Wilko Johnson :(

[Justin Cyder]

Gah! Couldn't get tix yesterday, so we went for the Portsmouth date instead.

[The Don of Croy]

The documentary 'Oil City Confidential' was on telly last year, glad I saw it.

His stage antics (as seen on Whistle Test) were simply the best...in an age of punk Feelgood were gloriously off message!

Top man, Mr. Johnson.

[Ferg]

Without Lee, Wilko, Sparko and The Big Figure punk would have been a different place. Virtually all the London based movers and shakers quote The Feelgoods as influences. The Undertones are big fans too. Lee's loan to Jake Riviera to start the label was pivotal to a great many bands. Stiff's move of using Nick Lowe as house producer was another pub rock masterstroke.
To me Pub Rock represents all that was good in punk.

[droopsnoot]

Absolutely right, I know The Stranglers quote them as being very influential not just on them but on others around that time, and not just because JJ Burnel used to be Wilko's tenant.

[Justin Cyder]

Wilko interview on the radio tonight - Front row, Radio 4 19:15.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21187...

[andySC]

I listened to the Radio 4 interview on Friday & I was pretty moved by it tbh. I'm not a massive Dr Feelgood fan by any stretch but I've always liked listening to Wilko play & speak. He's an interesting fella & it's a crying shame that he's poorly.

I was gonna go to the Holmfirth gig but I'd imagine it'll sell out & I'd rather my ticket go to a real/genuine fan so they can say their goodbyes.

[Ferg]

I'm playing Wilko constantly at the moment. Stuff like this is, to me, just fking fantastic.
Wilko with Ian, doing 'Sweet Gene Vincent'

[gareth_r]

Ferg said:

Without Lee, Wilko, Sparko and The Big Figure punk would have been a different place. Virtually all the London based movers and shakers quote The Feelgoods as influences. The Undertones are big fans too. Lee's loan to Jake Riviera to start the label was pivotal to a great many bands. Stiff's move of using Nick Lowe as house producer was another pub rock masterstroke.
To me Pub Rock represents all that was good in punk.

Not just London... they played CBGB's and had an influence in New York as well.

[Ferg]

gareth_r said:

Not just London... they played CBGB's and had an influence in New York as well.

True, but I feel that the NY punk scene was already building under the influence of The Dolls and, later, The Ramones.

[DickyC]

Tickets for KOKO arrived.

First saw Dr Feelgood in 1975 in Reading and last saw Wilko in 2012 in Newbury. There were a good few people there but the event wasn't packed. It was a good night.

Judging by his radio interview he is completely at ease with himself and fully reconciled with his fate, so his farewell concerts should be good too. Leaving the stage at the end of his Japanese tour by walking off still singing Chuck Berry's Bye Bye Johnny takes a special sort of humour.

[DrTre]

andySC said:

I listened to the Radio 4 interview on Friday & I was pretty moved by it tbh..

I was the same. I had that on and although I'd never heard of him, by God was it a great interview, what a brilliantly genuine bloke.
All the best to him.

[Ferg]

DickyC said:

Tickets for KOKO arrived.

6th or 10th?

[Ferg]

DrTre said:

I was the same. I had that on and although I'd never heard of him, by God was it a great interview, what a brilliantly genuine bloke.
All the best to him.

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm fully expecting to cry at KOKO. He's been a fantastic part of my life for over 30 years. Bands have done 'Farewell Tours' before, but not like this. No-one like Wilko since Mick Green died.

[DickyC]

Ferg said:

6th or 10th?

The 6th. I'm going with my lads; recent converts to Dr Feelgood and Wilko.

[MarshPhantom]

DrTre said:

andySC said:

I listened to the Radio 4 interview on Friday & I was pretty moved by it tbh..

I was the same. I had that on and although I'd never heard of him, by God was it a great interview, what a brilliantly genuine bloke.
All the best to him.

I heard extracts from the interview on Today, sounds like he's had some bad luck. Very moving when he talked about his wife dying.

[DrTre]

DickyC said:

The 6th. I'm going with my lads; recent converts to Dr Feelgood and Wilko.

Ferg said:

'm not ashamed to say that I'm fully expecting to cry at KOKO. He's been a fantastic part of my life for over 30 years. Bands have done 'Farewell Tours' before, but not like this. No-one like Wilko since Mick Green died.

Hope you all enjoy the gigs.

Humour, talent and humility.

[Ferg]

Chuffed to get tickets for the Radio 4 Mastertapes show with Wilko talking about the making of Down By The Jetty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/shows/mas...

[DickyC]

Ferg said:

Chuffed to get tickets for the Radio 4 Mastertapes show with Wilko talking about the making of Down By The Jetty.

Which KOKO date did you get, Ferg?

Good manners suggest a mini PH meet and pub visit.

[Ferg]

Sunday 10th.

[DickyC]

Drat. We're the 6th. It would have been good to meet up. Have a good one anyway; I'm sure you will.