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Wilko Johnson


Esmond Million's Bung

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21 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

Anybody watch the BBC1 Imagine programme last night called the 'ecstasy of Wilko Johnson'?, the brilliant guitarist of equally brilliant Dr Feelgood, if not I can recommend it as well worth a watch, incredible story.

 

 

I didn't Es,  but Wilko is a bit of a hero of mine, so will have to pick it up on iPlayer. 

I saw him on his tour with Roger Daltrey. He opened the set by saying: "Sorry I'm still alive!"

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1 minute ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

You won't regret it Robbo it's just an unbelievable story.

Yep. A mate is going through a similar tale with supposedly "inoperable" cancer. 

Given three to six months to live last October, today he underwent a nine-hour op to remove the primary tumour. 

He takes the example of Wilko - 24 years his senior - as an inspiration. 

 

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1 hour ago, BigTone said:

I saw him at Colston Hall when Dr Feelgood had just released Down by the Jetty ............ great band, great guitarist. Still have the ticket and programme

 

I was there too.  A fantastic night.  If I remember correctly Wilko was stationary during the first number...then...his wonderful manic walks started!

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Missed this the other night, I'll look it up on the iplayer. Did anyone see 'Oil City Confidential' from a few years back, which was the story of Dr Feelgood and their relationship with Canvey Island? Brilliant film, made when Wilko Johnson thought his days were numbered

I'm too young to remember Dr Feelgood as a going concern, but they're one of those bands with a bit of sparkle and legend about them

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I saw Oil City confidential at the Watershed, brilliant film. Only caught the 2nd half of the new one so will watch it again.

Really going to have to check out Julian Temples other films if these are anything to go by. Any recommendations anyone ?

Just remembered , I have sen the Filth and the fury. Just found a Dave Davies one Kinkdom come, that's next for me.

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1 hour ago, 1960maaan said:

I saw Oil City confidential at the Watershed, brilliant film. Only caught the 2nd half of the new one so will watch it again.

Really going to have to check out Julian Temples other films if these are anything to go by. Any recommendations anyone ?

Just remembered , I have sen the Filth and the fury. Just found a Dave Davies one Kinkdom come, that's next for me.

He made the Filth and the Fury, which as a docupic of the Sex Pistols challenges the cartoon silliness of the Great Rock And Roll Swindle.

He's Somerset-based too.  West Quantockshead, I believe. 

Edit: just seen your edit! 

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I missed the original transmission of "Imagine" so watched it on i-player.  As someone who has survived cancer and who remembers Wilko from the 70s, I can only say that this programme should be compulsory viewing.  The sheer common sense of Wilko is an example to us all.  I, too, have survived cancer but lack Wilko's ability to describe how one feels in the face of such adversity.  His humour, intelligence and absolute decency come across so well.  This programme is a classic.  OK, you may not, as I do, like his music but there is no escaping the logic of his comments and philosophy.  I wish there were more Wilkos!

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It was so spooky how the treatment that he got happened. I think (I might have this slightly wrong) that he was at some sort of event, not sure what, and got talking to a guy who happened to be a cancer specialist who was working on a new treatment. He asked Wilko if he wanted him to try it on him but stressed it was only experimental and could just as easily kill him as cure the cancer.

Wilko`s response sums up the guy for me `well I`m going to die anyway so what have I got to lose? Bring it on.`

The rest, as we know, is history. One of those people who was meant to survive.

Always makes me chuckle when he says he stopped touring when he had cancer, not because he didn`t feel up to it but because the tumour got in the way of his guitar.

Legend. If just one cancer sufferer has been helped by his attitude he`ll leave this world a better place for him having been in it.

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On 26/11/2015 08:36:10, chipdawg said:

Missed this the other night, I'll look it up on the iplayer. Did anyone see 'Oil City Confidential' from a few years back, which was the story of Dr Feelgood and their relationship with Canvey Island? Brilliant film, made when Wilko Johnson thought his days were numbered

I'm too young to remember Dr Feelgood as a going concern, but they're one of those bands with a bit of sparkle and legend about them

Great front man too..Lee Brilleaux...

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