Was reading an obit for Wilco Johnson [75], who played in Dr. Feelgood. This is a band I'd heard the name of but never heard, had seen the record in a bin, but passed on it. I knew that they were 'of' the British Pub Rocker Scene of the early '70s - But the guy who came out of that that got my most attention was Dave Edmunds and his cohort Nick Lowe. *
So tonight I discovered this Wilco Johnson guy. Not better than the Animals, or anything…but A lot of energy, and an upbeat blues, Stones, or Velvet Underground feeling. Kind of a link between Little Richard, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker … and … I don’t know.. The Ramones? Dr Feelgood records died in the U.S. I don't think the name helped. But they have a feel of a lot of bands that never made it over here.
After Dr Feelgood Wilco went on to play with Ian Drury, Lemmy Kilmister, Paul McCartney, quite a line up. Made a record with Roger Daltry, so is definitely connected with the British greats. He even took up acting and was in Game of Thrones.
Says the NYTimes obit :
His staccato guitar phrasing formed a sound all his own. Mr. Johnson, who was born left-handed and learned to play right-handed, avoided basic rock staples like barre chords and even picks, relying instead on quick, aggressive finger strums — he called them “stabs” — on his black Fender Telecaster. His playing was explosive, as percussive as it was melodic.
Some guys can do a lot with one note. Or one beat. Take for example Elmore James, Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed. This is what I'd say about Wilco. A soul with one chord on the guitar. He had a sense of humor - when he describes his method he is semi-hilarious. He had a hectic sound [and probably qualified as a Speed Freak]. Such birthed punk, metal, death metal.
He is asked to describe his musical evolution and says 'basically, there was none.' On his mentor: "It's all really deduced from Mick Green." who I did not know by name, but Green played with the Pirates [Shaking all over] and Billy Joe Kramer and is another of the British greats I'd never heard of. - Jack Vaughan
YouTube Wilco
Dr.Feelgood She Does It Right
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHm7uIC84YM
Dr Feelgood - She does it right ( live in a pub, rare, great atmosphere)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znRAbFIxPN0
Wilko Johnson Demonstrates His Guitar Technique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMlhWvIh7U4
WILKO JOHNSON SPECIAL PLAYING ANALYSIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBfZ8VxsAUk&t=615s
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NYTimes Obit -Wilko
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/arts/music/wilko-johnson-dead.html
* FootNotal - There wasn’t a lot happening in those days - but a lot of interesting records were coming out. More than one guy could buy. In the mid '70s I was closing the book on J Geils, but digging Patty Smith, Duke and the Drivers, Roxy, NY Dolls. Iggy. Made a U Turn more toward blues in 77. On my way to meeting Sunnyland Slim, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, John Sinclair.
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