Guitarist John Anthony passes away

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Demise of John Anthony, a magician with guitar, has created a hole that cannot be filled in music industry. He was 62. Anthony died of a heart attack at his house in Thiruvananthapuram while rehearsing his dream album. He was taken to the nearby hospital, but couldn’t be saved.

He had begun strumming the guitar at a young age. In his teens, he became part of two of the influential bands of the 1970s in Kochi — ‘Stoneage’ and ‘Hijackers’. In 1976, he came to Thiruvananthapuram to study Western Classical music. At the same time, he got introduced to Carnatic music through M.G. Radhakrishnan.

He was also a musician who has played the guitar for more than 2,000 Malayalam and Tamil film songs, the most memorable of them being the solo pieces for the song Ponveene from the film Thalavattom.

He formed the fusion music band ‘Roots’, with A.R. Rahman and Sivamani during his time in Chennai in the 80s. He was a guitarist and music teacher for 30 years. He was also part of around 2,500 concerts. Anthony received several accolades for his contribution to music. He was also a noted environmentalist and cartoonist.

Funeral will be done after the arrival of his son Sidharth John, who is a Hollywood animation specialist. Wife: Supreetha. Body of the deceased is kept a Ananthapuri hospital mortuary.