He's playing Europe this year and it is causing a ripple of excitement amongst white ageing blues guitarists in my home town (Glasgow). Anyone seen him live in recent years? Is his health OK (he had to cancel a headlining apearance at a Blues festival in UK a few years ago due, I think, to a suspected heart attack. I've already bought tickets, but would be grateful of your opinions as the most resent stuff I've got of him is the wonderful "comeback" Muddy Waters albums. I hear his last album was good. Thanks for any of your thoughts.

I attended Johnny Winter's concert in Erfurt/Germany last year. He should stop playing because he's not more than a laugh now. Just sitting all the time, rarely singing, dribbling and not noticing it and the like. It was really sad seeing the guy like this.

teleblaster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He's playing Europe this year and it is causing a
> ripple of excitement amongst white ageing blues
> guitarists in my home town (Glasgow). Anyone seen
> him live in recent years? Is his health OK (he
> had to cancel a headlining apearance at a Blues
> festival in UK a few years ago due, I think, to a
> suspected heart attack. I've already bought
> tickets, but would be grateful of your opinions as
> the most resent stuff I've got of him is the
> wonderful "comeback" Muddy Waters albums. I hear
> his last album was good. Thanks for any of your
> thoughts.

Holy Moly I LOVE Johnny Winter. His version of Mean Town Blues on the "Johnny Winter And" album with Rick Derringer is OUTRAGEOUS and although I haven't played it in years, the mere thought of it reminds me of how wonderful this man's playing is. Where's he playing, what's the tour schedule ? Please post if you have this info.

paulywaul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> teleblaster Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > He's playing Europe this year and it is causing
> a
> > ripple of excitement amongst white ageing blues
> > guitarists in my home town (Glasgow). Anyone
> seen
> > him live in recent years? Is his health OK (he
> > had to cancel a headlining apearance at a Blues
> > festival in UK a few years ago due, I think, to
> a
> > suspected heart attack. I've already bought
> > tickets, but would be grateful of your opinions
> as
> > the most resent stuff I've got of him is the
> > wonderful "comeback" Muddy Waters albums. I
> hear
> > his last album was good. Thanks for any of
> your
> > thoughts.
>
> Holy Moly I LOVE Johnny Winter. His version of
> Mean Town Blues on the "Johnny Winter And" album
> with Rick Derringer is OUTRAGEOUS and although I
> haven't played it in years, the mere thought of it
> reminds me of how wonderful this man's playing is.
> Where's he playing, what's the tour schedule ?
> Please post if you have this info.

The good news for Londoners like you mate is that he's playing the Astoria on 27th April. Bad news for your bank balance is that he is playing with the aforementioned Mr Derringer (and brother Edgar)in Germany various dates from 7th to 12th May inclusive. I'm going to the Ferry in Glasgow on 2nd May to see him. In the past, a lot of bands used to cancel the Ferry, but fingers crossed it goes ahead. Check out www.johnnywinter.net. Post again if any problems accessing. Regards.Iain.

A little while ago..
around 1973 or so

I heard he will be playing in May 2007 in Netherlands (NL).

Worth to go ??????????????



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-21 18:32 by satisfaction2.

I him 5-6 years ago. It was tragic, he is just a shell of his former self. He had to be led onstage, and was sitting down all the time, only playing slide, since It hink he could no longer play any chords. His singing was unhearable, and his playing was well below his former self. When it was over, someone came and gave him his cane, and led him offstage. I don´t think Johnny really wanted to be there, I suspect someone is trying to make a few bucks off him, before he dies. You won´t be seeing the Johnny Winter we all love, you will be seeing a very sick man. Don´t go.

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings

I heard he has Parkinson's. Why the hell is he still on the road?

Saw him Friday June 29, 1984 at Roskilde.
Absolutely brilliant!

Thanks to this thread I got to recall that smashin issue of Roskilde.
Thanks, teleblaster!

Way out of topic; but I saw the Finnish band Sielun Veljet
(have seen them plenty since) at the same Roskilde Festival
as I saw Winter on (much Winter-talk today ), namely 1984,
and that was a real smokin concert, I can tell ya!


Pic [www.beat-a-go-go.com]

Whatever you do, don't go. I saw him this past summer in Montreal. He is a shell and I think its pathetic that anyone would take him out on tour.

Sad but true.

I'm seeing him in a few months, I will post some video on youtube after the show.

Saw him in the 80 ties he wasnt good...to long versions.of his kick ass songs...power to him love his vers of JJF!!!

mickijaggeroo Wrote:
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> I him 5-6 years ago. It was tragic, he is just a
> shell of his former self. He had to be led
> onstage, and was sitting down all the time, only
> playing slide, since It hink he could no longer
> play any chords. His singing was unhearable, and
> his playing was well below his former self. When
> it was over, someone came and gave him his cane,
> and led him offstage. I don´t think Johnny really
> wanted to be there, I suspect someone is trying to
> make a few bucks off him, before he dies. You
> won´t be seeing the Johnny Winter we all love, you
> will be seeing a very sick man. Don´t go.


I saw the same thing here in the States at about the same time and it was exactly as you describe. One interesting note: while he shook with palsy between songs, he didn't show any signs of it while he played. Unfortunately his set-list consisted of Blues 101 and didn't include anything from his own repetoire.

That said, he IS a legend and if you've never seen him you'll at least be able to say you did.

I saw Jimmy Reed in Houston, Texas on New Years Eve '75. He was senile, likely drunk and completely incapable of playing one of his simple three chord blues from beginning to end. The pick-up band backing him was at a total loss for his entire TWENTY minute set. He was Jimmy F#@*^!*G Reed and I saw him perform. He died about six months later and I've never regretted that night.

JW played up in Baltimore recently and got a very good review. A few years ago, he came around DC and got a very poor review. I read where he has overcome a broken hip, so he sits on stage. Also, his eyesight is quite poor (not uncommon with albino persons, I think), but some reviewer wrote that poor eyesight might not have as bad an effect on his playing as one might think, because he's only been playing guitar for about 50 years. That said, I don't think any of us will be as vital in our 60's as in our 30's! Not even Keith!

I've seen Johnny Winter August 2006. His powerful times are over, unfortunatly. It was a very boring show. He was sitting on a chair during the whole show. People, who were far away from the stage had no chance for seeing hime. Also his voice was cracked up, his drummer had sung the most songs. Very very sad! Better he stop performing. Hope I must never seen the Rolling Stones in such a poorful performance!!!

Wow Lady killer..you saw Jimmy Reed!!!

Johnny was the main event at a small blues festival held on Cape Cod, MA in 2002. The post by mickijaggeroo describes it exactly.

Very sad. Go to show support or respect for what he once was, but do not expect to see or hear him as he once was.

Sincere thanks to all who replied. Think I get the picture. If I go it will be without expectations of matching past performances. I will show support and respect and dig the slide guitar. I doubt if Johnny's being manipulated, probably doing it because he still can (within limitations).

I saw Scotty Moore - Elvis' original guitarist - after brain surgery and felt that he should not have been on stage. I stopped going to BB King concerts years ago partly because he lacked his earlier power - although he still played a sweet guitar - but mostly because I felt he was putting on a cabaret act for a white European audience rather than the real deal (which he used to do).

Sad to hear of Johnny's physical decline. Great that he still has the balls to go onstage and play slide, even with mobility problems.

Just found this, not so bad I think.

I saw Edgar Winter last Summer in Las Vegas where he was playing as part of Ringo's All Starr Band. Hearing Frankenstein played Live was a surreal moment having loved the track when it first came out back in the 70's.

[www.bboogie.com]

I saw him on television when he played at I think Roskilde festival. It must have been in the eighties. Anyway, he´s playing a loooong guitar solo and suddenly someone in the crowd is throwing bottles at him. He stops playing, furious, and screams at the audience something like "I try and give you music and you give me shit, thank you very much, goodbye"! He runs offstage, the band continues for a little while, looking bewildered, and then they too leave the stage. It was a sad thing to watch, maybe someone out there was a witness to this incident?

Hey Strike, thanks for posting.

Ain't so bad indeed! A recent gig? I see and hear nothing wrong there...

Am also wondering - in fact my daughter along - since JW is scheduled to play here in Montreal this spring I gather...

[www.piedmonttalent.com]

rooster Wrote:
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> Wow Lady killer..you saw Jimmy Reed!!!



No, I did. ---R

Saw Muddy a couple times, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Johhny Shines, Big walter Horton, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks and Luther Allison amongst many others. I had the good fortune to live all my life within 3 hours of Chicago so these acts would play my hometown(s) regularly. Seeing Jimmy Reed in Houston, however, was pure serendipity.

Meise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I attended Johnny Winter's concert in
> Erfurt/Germany last year. He should stop playing
> because he's not more than a laugh now. Just
> sitting all the time, rarely singing, dribbling
> and not noticing it and the like. It was really
> sad seeing the guy like this.

I see a DVD from this Concert,
a sad thing is this.
I remember 2 very good Concerts in the early 90s.

from the recordings i've heard over the past few months - he's slowly regaining some of his form. He had hip replacement surgery several years ago and the pain meds associated with it caused him to really lose his chops. Yes, he still sits on a chair and his vocals are nearly as powerful as they once were - but his playing is pretty damned good again - nothing close to his glory days, but well worth checking out for fans of good guitar blooze.

Will be listening to his recent stuff as well as vintage before the gig. A pretty intimate venue, hopefully he'll be well received. Slide blues from the heart always hits the spot, regardless of disability, illness and frailty. He must be getting something out of touring or he wouldn't put himself through the associated hassles. Real bluesmen go on till they drop (ask Keith).

Svartmer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I saw him on television when he played at I think
> Roskilde festival. It must have been in the
> eighties. Anyway, he´s playing a loooong guitar
> solo and suddenly someone in the crowd is throwing
> bottles at him. He stops playing, furious, and
> screams at the audience something like "I try and
> give you music and you give me shit, thank you
> very much, goodbye"! He runs offstage, the band
> continues for a little while, looking bewildered,
> and then they too leave the stage. It was a sad
> thing to watch, maybe someone out there was a
> witness to this incident?

Yeah that was 84 allright. Forgot about the bottle incident.
Till the bottle was thrown it was a smokin concert.
As I recall there was one bottle (which is more than enough!).
Thank ya Svartmer for remindin' me...