Musician Wilko Johnson has died aged 75, an announcement on official social media accounts has confirmed.
The guitarist and songwriter was a member of rock band Dr Feelgood within the Nineteen Seventies, joined Ian Dury’s band The Blockheads within the Nineteen Eighties, and in addition had a profitable profession together with his personal group The Wilko Johnson Band.
After being identified with what was initially considered terminal most cancers in 2013, he collaborated with The Who’s Roger Daltrey on an album referred to as Going Back Home, which went to quantity three within the UK charts the next yr. In an interview, he mentioned he thought it could be the “last thing I ever did”.
Game Of Thrones followers will even identified him from his look because the mute Lannister executioner Ser Ilyn Payne within the hit collection.
He died at dwelling on Monday.
An announcement shared on social media mentioned: “This is the announcement we never wanted to make, and we do so, on behalf of Wilko’s family and the band, with a very heavy heart: Wilko Johnson has died. He passed away at home on Monday evening, 21 November 2022.
“Thank you for respecting Wilko’s household’s privateness at this very unhappy time, and thanks all for having been such an amazing help all through Wilko’s unbelievable life. RIP Wilko Johnson.”
Johnson had beforehand been identified with pancreatic most cancers however mentioned in an interview with The Northern Echo in 2019: “It seems very unjust but I’m in the clear and feeling pretty healthy other than I’m missing a pancreas but apart from that I’m really fit.”
He had recorded an interview with the Blues In the Night podcast which was launched simply days earlier than his demise, and was taking part in dwell up till October.
Born on Canvey Island in Essex in 1947, the musician graduated from Newcastle University earlier than travelling round India, then returned to Essex to work as an English trainer. Not lengthy after, he shaped Dr Feelgood, vastly influential pub-rock pioneers who paved the way in which for punk.
He launched his autobiography, Looking Back At Me, in 2012, and one other memoir, Don’t You Leave Me Here, in 2016, following his most cancers prognosis – writing about how he determined “to accept his imminent death” by touring.
‘A presence we would by no means beheld earlier than’: Musicians pay tribute
Following the announcement of Johnson’s demise, musician Billy Bragg described him as “a precursor of punk” and mentioned: “His guitar playing was angry and angular, but his presence – twitchy, confrontational, out of control – was something we’d never beheld before in UK pop. Rotten, Strummer and Weller learned a lot from his edgy demeanour. He does it right RIP.”
Alex Kapranos, lead singer of Franz Ferdinand, was additionally amongst these paying tribute, saying: “Very sad to hear Wilko Johnson has died. His unique, wired playing & stage presence thrilled & inspired many guitarists, myself included.”
Blur’s Graham Coxon described him as “one of my all time tele heroes”, whereas The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess merely posted: “God speed Wilko.”
Broadcaster Bob Harris shared a photograph of the pair collectively, and mentioned: “So sad at the passing of the great Wilko Johnson. I first saw Dr Feelgood at the Hope & Anchor in 1974 and they did their first ever radio session on my @BBCR1 show a few days later. Wilko was absolutely unique. His energy and spirit were incredible.”
Source: information.sky.com”