Wilko Johnson’s distinctive, driving rhythm guitar sound powered legendary British band Dr Feelgood in the 1970s.
After parting company, in somewhat acrimonious fashion, with the Feelgoods in 1977 Johnson went on to play with Ian Dury and the Blockheads and his own band for the next several decades.
His style, influenced by Mick Green, of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, enabled him to play a mixture of lead and rhythm guitar at the same time.
Photo: supplied
Johnson, who was born on Canvey Island in the Thames Estuary in 1947, died at home on November 21. In 2013 after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, he was given just months to live.
He announced a farewell tour, during which a chance encounter with a doctor revealed that his cancer was in fact operable.
An 11-hour operation gave him a new lease of life and Johnson’s career flourished; playing sold out shows, writing his memoir and even appearing as a mute executioner in the Game of Thrones.
Johnson in the early 1980s. Photo: screenshot
In 2016 Johnson spoke with Kim Hill about being given a new lease of life, grief over losing his wife Irene, depression and 50 years wielding his famous Telecaster as one of the true originals of British rock ‘n’ roll.
