Wilko Johnson, guitarist and founding member of British rock greats Dr. Feelgood, died Monday at his home home in Westcliff On Sea. He was 75. The sad news came via his official social media channels: “This is the announcement we never wanted to make, & we do so with a very heavy heart: Wilko Johnson has died. He passed away at home on Monday 21st November. Thank you for respecting the family’s privacy at this very sad time. RIP Wilko Johnson.”
A true iconoclast, Wilko Johnson played and looked like no one else, and the unique fingerpicking style he developed in Dr. Feelgood that allowed him to play lead and rhythm guitar at the same time proved influential beyond the band’s pub rock circuit, especially on the nascent punk and post-punk scene. Andy Gill of Gang of Four, in particular, has said Gang of Four would not have sounded like they do without Dr. Feelgood, and Blondie’s Chris Stein wrote today, “I frequently remind people how Dr Feelgood was an influence on the early New York and CBGBs music scene.”
Wilko also spent time in Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Roger Daltrey’s band, and led The Wilko Johnson Band till his death.
In 2013, Johnson was diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer and given less than a year to live, and went on a farewell tour, but underwent a life-saving operation in 2014 that had him cancer free. Around the same time, filmmaker Julien Temple began following him and released fantastic documentary The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson in 2015. You can watch that below. Temple also made 2009 Dr Feelgood documentary Oil City Confidential which is also great.
In addition to his work as a musician, Wilko Johnson also did some acting and played executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on Game of Thrones.
Many musicians have been paying tribute to Wilko since news of his death broke and you can read ones from Jimmy Page, Blondie’s Chris Stein, Billy Bragg, The Stranglers, Sleaford Mods, Blur‘s Graham Coxon, Franz Ferdinand‘s Alex Kapranos, and more, below.
Rest in peace, Wilko. You were one of a kind.
Wilko Johnson was a precursor of punk. 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 pic.twitter.com/ukoJ69r41h
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) November 23, 2022
I’m sad to hear today of the passing of Wilko Johnson, the Dr Feelgood guitarist and singer/songwriter.
I saw Wilko perform at Koko in Camden in May 2013 and the atmosphere was electric. This show was originally billed as his farewell tour pic.twitter.com/M1sQIEe4mm
— Jimmy Page (@JimmyPage) November 23, 2022
RIP @wilkojohnson
I frequently remind people how Dr Feelgood was an influence on the early New York and CBGBs music scene. Great guitarist and performer pic.twitter.com/ZifSnoPA7U— Cʜʀɪs Sᴛᴇɪɴ (@chrissteinplays) November 23, 2022
Wilko Johnson dies aged 75 | Wilko Johnson | The Guardian https://t.co/APrQE5QOSF
— Clem Burke (@clem_burke) November 23, 2022
Very sad to hear Wilko Johnson has died. His unique, wired playing & stage presence thrilled & inspired many guitarists, myself included. When I interviewed him a few years ago, he was bright, thoughtful & an astonishing story teller. His presence will be felt for many more years pic.twitter.com/x6ZzQWojXp
— Alex Kapranos (@alkapranos) November 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/StranglersSite/status/1595369723318919170
RIP Wilko Johnson. Guitar genius. Good guy. One night in May 1973, at the Lord Nelson in Holloway Rd, his great band, Dr Feelgood turned teenage me from a soul/reggae freak into a lifelong lover of loud, unfiltered, gut-felt rock music. Thank you for that gift, Wilko. pic.twitter.com/MEACw3gUnG
— Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) November 23, 2022
Rest in Power Mr Wilko Johnson – you fought the good fight, and had a damn good run. when they said it was over, you came back stronger. cheers mate 🍻 pic.twitter.com/3vXuT8ixtk
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) November 23, 2022
Sleep well, Wilko Johnson. The unsung inventor of post Mod, Mod. https://t.co/207CBeHhcY
— Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) November 23, 2022
Wilko Johnson started from scratch and invented a new way to play guitar. Manifesting in his rhythm hand the amphetamine intensity of an era, he inspired a generation of twitchy dorks like me. Without him, I probably play clarinet. Requiescat. https://t.co/2VwlLt05u3
— regular steve albini (@electricalWSOP) November 23, 2022
Wilko Johnson – you are one of the greatest guitar players this country has ever produced. It was an honour and a pleasure to talk to you for over an hour during Lockdown.
Rock In Peace,
Ix— Ian McNabb. Cultural attaché: Kensington, L,pool. (@empiresend) November 23, 2022
My first encounter with WJ was on this old tv show..Wilko Johnson guitar method https://t.co/F2vMlHDD77
— graham coxon (@grahamcoxon) November 23, 2022
Goodbye Wilko and thank you. #wilkoJohnson pic.twitter.com/8gvHpYhWLW
— Gary Kemp (@garyjkemp) November 23, 2022
Dr Feelgood on Geordie Scene – one of the most intense and exciting tv performances of all time. Goodbye Wilko. https://t.co/IqTjucvZyp pic.twitter.com/xsDat9SF3c
— bob stanley (@rocking_bob) November 23, 2022
Oh , shit, Wilko the guitar man , so sad-Edwyn
— Edwyn Collins (@EdwynCollins) November 23, 2022