For The King Of The Pubs
“Memory is the most potent truth. Show me history untouched by memories and you show me lies.”― Carlos Eire
I woke up this morning to hear that Wilko Johnson had died. Wilko Johnson was the guitar player for the quintessential English pub-rock band Dr. Feelgood. Back in the early 70s, Johnson and crew rejected the psych-prog-acid musical styles of the day and went back to basics…back to the early rock ‘n’ roll swagger and rockabilly attitudes…and hit the pubs, which were the only venues where they could find a gig. Dr. Feelgood was one of the first on the scene, and definitely trend-setters prophesying the rise of punk rock (check out how killer their live set was all over youtube), more initially paving the way for bands like Brinsley Schwarz featuring Nick Lowe, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and even the Joe Strummer’s pre-Clash band The 101ers. And it was Wilko Johnson at the front of the stage, with his machine-gun guitar pose and explosive stage presence that captured the raw energy that was the pub rock movement.
Wilko’s last chapters of life were what movies are made of. Developing pancreatic cancer that metastasized in his brain, he threw a finger at his incurable, fatal diagnosis by forgoing chemo and hitting the road, doing a series of celebrated tours of England, with crowds packing into every venue he played to celebrate his beloved national figurehood. As word spread, his old friend Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, brought him into the studio and did a record with him, Going Back Home, that brilliantly saluted the pub rock style Johnson helped forge, with Daltrey singing his guts out and Wilko meeting him on top of the mountain with pure guitar mayhem (truly amazing performance by both artists) . Wilko was even cast in Game of Thrones (having never acted before) as executioner Ser Ilyn Payne who horrifically chopped off the head of Eddard Stark in season one of the show.
And yet, the cancer grew. In 2014, my friend David Chumbley made sure I was on hand at the Williams Green Stage at the Glastonbury Festival to see Johnson’s fuck-cancer set only to find out that he was unable to play, he just was not up to it. But during his better moments, he kept touring…and it was at one show where magic happened. After one of his sets, doctor/rock photographer Charlie Chan came back stage to discuss a new, untested treatment for his type of cancer…wanting to know if Johnson would want to try it out. The guitarist agreed, and together they determined that the cancer was in effect treatable and after various treatments and surgeries, Wilko seemed cured. By 2015, at the Williams Green Stage at Glastonbury, at the same day and time Johnson was supposed to play the last year, he hit the stage and blasted through a set of Dr. Feelgood songs to one of the most packed, crazed crowds I had ever been among: it is hard to explain the triumphant feeling roaring through the tent.
There was a great documentary done around Wilko’s story, The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson, that is very much worth the watch.
Long live the fighting, rocking spirit of Wilko Johnson. RIP.
Vintage Movie Posters From Around The World
While the site the link sends you to is more of a store than an article, the movie posters they have collected are killer…a gallery of international delights. Totally worth checking out
Luca Guadagnino’s New Cannibal Romance Pays Homage to William Eggleston, Joseph Beuys, and More (click on headline to go to article)
From the trailer, this film looks incredible with incredible images, music….vibe…horror. And the Eggleston connection is pretty cool too and looks like the filmmakers did a great job paying homage.
In keeping on the Eggleston train for a second….how about the fact that his pics from Fred McDowell’s funeral just made the news!!!!!!
Latest News Mississippi Fred McDowell live at The Gaslight Cafe
In keeping with Mississippi Fred McDowell for a minute…how about this recent article about a late-period live show at the Gaslight????
Owen Wilson Is Channeling Bob Ross in New PAINT Film
I had no idea this was happening. Crazy.
Meg Baird Shares New Song "Star Hill Song"
Readying for the release of her new record in January, Meg Baird drops a new single and video that she directed. Its a beauty, her voice just soars (as usual).
Deep Song
By: Gayl Jones
The blues calling my name. She is singing a deep song. She is singing a deep song. I am human. He calls me crazy. He says, “You must be crazy.” I say, “Yes, I’m crazy.” He sits with his knees apart. His fly is broken. She is singing a deep song. He smiles. She is singing a deep song. “Yes, I’m crazy.” I care about you. I care. I care about you. I care. He lifts his eyebrows. The blues is calling my name. I tell him he’d be better do something about his fly. He says something softly. He says something so softly that I can’t even hear him. He is a dark man. Sometimes he is a good dark man. Sometimes he is a bad dark man. I love him……
