Martin Lamble

English drummer (1949–1969)

Drums
violin

Years active1966–1969Labels

Island Records
Polydor

Formerly ofFairport Convention

Musical artist

Martin Francis Lamble (28 August 1949 – 12 May 1969) was the drummer for British folk rock band Fairport Convention, from just after their formation in 1967, until his death in the band's van crash in 1969. He joined the band after attending their first gig and convincing them that he could do a better job than their then drummer, Shaun Frater.

The eldest of three brothers, Martin was educated at Priestmead primary school, Kenton, and later at University College School, Hampstead.

He played on the band's first three albums, but on 12 May 1969, not long after recording Unhalfbricking,^[1] Fairport's van crashed on the M1 motorway, near Scratchwood Services, on the way home from a gig at Mothers. Lamble was killed outright in this accident at the age of 19.^[1]^[2]

He also (along with fellow Fairport members, Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, and Ashley Hutchings) played on Al Stewart's album Love Chronicles,^[3] under the pseudonym Martyn Francis.^[4] The album was released in September 1969, four months after Lamble's death.

Martin's younger brother, Graeme Lamble, plays fretless bass guitar in Gypsy jazz group FiddleBop.

References

^ ^a ^b Rob Young, Fairport Convention and Electric Folk: Faber Forty-Fives: 1967–1970. Retrieved 24 September 2015
^ "This Day in Music Spotlight: The Highway Wreck that Killed Fairport Convention's Drummer". Gibson.com. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2015. ^{[dead link]}
^ Al Stewart - Love Chronicles, retrieved 14 November 2022
^ "Martyn Francis". Discogs. Retrieved 14 November 2022.