John Etheridge

John Etheridge (born John Michael Glyn Etheridge in London on 12 January 1948) is an English jazz fusion guitarist, composer, bandleader and educator known for his eclecticism and broad range of associations in jazz, classical, and contemporary music. He is best known for his work with Soft Machine from 1975 to 1978, 1984 and 2004 to present.

Primarily self-taught, Etheridge formed his first notable band, Rush Release, with Robert Lipson (the future drummer of Gracious!) in the mid 1960s. In 1967, Etheridge left London to study History of Art at Essex University. Upon returning to the London scene in the early 1970s, Etheridge briefly worked with the Deep Purple offshoot Warhorse, followed by a stint with Icarus during the final stages of recording their album The Marvel World of Icarus.