Wilko Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilko Johnson
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Andrew Wilkinson |
| Born | 12 July 1947 Canvey Island, Essex, England |
| Died | 21 November 2022 (aged 75) Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England |
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| Years active | 1970–2022 |
| Labels | United Artists |
John Andrew Wilkinson (born July 12, 1947 – died November 21, 2022) was an English musician. He was better known by his stage name, Wilko Johnson. He was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He also acted sometimes.
Wilko was famous for his special way of playing the guitar. He didn't use a guitar pick. Instead, he used his fingers, which is called fingerstyle. This allowed him to play rhythm and lead parts at the same time. It created a very strong, drum-like guitar sound.
In the 1970s, Wilko Johnson was a key member of the band Dr. Feelgood. This band was part of the pub rock scene in the UK. Pub rock was a simple, energetic style of rock music. Dr. Feelgood and Wilko Johnson greatly influenced the English punk music movement. Many famous musicians, like Paul Weller, said Wilko was an amazing guitarist.
Later, in 2011 and 2012, Wilko appeared in the TV show Game of Thrones. He played the silent executioner, Ser Ilyn Payne.
Contents
Wilko Johnson's Music Journey
Early Life and Bands
Wilko Johnson was born on July 12, 1947, in Canvey Island, England. He went to school at Westcliff High School for Boys. As a teenager, he played in several local bands. He then studied English at Newcastle University. His studies included old languages and ancient stories.
After college, he traveled to India. When he came back to England, he joined a band called Pigboy Charlie Band. This band eventually became Dr. Feelgood. In 1972, he started using the stage name Wilko Johnson. This name was a clever mix of the letters in his real name, John Wilkinson.
Developing a Unique Style
In 1965, Wilko bought his first Fender Telecaster guitar. He paid £90 for it. He later bought a special 1962 Fender Telecaster in 1974. This was soon after Dr. Feelgood signed their first record deal.
Wilko created his own unique look and stage moves. He had jerky movements and a special "duck walk." He would sometimes raise his guitar like a gun. He also had a distinctive pudding bowl haircut. His guitar playing was special because he used his fingers instead of a pick. This allowed him to play rhythm and solos at the same time. It gave his guitar a very strong, percussive sound. He got this idea from trying to copy another guitarist, Mick Green.
Wilko's style was the main driving force behind Dr. Feelgood's early success. He played on their first four albums. These included Down by the Jetty, Malpractice, Stupidity, and Sneakin' Suspicion. These albums were released between 1975 and 1977.
The live album, Stupidity, became a number one hit in the UK. Wilko played on the band's first five singles. However, only one single, "Sneakin' Suspicion", became a chart hit while he was in the band. He left Dr. Feelgood in April 1977. This was due to disagreements about songs for the Sneakin' Suspicion album.
New Bands and Tours
In 1977, Wilko helped start a new band called Solid Senders. They released an album in 1978. The Wilko Johnson Band also played at a festival in London. Two of their songs were included on a successful album from the festival. This album, Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival, reached number 28 in the UK charts.
In 1980, Wilko joined Ian Dury's band, The Blockheads. Around 1984, he started The Wilko Johnson Band again. He played with bassist Norman Watt-Roy and drummer Salvatore Ramundo. Wilko released several albums over the years. These included Ice on the Motorway (1981) and Going Back Home (1998).
In 2005, he released Red Hot Rocking Blues. This album featured his versions of classic songs by artists like Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. He also toured with other bands in a show called 'The Mad, the Bad & the Dangerous'.
Documentary and Later Years
Wilko appeared in a documentary film called Oil City Confidential (2009). The film was about Dr. Feelgood and his memories of Canvey Island. Critics praised Wilko in the film. One reviewer called him "a wild man, off stage and on, funny, eloquent and charismatic."
In 2010, Wilko supported The Stranglers on their UK tour. In 2012, he published his autobiography, Looking Back at Me. He also appeared in BBC documentaries about music.
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In early 2013, Wilko announced he had terminal cancer. He planned a farewell tour. He played what was thought to be his last show in March 2013. However, he later performed unannounced sets at a festival and his local pub. In July 2013, his local pub honored him by putting his portrait on their sign.
He continued to tour in 2014. He also supported Status Quo on their tour. In September 2014, he signed with Creation Management. He performed on Jools Holland's New Year's Eve show.
Acting Career
Wilko Johnson's acting debut was in Game of Thrones. He played the silent executioner, Ser Ilyn Payne. The show's producers saw him in the film Oil City Confidential. They thought he looked sinister and perfect for the role. Wilko said, "Looking daggers at people is what I do all the time." He appeared in four episodes of the show.
Personal Life and Health
Wilko Johnson lived in Westcliff-on-Sea, England. He married his childhood sweetheart, Irene Knight. They had two sons, Matthew and Simon. Wilko's wife passed away from cancer in 2004. Wilko enjoyed astronomy, painting, and poetry. His son Simon is also a guitarist.
As a student, Wilko was interested in politics. He was a member of the Young Communist League.
Health Journey
In January 2013, Wilko was diagnosed with a serious form of pancreatic cancer. Doctors told him he had about nine or ten months to live. He decided not to have chemotherapy. He said the diagnosis made him feel "vividly alive." He went on a farewell tour. After the tour, he recorded an album with The Who's lead singer, Roger Daltrey. The album, Going Back Home, was released in March 2014.
Later, doctors discovered Wilko had a different, less aggressive type of pancreatic cancer. He had a major surgery to remove the tumor. The doctors were hopeful about his recovery. In October 2014, Wilko announced he was "cancer-free." He had a long operation where doctors removed the tumor and parts of his organs. He said, "They cured me. It's so weird and so strange." He was still recovering but was happy to be alive.
Wilko Johnson passed away on November 21, 2022, at age 75. Many musicians shared their sadness and praised his unique talent. Billy Bragg said Wilko's guitar playing was "angry and angular." Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand said Wilko "thrilled & inspired many guitarists."
Wilko Johnson's Legacy
Wilko Johnson's musical style was very important to Dr. Feelgood's early sound. His style is seen as one of the main influences on the British punk movement. Jean-Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers said Dr. Feelgood was a "bridge" between older music and punk. The documentary Oil City Confidential explored this influence.
Mark Blake of Q magazine said Wilko's "brutish R&B" and intense stage presence inspired young musicians. These included John Lydon, Paul Weller, and Suggs from Madness. His autobiography, Looking Back at Me, helped secure his reputation as a unique character in British rock. A BBC documentary series, Punk Britannia, also highlighted Dr. Feelgood's role. They were "pub rockers" who helped pave the way for punk music.
In 2017, the band The Wave Pictures released an EP called Canvey Island Baby. It featured five songs written by Wilko Johnson.
As Paul Weller said, "Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he's right up there. And there are a lot of people who'll say the same. I can hear Wilko in lots of places. It's some legacy."
Discography
Albums and EPs (as a band member)
Dr. Feelgood
- Down by the Jetty (1975)
- Malpractice (1975) – UK No. 17
- Stupidity (1976) – UK No. 1
- Sneakin' Suspicion (1977) – UK No. 10
- All Through the City (With Wilko 1974–1977) (2012)
Solid Senders
- Solid Senders (1978)
The Wilko Johnson Band (selected)
- Ice on the Motorway (1981)
- Going Back Home (1998)
- Red Hot Rocking Blues (2005)
- Blow Your Mind (2018)
Ian Dury & the Blockheads
- Laughter (1980)
With Roger Daltrey
- Going Back Home (2014) UK No. 3
See also
In Spanish: Wilko Johnson para niños
- List of NME covers
