Neglected Tele-master Wilko Johnson

Sea Devil · July 2nd, 2008, 01:21 PM

From time to time, someone here will mention the name of this brilliant guitarist, an original member of the English "pub-rock" band Dr. Feelgood. He's one of the unsung heroes of rockn'n'roll, and I thought I would throw a clip up to show why he deserves wider recognition. He's not jazzy in the least, not fancy like Danny or Roy or Redd, but very propulsive and energetic to say the least!
Unfortunately, the half-hour-long promotional film of this concert from 1975 is no longer available in its entirety, so may of the finest moments are lost.

robhisgtr · July 2nd, 2008, 02:18 PM

And he didn't even use a plectrum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2HIUE404M

charlie chitlin · July 2nd, 2008, 02:22 PM

I love to watch him play and he's got some unique stuff, but he seems to spend 90% of his time on the same chord shape.

Sea Devil · July 2nd, 2008, 03:01 PM

True, true. Like I said, not too sophisticated, but fun. A "feel" thing, if you will.

byrdbrain · July 2nd, 2008, 03:11 PM

I think Wilco got a lot of that great, propulsive fingerpicking
from the mighty Mick Green of the Pirates.

degsycaster · July 2nd, 2008, 06:05 PM

Fantastic clip. Superb to see Wilco and the late, great Brillaux again. My band supported what calls itself 'Dr Feelgood' at a bike show in Norfolk, England about 5 years ago (I think the bass player is the only original left in the band - could be wrong) and they were still good. That was the classic line up though IMO

graphs · July 2nd, 2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robhisgtr

And he didn't even use a plectrum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2HIUE404M

this is the clip i always want to show people because his playing is so badass and it shows a bunch of close-ups of him hammering that tele. love it.

graphs · July 2nd, 2008, 07:56 PM

here's a pretty neat clip of his telecaster getting restored.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpchDBAoWw&NR=1

beach bob · July 2nd, 2008, 10:54 PM

That kicks butt. I don't always need virtuosity. That stuff is visceral, snotty, unpolished, and will definitely fix a lousy mood.

Many thanks for the toob links! Enjoyed em a whole bunch.

lostpick · July 2nd, 2008, 11:05 PM

Oh Man...

Gotta find my old Dr Feelgood vinyl...

Another Man, Back in the Night, Riot in Cell block No 9

sandman72202 · July 3rd, 2008, 02:08 AM

was that a young phil collins on the drums....just guessing but it looked like him.

59TweedVibrolux · July 3rd, 2008, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by degsycaster

Fantastic clip. Superb to see Wilco and the late, great Brillaux again. My band supported what calls itself 'Dr Feelgood' at a bike show in Norfolk, England about 5 years ago (I think the bass player is the only original left in the band - could be wrong) and they were still good. That was the classic line up though IMO

I think Wilco went on to play with Ian Dury ? I saw the later band with Lee
still out front, with a great guitar player Steve Walwyn ? weilding an old
stripped Tele. Great Tone and Playing. Thats what its all about....Pub Rock
If you can cut it there..................

Sollophonic · July 3rd, 2008, 06:57 AM

Wilko was a great rhythm guitarist, who did some great music both with the Feelgoods and with Ian Dury. And he will always be associated with playing a Tele too.

He was a big influence on another band who made great use of a Tele being hammered. There was a great band in the 80s called the Screaming Blue Messiahs, (I think theres a couple of YouTube clips of them around), who had a guitarist called Bill Carter who played/abused a battered Tele barehanded, and were about as menacing a band as you could get too. Wonder where he is now?

A final Tele player who came out of the Pub Rock era was Hugh Cornwell, who went on to front the Stranglers. Some great Tele playing on their records, both lead and rhythm, and a cut above the thrashy punk stuff too. Both Wilko and Hugh were both big inspirations behind me wanting and owning a Tele at the time.

ehawley · July 3rd, 2008, 07:13 AM

One of my favorites! Simple style but unique at the same time!

casterway · July 3rd, 2008, 07:19 AM

Here's another great clip. That is one intense singer.

Here's his technique explained

With Joe Ely

AndrewG · July 3rd, 2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by degsycaster

Fantastic clip. Superb to see Wilco and the late, great Brillaux again. My band supported what calls itself 'Dr Feelgood' at a bike show in Norfolk, England about 5 years ago (I think the bass player is the only original left in the band - could be wrong) and they were still good. That was the classic line up though IMO

Excellent! My old band, The Guv'nors, supported the Feelgoods back in 1989 at St George's Hall in Exeter. Lee Brilleaux was still alive then and was the only original member left. Enjoyed a nice chat and a few beers with them afterwards.
The pint of 'water' he kept by the drums turned out to be a pint of gin and tonic.
Wilko got that great, nasty tone from a tranny HH amp.

alabama blues · July 3rd, 2008, 03:53 PM

That is one great DVD. I picked it up in Paris last year. I don't know much about the later versions of the band, but the original Dr. Feelgood with Wilko was really great. Wilko's web site has some good lessons on it -- his style is harder than you think to pull off!

July 2nd, 2008, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sea Devil TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 45 Posts: 82	Neglected Tele-master Wilko Johnson From time to time, someone here will mention the name of this brilliant guitarist, an original member of the English "pub-rock" band Dr. Feelgood. He's one of the unsung heroes of rockn'n'roll, and I thought I would throw a clip up to show why he deserves wider recognition. He's not jazzy in the least, not fancy like Danny or Roy or Redd, but very propulsive and energetic to say the least! Unfortunately, the half-hour-long promotional film of this concert from 1975 is no longer available in its entirety, so may of the finest moments are lost.

July 2nd, 2008, 02:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
charlie chitlin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bucktown, Pa Age: 46 Posts: 2,105	I love to watch him play and he's got some unique stuff, but he seems to spend 90% of his time on the same chord shape. __________________ Nil illigitimi carborundum http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...6-bf3537901a07

July 2nd, 2008, 03:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
byrdbrain Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sweden Age: 50 Posts: 1,253 4 Photos	I think Wilco got a lot of that great, propulsive fingerpicking from the mighty Mick Green of the Pirates. __________________ In vino securitas

July 2nd, 2008, 06:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
degsycaster Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: Suffolk, England Age: 38 Posts: 409 31 Photos	Fantastic clip. Superb to see Wilco and the late, great Brillaux again. My band supported what calls itself 'Dr Feelgood' at a bike show in Norfolk, England about 5 years ago (I think the bass player is the only original left in the band - could be wrong) and they were still good. That was the classic line up though IMO __________________ To twang is to live!

July 3rd, 2008, 07:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,557	Here's another great clip. That is one intense singer. Here's his technique explained With Joe Ely __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

July 2nd, 2008, 02:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
robhisgtr TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brookyln, ny Posts: 34	And he didn't even use a plectrum! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2HIUE404M

July 2nd, 2008, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sea Devil TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 45 Posts: 82	True, true. Like I said, not too sophisticated, but fun. A "feel" thing, if you will.

July 2nd, 2008, 07:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
graphs Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 504	here's a pretty neat clip of his telecaster getting restored. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpchDBAoWw&NR=1

July 2nd, 2008, 10:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
beach bob Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 351	That kicks butt. I don't always need virtuosity. That stuff is visceral, snotty, unpolished, and will definitely fix a lousy mood. Many thanks for the toob links! Enjoyed em a whole bunch.

July 2nd, 2008, 11:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
lostpick Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Staten Island, NYC Posts: 966	Oh Man... Gotta find my old Dr Feelgood vinyl... Another Man, Back in the Night, Riot in Cell block No 9

July 3rd, 2008, 02:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
sandman72202 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arkansas, currently on walkabout Posts: 470	was that a young phil collins on the drums....just guessing but it looked like him.

July 3rd, 2008, 06:57 AM	#13 (permalink)
Sollophonic Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Skipton, N. Yorkshire, England Age: 44 Posts: 225	Wilko was a great rhythm guitarist, who did some great music both with the Feelgoods and with Ian Dury. And he will always be associated with playing a Tele too. He was a big influence on another band who made great use of a Tele being hammered. There was a great band in the 80s called the Screaming Blue Messiahs, (I think theres a couple of YouTube clips of them around), who had a guitarist called Bill Carter who played/abused a battered Tele barehanded, and were about as menacing a band as you could get too. Wonder where he is now? A final Tele player who came out of the Pub Rock era was Hugh Cornwell, who went on to front the Stranglers. Some great Tele playing on their records, both lead and rhythm, and a cut above the thrashy punk stuff too. Both Wilko and Hugh were both big inspirations behind me wanting and owning a Tele at the time.

July 3rd, 2008, 07:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
ehawley Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Keyport, New Jersey Age: 55 Posts: 958 48 Photos	One of my favorites! Simple style but unique at the same time!

July 3rd, 2008, 03:53 PM	#17 (permalink)
alabama blues Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Swamps of New Jersey Age: 51 Posts: 136	That is one great DVD. I picked it up in Paris last year. I don't know much about the later versions of the band, but the original Dr. Feelgood with Wilko was really great. Wilko's web site has some good lessons on it -- his style is harder than you think to pull off!