I have always been fascinated with the when, how and why of musicians. McLaughlin supplied the following information on his musical history and influences from a very early age. In my experience, it’s a unique insight into one of the world’s leading conteporary musicians.

5 Years Old

First musical experience. After numerous listenings I finally ‘hear’ the music of the final movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the vocal quartet. I get Goosebumps.

6 Years Old

I have 3 elder brothers and a sister. My brothers are already Francophile, and had already begun teaching me French at 3 years old. By 6, real French people are coming to our house, and I am fascinated. My mother is an amateur violinist and as a consequence, music is being constantly played at home either on the radio or records. All Classical.

8 Years Old

Start piano lessons, discover Mozart. My mother is happy that I want to learn music. She encourages me continuously.

11-12 Years Old

I hear Black American music for first time. Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly and the Mississippi Delta Blues. A revolution!

13-14 Years Old

I hear Flamenco music for the first time. Another revolution.

14-15 Years Old

I hear Jazz for first time. Django Reinhardt. Yet another revolution. Playing on Django’s recordings are clarinettist Hubert Rostaing, and violinist Stephane Grappelli. They are great. I already love the violin thanks to my mother, but this is the first time I hear Jazz Violin. Amazing. Later, I hear American guitarist Tal Farlow with pianist Eddie Costa. I am very impressed by both of them.

15 Years Old

My mom takes me to the window one evening and points to a small light in the sky. “That’s the Planet Mars” she says. She then gives me a copy of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles to read. I become an instant Sci-Fi fan. I read all I can get my hands on.

The BBC in Britain broadcast a series of programs on the Mississippi Delta Blues by researcher Alan Lomax. Very powerful impact on me. Later this year, I hear another broadcast of Temple Music from South India. This music is played by several Nagaswarams and Tavil percussion. I have no idea what they are playing, but the music evokes very deep and powerful feelings in me. Only many years later will I realise what this music truly is.

16 Years Old

I hear Miles Davis with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly etc. Milestones. I find my Jazz School. For quite a few years now, quite intense discussions take place in our house about important aspects of life. These discussions are essentially between 2 of my elder brothers, my sister and me, but are dominated by my eldest brother Rob, who is already a hero to me, and the number 3 brother Alan. Both brothers infect me with their Francophilia, and introduce me to the French Cinema Noir as soon as possible. I become a fan.

17 Years Old

I hear Miles with Bill Evans, and also with Gil Evans Orchestra. Miles also under the influence of Flamenco. Just right for me. Colossal impression. Along with Miles, Cannonball and Coltrane, Bill Evans becomes one of my heroes.

21 Years Old

I discover Monk and Mingus and admire both of them especially for their compositions which have an influence of me.

22-23 Years Old

Start playing with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. Rhythm ‘n’ Blues is inseparable from Jazz.

Hear Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” for the first time. This record is a milestone in my life. I cannot understand at all what Coltrane is doing musically on this record. On the back cover there is a Poem/Prayer by Coltrane, that has a profound effect on my life and me.

I am trying to find my way in music and also in life, two very difficult things to do, and although I do not understand what Coltrane is doing musically, I listen every day to this recording, while reading the Poem/Prayer on the back cover. One day 9 months later, I finally hear what he is playing, and it is a revelation to me. From this moment on, I am his greatest admirer.

24 Years Old

Start playing with Graham Bond Organization. In the band are drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce. Very strong musicians. Music starts to get more crazy. Begin experimenting with feedback on the guitar.

Graham introduces me to the Philosophy of the Tarot. Numerology, Astrology and Symbolism. I begin studying it myself. Discover the writings of Philosopher Douglas Harding. Has a profound influence on me, and will affect my life’s view of existence. Discover through writer Mouni Sadhu, the existence of Indian Saint Ramana Maharshi. Finally I find a photo of Ramana Maharshi, and for the first time in my life I see a ‘Holy Man’. Quite a shock… I begin to read the Sayings of Ramana Maharshi.

25 Years Old

I hear “Revolver” by the Beatles. I become a fan. “Sgt. Pepper” has a profound effect, particularly since the Beatles and I, and a lot of other people are already dropping Acid. Hear Jimy Hendrix for the first time. For me, Jimi is a latter-day Muddy Waters. Jimi’s singing is really influenced by Muddy, which is great, but Jimi’s guitar playing is revolutionary. Amazing! I discover James Brown and True Funk. He is the greatest!

I hear a young pianist called Chick Corea on a recording by Montego Joe. Chick becomes immediately one of the new young greats in my mind.

25-26 Years Old

I begin playing with some very good musicians in the UK. Gordon Beck Quartet, Mike Carr Trio, John Dankworth Orchestra, Tony Roberts and Danny Thompson. I form my first quartet with Dave Holland, Tony Oxley and John Surman. Begin practicing Hatha Yoga in the attempt to transform consciousness without chemicals.

I am on a bus in London and over the shoulder of someone who is reading their newspaper, I read of the death of Coltrane. It’s like being hit by a truck.

In music I have discovered a fascination with complex time signatures. I work very hard to master them. I continue to follow the careers of Miles and Coltrane along with Bill Evans, and they always inspire me! Move to Europe to play with Free Jazz group, discover pretty quickly that “Free Jazz” is neither “Free”, nor for me. 1968 was pretty wild. Political revolution in Paris in the summer.

I hear Charles Lloyd’s recording “Forest Flower”, a wonderful musician and a marvelous recording, on which I discover two great new young musicians, pianist Keith Jarret and drummer Jack DeJohnete.

27 Years Old

I am invited to move to New York to play with Tony Williams, and since I am already Tony’s biggest fan, this is a dream come true! Even more, 2 days after I arrive in New York, I am in the Recording Studio with Miles group with Tony (Williams), Wayne, Chick, Herbie, Joe Zawinul, and of course, my old comrade in arms, Dave Holland. Paradise!!! America welcomes me with open arms. I am the new Young Kid from England playing Guitar with Tony’s group and Miles group.

Playing organ in Tony’s group is my all time favorite Hammond organ player Larry Young, whom I discovered on his first recording with Elvin, Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw. By the time we start playing together, Larry has become a Moslem, Khalid Yaseen, and I have discovered the Sufism of Hazrat Inayat Khan. I begin to discover the beauty of Islam. I discover a possible relationship between the Astrological Signs, and the 12 notes of the Octave Scale. It’s very interesting to be able to see relational tensions of astrological signs in hamonic terms. America is truly amazing. The Vietnam War is really appalling. The racism in American Society is depressing. Not only do I see it continuously since I’m hired principally by black musicians, but one cannot ignore such contentious issues such as the Civil Rights Movement, The Black Panthers, and later, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. However, there is great optimism amongst the younger generation, and multiculturalism exists for already a long time in the music world, particularly the Jazz World.

28 Years Old

I begin studying Indian music (Hindustani) and I am introduced by mutual friends to tabla player Zakir Hussain. I ask for and he gives me a vocal lesson (Hindustani). We become friends at this time. I begin studying meditation with Sri Chinmoy from India. After one year he gives me the name Mahavishnu. I continue my research into Asian thought in general and Indian thought in particular. I discover Indian Holy Man Ramakrishna and his great followers, Brahmananda and Vivekananda. Their lives have a very profound effect on me. Also the writings of Carlos Castaneda are a marvelous inspiration to me. The principal protagonist of his books, Don Juan, becomes a very important person to me. I begin to discover other inspiring western writers like Alan Watts, Robert Persig, Aldous Huxley and Fritjof Capra. I continue to play and record with Miles and Tony Williams. In addition, I continue to play and record with more of the greatest musicians, such as Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Joe Zawinul.

After a Club date with Miles in Boston, Miles tells me that it’s time I formed my own band. If he says it, it must be true. In my mind, I begin the first conception of the “Mahavishnu Orchestra.”