – just hanging out, looking in boutiques and knick-knack stalls or through racks of overpriced used vinyl, feeling good about the world.

2005, Liz’s funeral: the Grand Old Men of ILx UK (Mark, Tom, Martin and myself) standing at the back of the crowd; Suzy later joking about double vision (since Martin and I did not look dissimilar, ditto Tom and Mark). Despite the sadness of the occasion that was a good day.

I can’t say I was a bosom buddy. I’d see him intermittently at an FAP or at Club Popular and he was always welcoming and ready for a chat. He was a regular, reliable, warm presence. He recognised my problems with random/casual chatter and was always understanding and accommodating. I was looking forward to seeing him at Mark’s FAP a couple of months back – it had been a long time - but sadly he was too unwell to attend. I should have gone out and seen him, I should have made the effort, but then my mother was taken seriously ill, I had to go up to Scotland, and apart from that there were (still are) numerous affairs to sort out apropos my book (publication, publicity); not life or death but very time/energy-consuming. So time and circumstance conspired against me saying goodbye to him properly. Stupidly I thought he was always going to be there.

The Facebook/LJ stuff: what can I say, immense bravery – and I know from personal experience (at one remove) how painful, infuriating and soul-destroying the fight against cancer can be, the everyday nuisances, the sudden alarm calls, the random shocks, the tedious despair. I hope I never end up in that situation but would like to think that if I did I’d summon up as much courage – and, even more courageously, that ineffable good nature of his – as Martin did.

Unlike me he never succumbed to freak-outs, prima donna hysterics or grandstanding, and when I did he was always there with a wise and quieting word. Even in my worst moments on ILx there were always a few people who could tell me to shut up or stop it and I’d listen. Martin had that air of friendly authority about him. He never shut you out.

Martin wasn’t perfect; who is? He had his demons the same as everyone else but he was better at controlling them than most. I’d always thought of him as the kind of person “we” should all strive to be; designer of his own world and perfectly (or at least relatively) happy within it. Hopefully he’ll still be happy in the world to which he is now heading. He knew most things about everything and used his wisdom as a guiding light rather than a bullying truncheon. Give Skidmore some, over and out.

That's lovely, Marcello.

RIP

RIP. I only met him once, but liked him; and his name on a post here, at Freaky Trigger and The Singles Jukebox would make me pay attention. My condolences to all those who knew him properly; I'm sorry for your loss.

RIP Martin :(

Marcello's post chimes with what I was thinking last night - Martin was always open and frank about his problems with depression (in general, he was probably the most open and frank person I have ever met) and I can't remember a single incident of him taking it out on anyone else.

RIP. I only knew his writing so it's nice to read personal tributes like Marcello's and get a fuller picture of the man.

The speed of it was a dreadful thing - I went round to his with some friends to see WWE's Money in the Bank last Monday, and he was in good form. All relative of course, he was in some pain and astonishingly skinny, but it was a normal social interaction, him greeting us at the door and showing us out afterwards. He was also very happy that, thanks to a stent recently fitted, he'd been able, while out seeing friends the day before, eat a cheeseburger. And of course, he was endlessly knowledgeable about the wrestling, and generous with his knowledge.

That show unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most inspirationally brilliant of recent years, I'm glad he was able to catch it as it seemed like the kind of thing a longtime fan would have been waiting years to see

OK so I was just looking at Martin's funk thread, which I love, when I noticed someone saying RIP Martin... and this... so sad. I can't say that I really knew Martin that well but, whenever I met him, he was always very friendly to me and always made an effort to talk to me and I appreciated that a lot and it's a shame that we sort of drifted in different directions but... well I don't know what to say... see you next time around, big man

Where is Martin Skidmore and Beatles band?

― Samuel KB Amphong (Dada), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:15 (4 years ago) Bookmark

RIP, Martin. Thanks for interesting, honest and memorable posts here and elsewhere over many years (and for Nana, as if said upthread). :(

Where is Martin Skidmore and Beatles band?

― Samuel KB Amphong (Dada), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:15 (4 years ago) Bookmark

― R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Thursday, July 28, 2011 6:39 AM (20 minutes ago)

You mean the tit who used to image bomb threads? No, that was I before I got here!

found ilxor via freaky trigger and always loved his contributions there

i have a folder called martin's party mix will be listening to this tonight

my party tape

RIP

That show unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most inspirationally brilliant of recent years, I'm glad he was able to catch it as it seemed like the kind of thing a longtime fan would have been waiting years to see.

Yeah, one of the others there was Carsmile Meg, who Martin had converted to WWE by showing her matches of the inked-up indie boy :) It was great and amazing to see a show where CM Punk just won and that's it. Like in comic books, actual endings rarely happen.

His openness and warmth were such an encouraging example on this board, and in the other online haunts where I'd see him from time to time. The world is poorer without him in it. Giving thanks today for your life in this world, Martin Skidmore.

Oh no! I remember it being mentioned he was sick. But I thought he was better. I had him on my twitter list and followed his tweets of course. I fondly remember meeting him (and, of course, Marcello) years ago. Ten years? Seems more. Seems less. I will treasure the memory even more.

RIP, Martin. And a big hug to all his friends.

RIP, a true gentleman, emphasis on the gentle.

Apart from his intelligence, I'll probably never forget Martin's lugubrious West Country voice; it was like something out of a Nick Park film and thus always amusing to reconcile with his many frank posts about sex and relationships. So I've built a little Aardman version of Martin in my head, and these imagined, reanimated monologues taken from old and fondly remembered posts are cheering me up right now.

Ha, yes, I can instantly recall his voice in my head

Some other tributes, courtesy links at FT, with a focus on his role in comics:

MJ Hibbett

Down the Tubes

Tom Murphy

RIP Martin, always enjoyed his posts and we had some fun email exchanges talking abt comics & arguiing abt bendis. You will be missed.

So sad. I knew from LJ that his time was short and was staggered that he continued to blog his enthusiams online throughout these difficult times (and the periods of depression before that). A guy who always wanted to learn more (cf. the funk thread linked above) but was always ready to share what he knew. And yes, a welcoming soul IRL to boot.

RIP, Martin

The last conversation I had with Martin was on Saturday afternoon (having not seen him much in the last couple of years) and from what he said I felt that he was spurred on to battle and suffer for the time he did because of his infinite gratitude for the support of so many people and his own vast enthusiasm and patience for others.

A few weeks before that he schooled me for a few hours about the history and culture of Japanese comics (to name but one of the many subjects he was an expert on) and rarely have I enjoyed a lesson so much (in spite of the circumstances). Thanks for the memories Martin.

Haven't posted here for many years, but hearing the news of Martin's passing, I wanted to leave a few words. I only met Martin a few times at London FAPs, but had some great (and intense!) conversations with him. I was 'new in town' at the time and the ILX posse made me feel instantly welcome, particularly Martin. He was such a refreshingly open and honest person to chat with, no matter what the subject matter - good or bad. Martin you were a good man and you will be missed by so many. Rest In Peace.

I think Martin would have been moved and astonished by all the affection he's inspired. I never found a way of telling him -- or anyway persuading him -- what a great writer he was, but I think he did get a sense of how very loved he was, over the last few days, with visitors to his bedside, and heartfelt best wishes pouring from colleagues old and new. Which I'm very glad about. Those who were close and saw him in recent weeks had sensed there was no good way out of this for a few months, perhaps, but even so we were taken by surprise at the sheer speed of these last few days, and how suddenly and vastly bereft we feel. Sleep well, Martin.

Such a huge part of ILX, and such a shock to hear about this. I don't know what to say except RIP. I always liked how genuine his enthusiasm was, how much he loved what he loved.

...And he also found new things to love all the time: a new writer/song/film.

I suspect those last few months are what I'll often think back to: that he summoned the strength to seemingly keep such a cool head to express and describe in detail the hard times he was going through, and then to keep on logging the books he was reading. I hated the title of that series, I didn't want to admit that I wouldn't see or read him ever again but was always looking forward to the next instalment.

Tom E. RT'd a link to one of Martin's finest efforts, a roundtable discussion from 1988 that ran in FA on Watchmen, with both Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons as participants.

http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2006/06/24/watchmen/

I must only have spoken to Martin a couple of times privately but reading and talking with him here and elsewhere was such a massive influence/inspiration for me.

I came to ilx at about 19 as a p. clueless teenager and it was Martin's writing that got me into comics, when i just started getting into philosophy Martin's discussions/defences of postmodernism really blew me away. Even my screen name / internet monikers which i used to change on a weekly basis are down to him. I remember i posted it as an aim screename on here and he thought it was funny/good and i figured if Martin likes it i'd stick with it.

Later i often thought of emailing him telling him what a huge influence he'd been in developing my thoughts and interests but figured it might be a bit creepy and never got round to it, I wish i had now.

RIP, Martin.

lots of ppl have been sharing pics of martin today, this is a gd one taken by our friend Nigel Kitching in the mid-80s

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc497/WardFowler/Martin.jpg

I didn't know about this

with all my heart, RIP

Having been reading ILX for, what, 8 or 9 years, Martin was one of the first names I got used to seeing. Over the years, with usernames getting more and more obscure, my ability to actually keep up with who is who sometimes has fallen totally apart as I look and interact with ILX less and less. But Martin, along with a core other few, was one name that always stuck out for me, his comments always engaging, his thoughts and opinions always compelling, his personality reassuring. ILX became less interesting when he wasn't here as often, and now this. This is sad news, RIP Martin.

Man, what a great photo. Young Martin! I'm sad I never had the chance to know him then.

(I didn't mean to say the same thing as the poster right above me! but strange that we should all think the same thing. Martin's personality withstood the shifting ILX sands)

akm: yes; and now I also realize that to me, a certain part of that (which goes together with his candidness) is that he always used his real name, unless I remember wrongly?

(Obviously no dig intended at those who don't, such as, uh, myself. Still, hi Ned!)

Hi there!

Hey! Anthony! :-)

Nice comics oriented write-up by Tom Spurgeon (with a link to here):

Martin Skidmore, 1959-2011

I haven't posted here for 4yrs myself. My old login seemingly expired so had to make a new one. I wanted to express appreciation for all of these postings. Of the places I've looked at last couple days (obv I thought of here), ILX has easily inspired the biggest stream of reaction and affection, which I think says something.

Martin urged me here, probably late 2002. I'm shy & nervous so prolly didn't fit in. I'm also prone to depression (which Martin understood), and have a very BIG, defensive mouth which many interpret as me being a complete bitch. Anyhow, he thought here would bring me out of my shell. It didn't. It intimidated me, really (I will even dither about posting this, in fact). But the point is, he was being an incredibly nice guy, as ever. I guess it got too much for him too, when his depression was worse. It's nothing personal (on my part, either) -- innocuous things can get magnified unpleasantly.

We had a chance to get together last August when I was down in London, but Martin's depression thwarted him on the day. At the time it was just one missed chance... now, it upsets me much more as there were no other chances to meet up. I just found I still have his txt on my old fone: "I am afraid there is no way I will make it. Sorry, and have fun." :-(

Funny memory: Martin was the guy who, when faced with the 'post pics of yourself in underwear' thread, took it to the next level. Like wow. Balls of steel! And, as I remember it, he had NOTHING to be ashamed of down there. :b

One enduring trait to remember -- Martin was astonishingly non-judgemental. Me, I always manage to say the wrong things. Yet, he was the person least likely to judge someone for that. That's class. Pure. Unadulterated. Class.

Sorry for rambling. I mean well!

-Chrissie

Not a ramble at all -- read your blog tribute earlier today and loved it.

Great to see that Ditko cover again on The Comics Reporter obit - I conducted the Jim Shooter interview that's mentioned on the cover, and Martin and I also jointly interviewed Pat Mills for that issue. Both Martin and Pat were never at a loss for words, so it was one of the easiest interviews I've ever done.

Thanks, Ned. That made me nervous too. I mean, I knew Martin quite well for a decade (w/losing touch a while a couple times) and I was fearful of self-indulgence. Lots of people around knew him three decades, which is forever to me. They're lucky, IMO. So I wanted to put across some of Martin's great points without making myself look important or something. I prolly failed. I'm more upset than I even thought I'd be.

That issue of FA is the only one I still have today, sadly. I've sold lots of things over the years during various lean spells. I wish I could lie about it but I kept it for the Ditko cover. I imagine I'll grab some of them again if I see them anywhere.

Been looking at some of his old posts, refraining from linking any here because, you know, where to start where to end, but I think this one might be appropriate: Some days, you know how good you are at your job...

man all of the comics-related tributes have made me both happy and sad. happy to see martin's impact on the artform i treasure above all others and sad to realize that for a guy who shared the same virtual space with me for so many years i never had any idea til now (!) how much martin had a hand in the world of brit comics. i mean i always knew him as a deeply steeped and incredibly wise fan but its so weird (and wonderful) to me that he had a hand in (say) "st. swithins day," which i always remember as a g. morrison work i was immensely pleased to track down back when i was a middle schooler and the guy's work meant the world to me.

I was impressed when I realized that Martin had edited and published one of my favourite comic books, a work of which I have been very fond for over two decades now. We talked about this quite a few times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Swithin's_Day_(comics)

wow, i love that book; had no idea martin was involved with it

Martin was the editor, but not the publisher. The only other staff listed on the first issue is a G0rdon Nei1 as production manager and promotions officer, replaced by issue 4 with Nig3l Mackay as marketing manager.

Rest in Peace, Martin

I made a spotify playlist of Martin's party tape(s) as posted here my party tape

http://open.spotify.com/user/onimo/playlist/6Dbyt3MYfbdtwtJPxGtO7g

just need to find a spare 8 hours to play my way through it

onimo, that's wonderful, i'm gonna share the link with some of martin's non-ilx pals, they'll love it.

a chap called mark 0liv3r, who was in the british amateur press association w martin back in the day, got in touch w/ this:

"When I heard the news about Martin yesterday I went up in the loft and found the mixtape he sent me back in my early B-APA days (I'm guessing 1988). I've converted it to MP3 and uploaded it here:

https://rapidshare.com/files/1256012067/Skidmore_MixTape_1988.zip

It's a really eclectic mix, and a great listen. Feel free to share the link with anyone who might be interested. It's compressed with 7zip."

I should add that the sound quality is p ropey - martin s used to tape LOTS of stuff from the radio, mainly from peel and andy kershaw. Anyway, here's the tracklisting:

Boogie Woogie Like A Knife In The Back

Side 1: God Is Not A Stormtrooper

Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home
Bhundu Boys - Ndoita Sei
Killdozer - Hamburger Martyr
Victor Lundberg - Open Letter To My Teenage Son
James Carr - Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
Ronnie Dawson - Action Packed
Tom Waits - Yesterday Is Here
Salif Keita - Souareba
Wynona Carr - 'Till The Well Runs Dry
Eugene Chadbourne - Bo Diddley Is A Communist
Bo Diddley - Cops And Robbers
George Jones - Good Year For The Roses
The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens - Thokazile
Billy Ward & His Dominoes - The Bells (Clyde McPhatter on 'vocals')

Side 2: At The First Moment Turn Away From Unclean Thoughts - AT THE FIRST MOMENT

Stanley Winston - No More Ghettos In America
Frankie Ford - Sea Cruise
John Lee Hooker - TB Sheets
Eddie Fontaine - Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves On The Trees)
David Rudder - Madness
Amayenge - Minise Minise
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Hear Voices
Merle Haggard - Today i started Loving You Again
The Four Brothers - Uchandifunga
LL Cool J - The Do Wop
Bob Rogers - The Teen Commandments
Esquerita - Esquerita & The Voola (World's greatest pianist)
Dan Pickett - 99 1/2 Won't Do

The Stanley Winston song that opens side two of the tape was def. one of martin's especial favourites, along w. James Carr's version of Dark end of the Street and a zillion others.

Hope to listen to the onimo playlist after the optimo playlist posted on another thread.

Is Dan Pickett different from Wilson Pickett?

re: dan pickett - yep

http://www.wirz.de/music/pickdfrm.htm

this is dreadfully sad

i remember his posts from back in the day and he seemed like a fine person and estimable polymath

condolences to all who knew him

At The First Moment Turn Away From Unclean Thoughts - AT THE FIRST MOMENT

<3

martin s interviewing dave sim at a uk comic convention, late 1980s (photo via frank pl0wright)

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc497/WardFowler/5991269711_70ac9d0d02.jpg

Great, great photo.

had sim gone bonkers yet? martin's expression suggests this was happening THEN AND THERE

had sim gone bonkers yet? martin's expression suggests this was happening THEN AND THERE

late 80s would have been the time of Church And State and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, so yah - Sim was just beginning to fray around the edges.

Depends how you rationalise Sim's bonkers-ness. I reckon this is pretty early into Jaka's Story, which in my exegesis is consistent with the later Jaka i.e. already into bonkers territory.

Even though I knew he was unwell, this was still a terrible blow. I loved reading him on here and at various places around the web, but also remember fondly the time I was in London and attended a FAP he was at. Would have been 7 or 8 years ago now. He chatted warmly with me about this and that as if he had known me for years, even though we'd just met and hadn't even really had any direct interactions on ILX. My heart goes out to his friends and family, online and off. Great guy, too soon, undeserved pain. RIP Martin.

I only knew him from his music posts here. RIP

late 80s would have been the time of ... the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, so yah - Sim was just beginning to fray around the edges.

considering Martin's taste and life, to say that it's "bonkers" to be opposed to the jailing of one adult for selling other adults books that include scenes of lovemaking between adult characters in relationships is rather o_0

nice to have mark s back, so sad that these are the circumstances that occasioned it. i don't know if he was like this in real life but here on ILX martin always seemed very self-assured, like he didn't have anything whatsoever to prove. which was appreciated.

Came across another tribute that I don't think has been linked here yet:
http://tonykeen.blogspot.com/2011/07/martin-skidmore.html

And another:
http://lucidfrenzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/rip-martin-skidmore-good-amateur-table.html

As noted <a href="a memorial page for martin skidmore;>here</a> we're planning a memorial page to Martin (probably using Freaky Trigger's server space, though not FT-branded): this would include some pictures of him, a short account of his achievements, a full set of links to the many very moving obits that have now gone up and to some of his best-loved pieces -- and also some kind of section encouraging people to swap stories about him, fond, funny, fascinating, gathered from comments threads, message boards, and elsewhere.

There are several posts on this thread that we'd like to use: I'll email people individually, but if you haven't heard and want to contribute something, please feel free to email me.

oh ffs: well it works anyway, even if it is inelegantly coded (i will not be designing the page in question, APPARENTLY)

a memorial page for martin skidmore

May you rest in happiness and peace, Martin.

I've been on ILX about 8 years and only attended 1 or 2 meetups, but I certainly remember Martin and his instant amiability. Seemed like a lovely guy and I'll miss his odd comics posts on ILC. RIP.

Keep trying to think of a way to express in real life why I would feel sad about this but it's kind of difficult and ends up coming out like Dorothy trying to describe her trip to Oz:

"You see there was this internet message board called ILX and there was this fellow named Martin, and whenever he posted something everybody would pay attention. He loved comics and cricket, M. John Harrison and Joyce Carol Oates, soul music and Japanese art- oh, all sorts of things. And then he and Mark S and Tom E would - oh, it was really quite extraordinary."

"What's that you say, a computer, eh? Maybe you need to take a rest from staring at that screen and go outside and get some fresh air."

But there is something that pretty much expresses exactly how I feel and it was something Gear wrote on Liz D's memorial thread, which I haven't looked since it was first posted but have certainly thought about more than once, and which I will cut and paste here, I hope he doesn't mind and nobody else minds.

the way this has troubled me over the past few days, perhaps irrationally, has given me pause, in that it makes me feel particularly vulnerable and powerless. emotionally speaking, that is. i've had more contact with some people on ilx than others on here, liz being somewhere in the middle i suppose, and it's made me realize how much it would affect me if anyone else were to be in a similar situation as she is. i've searched through the archives a number of times in recent days for other reasons and inevitably i've come across several liz postings and it kills me. because there's something alive and immediate about any post on here, even one from four years ago.
and some might think, 'gear, you're overreacting', but that doesn't take into account that everyone here has a very distinct personality. to see a post from roxy or jon or teeny or liz or amateurist or alex nyc or spencer or allyzay or blount and to think, 'oh of course they'd say that' is to realize you've come to know people on here and you have a certain affection for them and if any one of them were to be snatched away, it would hurt.

i told my father about this and he related a story about how when he and my mother were working at first national bank of chicago in the early '70s, there was a security guard downstairs in the lobby who they always saw standing in one corner. he was there the first two years they were. they never spoke to him, he was always just at his station in the corner, reading the paper, drinking his coffee. one morning he wasn't there, the same morning there was a particularly terrible train accident in chicago. they discovered the next day that this man had been killed in the accident. my father says everyone he knew at the bank, most of whom had never spoken to this very quiet, private fellow, were affected for a long time. he told me that he has never forgotten this man and to this day, whenever business takes him back to first national, he'll look to his corner and remember him fondly.

right now i don't want to not ever meet liz. if i don't have the opportunity to do so, i still think i'll always remember her.

― Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Wednesday, July 13, 2005 11:20 AM (6 years ago)

i got the phone call about this several days ago and have still not managed to deal with it, emotionally, at all

martin was one of the first people i met when i first moved to london in 2003. we played bar billards, of course. i almost beat him in a fluke match and then got thoroughly schooled in the next. he was an extraordinarily clear and patient writer. i can't ever remember him going easy on any work of art, for any reason, but those things he liked he celebrated endlessly. i wish that the culture of italian and french and japanese comics had come to britain in his lifetime. i wish the art and comics world had found more of a place for his intellect. i wish he had taken better care of himself. i wish he were still alive.

i'm trying to put my finger on his mein and can't do it - "wry" doesn't really get it. he was grumpily amiable. he always had tired eyes. yes it was bad, things were bad, his eyes seemed to say, but here's a couple of reasons you might get on with a few things anyway. i'm failing terribly at this i know

tom gets it perfectly on freaky trigger of course:

an endless, unshowy curiosity, a frank and level judgement, and the depth of experience to give that judgement weight.

i just came upon this news. what an awful thing. one of the names that always stuck out, fixed below something worth reading, when i found this website. RIP.

one of the names that always stuck out, fixed below something worth reading

^^^

"yes it was bad, things were bad, his eyes seemed to say, but here's a couple of reasons you might get on with a few things anyway."

Hand, I admire the stoicism of this plausible formulation.

thank you pinefox, though i fear it doesn't quite get at the core of the man. Ewing has managed it better.

Am I allowed say that I found him funny? I used to love his allusions to his louche lifestyle.

yes!! his total, disarming frankness about sex!

Those are the posts I imagine in a wide Somerset accent.

I felt like I had led such a sheltered life after reading those posts.

Is there any sort of memorial charity fund that people are donating to? If so, I'd like to donate.

Am I allowed say that I found him funny? I used to love his allusions to his louche lifestyle.

― The New Dirty Vicar, Friday, August 5, 2011 5:14 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

yes!! his total, disarming frankness about sex!

― Dark Noises from the Eurozone (Tracer Hand), Friday, August 5, 2011 5:23 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark

yes, i meant to say this but was too cautious.

Woah, I only just caught this. Martin was one of the first ILXors whose name I would recognize on ILX. He was also among the first group of ILX people I met in person, way back in 2000? 2001? at The Pint Pot on Tottenham Court Road- I wonder how many of those people are still regular posters - Steve? Julio? Kate?Mark C? Tom? I guess Matt is still around... I remember Martin being among the first of the group that I spoke to and he was very friendly indeed, as always somewhat recognizable from his online persona but in other ways not. I wasn't aware of his health problems but he seemed to have lived in interesting if complex life and had a sincere and obvious passion for the people and things he loved. RIP

Hi Adam yes I remember the pint pot - does it have Karaoke? - that was a wonderful evening.

Kind of want to start on Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy. Martin discovered him a few months ago and naturally enough went on to read a few quickly.

Haha, I just figured out who you are.

Never met the guy , but he was an excellent contributor back in the glory days of I Love Comics. RIP.

I've been on a vacation, so I only heard the news today, and even though this was expected it's still terribly sad and unfair for us to lose such a human being. Like many others I only knew Martin via the internet, but his immense knowledge and generous personality certainly made a big impression me. Good night and farewell, Martin.

Adam - I remember that night! Martin and Mark S had promised/threatened a rendition of All The Things She Said, complete with lezzing up. It goes without saying we were deprived of this...

"complete with lezzing up" <-- i am not at all sure i recall this aspect of the promise

Been away from ILX for a long time, and this is the first news I got on my return. Shitty. Loved reading Martin's posts on virtually everything, and he put me in my place comics-wise on a few occasions. Thoughts are with those who knew and loved him IRL.

Martin's brother has been in touch about the funeral, here are the details for anyone who hasn't heard yet, and would like to attend. I will see you there:

I'm finally in a position to be able to confirm the funeral arrangements for
Martin. The ceremony will be held at East Finchley (a.k.a. St Marylebone)
Cemetery East End Road, East Finchley, London, N2 0RZ on Thursday 18th
August at 3:00pm. Their website showing travel information etc. is at
http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/communityandliving/burials/eastfinchl
ey/

As per Martin's wishes it will be a humanist ceremony, no flowers please but
any donations to Macmillan Cancer Support
<http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx>; who made a massive difference to
the quality of life Martin had over the last few months would be most
gratefully received.

bump for the brits

Bump for anyone coming tomorrow.

Went on vacation and realized that two of the books I brought along to read had been recommended on this board by Martin. Well, him and Rock Hardy- take care of yourself, Rock Hardy! And warm thoughts for tomorrow from here to over there

I haven't been on ILXOR in years, for some reason I felt compelled to do so today, and saw this terrible news. :( Martin was such a kind, nice gentleman. Rest in peace.

thank you!

::tries to remember what's on the calendar for tomorrow::

You will be chairing memorial

meeting of Mississippi chapter of Martin Skidmore Appreciation Society

Sorry, didn't read upthread. Now I feel foolish. I will raise my coffee cup tomorrow morning at 3pm UK time and think of Martin and comics and music, and maybe even cricket.

Don't forget The Man in the Tree, which you both liked so much.

have just been at the service. tough to deal with. buzzcocks and al green. RIP Martin.

he would have chuckled at the cliche of the absurd downpour

xxx ms

Sadly I wasn’t able to come because I couldn’t get off work. Thursday’s my busiest day of the week with multidisciplinary team meetings to arrange/coordinate and clinics to be run but I hope I’m doing my best, professionally, to make sure that our cancer patients receive proper treatment and care so I’ll call that my tribute to Martin. mc xx

I've been thinking about Martin all day, I hope whatever place he is in now has an awesome stash of comics and good music. RIP Martin, you were a grand fellow.

LinkedIn just suggested I connect with Martin

If you can pull that off, I'm not giving LinkedIn as much credit as I should.

nice piece about mark millar's early work that mentions martin:

http://sequart.org/magazine/21053/what-if-superman-was-really-the-antichrist/

miss you, ms

One of the best.

yup

That was nice, thanks for linking that article.

I have been butting heads with a guy irl who has nothing good to say about Martin from the Trident era so this is a welcome palate cleanser. Thanks Ward.

martin was lovely, friendly, generous and very open, one of the ppl who made me stick around this place when i discovered it

i never interacted with him, but from reading his posts here as well as his pieces on Freaky Trigger, i could tell he was a great guy.