![]() ![]() His career took another twist in 2010, when he was offered an acting part in the hit series Game of Thrones, playing the role of mute executioner Ilyn Payne. But it was when Julien Temple’s award winning Oil City Confidential came out in 2009, with Wilko emerging as the film’s star, that the world once again sat up and paid attention to his extraordinary talent. His influence was felt in bands up and down the country, and later in the emergent punk revolution (Joe Strummer of the Clash bought a Tele after seeing Wilko play).įeelgood had four successful albums in Wilko’s time, then followed a busy creative period playing in an early incarnation of the Wilko Johnson Band, the Solid Senders, before he joined Ian Dury’s band The Blockheads, in 1980.Īll through the ’80s, ’90s and into the new millennium he continued to gig in the UK, Europe and Japan. With this economic sound, coupled with that black-suited, scowling look, and the yards he covered across the stage pausing only to twist the guitar lead out from under his feet, Wilko became one of the guitar heroes of the era. This allows for chords and lead to be played at the same time, giving a fluency and a distinctive sound very unlike the cleaner swat of a pick. Heavily influenced by legendary guitarist Mick Green from ’60s rockers Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Wilko employs a finger-style, chop-chord strumming action (the ‘stab’, as he describes it). Throughout the mid-70s, Wilko duck-walked his way across countless stages and venues in the UK with Dr Feelgood in the vanguard of the pub rock movement, performing the gutsy down-to-earth rock and roll that was a welcome antidote to prog-rock. But no, Wilko was lured into music by the dark magic spun by his first Telecaster, bought from a music store in Southend, Essex, soon after becoming the strutting, grimacing, six-string rhythmic powerhouse behind Lee Brilleaux in Dr Feelgood. The man from Canvey Island, who studied English at Newcastle University before doing a bit of travelling, could have been a retired teacher by now, sucking on a pipe and whittling away at his pension. “Man, there’s nothing like being told you’re dying to make you feel alive.” In 2013, Wilko announced that, thanks to a second opinion and subsequent life-saving surgery, he was cancer-free. But despite the doctors’ worst predictions he continued to perform and present himself with vigour and a new zest for life. Two strippers were also called upon, and dressed as Policeman & Woman, the show came to an end.‘I’m supposed to be dead!’ So said Wilko in a recent interview, having been diagnosed in late 2012 with terminal pancreatic cancer. Billy Idol came on stage with all the artists during the encore, after not contributing anyway, and was promptly put on his arse by JJ Burnel (bass and black belt judo). ![]() Richard Jobson (The Skids), Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Peter Hammill (Van Der Graaf Generator), Nicky Tesco (The Members) and Phil Daniels also performed leads duties. Toyah Wilcox and Hazel O'Connor tried their best to up upstage one another, but it was Ian Dury who stole the show with great versions of "Peaches" and "Bear Cage". ![]() (He was later to become a permanent member of the band when Hugh left in coming years). The artists of the day included John Ellis (Vibrators/Peter Gabriel Band) who filled in most of the guitar work. ![]() Hugh Cornwell had been busted and imprisoned and an all-star band was put together to play in protest. This was a two night performance by The Stranglers. ![]()
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