I was the drummer Johnny was talking about in this interview, My Dad ( may he RIP ) got us our first job in a beer joint called Tom's fish camp in Beaumont in 1960. He did drink a lot beer at the club LOL
Some modern guitar know it alls may think he is sloppy. I think at this point in life he lost some control of his motor skills. I assure you John played tight and from his heart in earlier years. John was the real deal. He was a pioneer. One of the early trail blazers, and his playing was a lot better than this when he was younger. Beautiful person and great musician! I'm a fan since since the 60s. Can't believe all this time has past and how it has ravaged us physically. RIP Johnny Winters. You are one of the guitar Gods. You left your mark on the music world! God bless your soul.
That man was the electric blues in person. There will never be another one like him. They dont make them anymore, they broke the mold when this one was done. Sincere, honest,true.
I met Johnny on his tour bus. I walked up, shook his hand and he was more than happy to sign my Woodstock ticket. So now I have a Sunday Woodstock ticket signed by Mr. Winter.
My first concert was Johnny Winter,he started me into guitar playing.Every time he came to town I went to his concerts. Thank you Johnny for giving the world a lifetime of great music.
If a guitarist wants to study the 60s and 70s blues and rock, johhnys licks is a must for him, specially his fast sextuplets which you can find in Real Blues and Real Rock books by Ken Chipkin. Blues was kinda slow before Johnny came to play.@@shainshartershwate7421
I had grown up listening to the Beatles, the Stones, James Brown, Dave Brubeck, and folk music but nothing prepared me for Second Winter. It pierced my soul and turned me into a lifelong blues fan. A great guitar player and sorely missed.
I saw him play live in 1981 opening up for Alvin Lee. He absolutely tore the house down! One of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen. Great entertainer as well.I’ll never forget that show he played
Johnny AND Alvin!!!!! Holy crap. The two rockinist blues players ever to strap on a guitar. I was around then and I still say, Lucky You. May they both Rest In Peace.
I was Johnny's first drummer and my dad got us our first night club gig and Johnny was correct about him drinking and not really watching us too closely. It was a club called "Tom's Fish Camp. on the Pine Island bayou in Voth Texas.
+fguka I am doing very well I have been playing Guitar since 1961 when I stopped playing drums. Edgar and I left Johnny to put together a 5 horn band with Jerry LaCroix on vocals and Tenor sax. For runner to "White Trash" In 1964 Edgar and went on the road with Johnny where Edgar played Alto sax and organ and I played Organ and 2nd guitar.
Back around 1981 I had the pleasure of watching a Johnny Winter show in San Francisco, California. It was at a place called The Old Waldorf and it was a pretty small venue. I arrived late and there was no where to sit so the guy says "just stand over here" and he led me to the side of the "stage" area where Mr. Winter proceeded to to put on a show not more than 10 feet away. I remember thinking "wow!! this man is a guitar playing bad ass!" Really cool guy too. Peace!
Listen all you haters...you know who you are, the ones who watch people's tube posts just to slag them off, poor character trait that is by the way, at the end of the day this guy has lived a life of blues and met people and seen things that you could never dream of...I bet he doesn't lose a wink of sleep about your shitty comments. Jw a real blues man.
You tell 'em Chico. Haters have nothing better to do. I just call them "SOCIAL MEDIA RATS" bc of their jealous and ABSOLUTELY no accomplishments. Long Live JOHNNY WINTER !!!😎👍🏻👍🏻
Damn ! Johnny Winter had such amazing talent - one of a kind - I'm glad I got to see him perform live !!! R.I.P. JOHNNY WINTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I opened for him a couple of times close to the end. Frankly, I didn't watch much of the shows. I didn't want to remember him that way. He was still enthusiastic (even played drums in soundcheck one night) but his body was failing him. I opened for BB King in the early 2000s. Same thing. Flashes of their old brilliance among a lot of struggling through. It tells us that these guys were committed to their crews, bands and worked to the end. I'm glad I got a chance to see him up close, meet him, touch his famous Gibson and see him as he really was. RIP
Saw him in the mid-70's in a large venue and then again in the mid-90's in a small venue. He was a consistent performer, a pleasure to watch and hear. Yes RIP Johnny. You played your heart out.
I remember, oh about 30+ yrs ago, sitting at a friends listening to some old BB King tunes. He turned and asked me if I've ever listened to or heard of Mr. Winter, I said no. So with the shock on his face , he put it on and so began my journey and love of Mr. Winter and his music. My journey continues to this day. RIP to one of Greats.
RIP Johnny, it was You that made me understand the blues back in the 70s. I instinctively liked the blues, but you opened the door and showed me what it really meant. I never knew you but I'll never forget you or what you did for me without ever knowing it.
It doesn't matter who you think plays better, who likes who, whatever, JW is what he is-a musician who plays and lives the blues. He’s sang/played guitar with the best of them. I witnessed his shouting blues in 1976, in a bar where you were so close, (in Minneapolis called the Cabooze), where you could look up and touch his feet. It didn't get much better than that for me. Johnny has had his share of ups and downs, but he is still alive in 2013, and that is what you would call a LIVING LEGEND!
Johny Winters is really one of the greatest guitar players ever to pickup one This guy came from back in the day All the great players of today know who he is This guy help start it all folks
Being from Texas, I was raised on Johnny and Edgar's music...I consider them both icons of musicianship and talent...great to see Johnny is Still Alive and Well!
I'm from Beaumont. My mom hung out with all these guys and showed me their music growing up. This shit means so much to me. I really want to carry on that Texas sound. Austin is getting so watered down.
Every interview I've ever seen with Johnny he always comes across as the most down to earth, easy person to talk to. He had a big influence on me when I was 12 years old in 1974 when I heard "Johnny Winter Live And". When I started playing guitar 3 years later, I eventually picked up slide because of him and Duane Allman.
Johnny and his brother Edgar have been an inspiration since my brother introduced me to there music in 1968!!!! Thank God for them sharing all there talent, it just doen't get any better than this!
Johnny and i met in Bowling Green Ky back around 2009. He needed a favor and I helped him out. I'll keep it at that. It was a good time , a mellow time. He kept a player with him and listened to Muddy the whole time before the show through his ear buds. We hit it off pretty good. I told him a story about kicking a girl out of my car on the way to a Stones Concert in 1993 because she said Hendrix was better than Johnny. Now I dont want to open a can of worms here (or did I just do it) but Johnny has always been and always will be my favorite guitar/singing blues and rock and roller. Johnny laughed at that story and said "Man did you really kick that chick out ?" I said yeah and he laughed some more. I went back and got her , she was sitting on a guard rail in the rain. I let her back in under one condition. Anyway , Johnny gave me a slide that i still have today. I miss him. He was a good cat.
'The first time I heard this song, and the last time I'll play it, I'll be thinking of Mr. Abert King' once said SRV before playing 'The Sky's Crying' The soul of his blues was from icons like King, but SRV's guitar speed and power have Johnny Winter written all over them.
Thanks so much for posting this.I've seen Johnny about 4 or 5 times in the 70s.What great player.Got to meet him and actualy burned a couple j's with him,what great guy, treated us like he had known us for yrs. thx again.
I was fortunate to have seen him a few times, the first time was back in the mid 70s and Lynyrd Skynyrd was the opening act, it was in the local civic center, a few years later he was playing in a small club and the show was sold out so my friend and I snuck thro through an open window, good time RIP
He is really amazing. I love his Still Alive and Well song. Just great! Warm phransing, singing, great stuff! "Don't hit it now, hit it on four: 1,2,3,4..."
Been following JW since the early 70s when I first saw him with Edgar, Rick Derringer and Randy Hobbs. He was and has been my inspiration since then. It's like the man was born the son of a guitar. He's connected to the instrument always. Part and parcel. The real deal. Sad to see him in his decline, but he's paid his dues and left his mark. What else can an artist do?
+John Smith I hadn't heard of him before until Johnny was asked in a video ... " Are there any current ( newer ) slide players that you admire ? ". His response with no hesitation ... " Derek Trucks ". That's been several years ago and when I first watched some of his videos I quickly saw what Johnny saw. That boy COOKS !!!
Every time Johnny was in New York I Seen him Especially in my Father Place! There is never going to be anyone like him from guitar to his voice he is number one!
I was introduced to the blues in college when I got hold of White, Hot, and Blue-Johnny Winter in 1979.............and that led to Muddy Waters, Little Walter......etc, etc, etc....Thank you Johnny from a big fan.......
the best interview since 1991.Johnny seems to be qiute ok after all those years with drugs,drinking,heavy smokin,breaking his wrist,etc.His humour does'n let him down,and how he plays and sings even today.He coud'nt be more American. A real gem and a national (and international) treasure.
What a legend and also just a regular guy who shocked the world . " one night I was on mescaline and couldnt play " ..I could hear him talk for hours ...Miss you Johnny ..God bless.
It's his passion! Johnny's playing isn't what it once was but his passion and love for the art is unmatched. One of my all time favorites along with Edgar & Rick!
I will always kick myself for skipping out on JW tickets a few years back, figuring I'd go see him "next time." There was no next time. RIP Johnny Winter...
Funny I did the same thing with Jimi Hendrix tickets, I had them in my possession for a concert in Sacramento, but no I had to let my so call friends talk out of it and go party instead! Another one of life's regrets.
Johnny...I've seen you 6 times and loved every minute. You were the best! YOU knew how to rock...and YOU knew how to play the best blues. Nobody was/is better! We will miss you. You were absolutely incredible! I never heard you make a mistake. Every time I saw you...after the show...I said to myself..."Wow...how can a guitar player be that good...you were unbelievable...absolutely unbelievable." You showed the world how blues is supposed to be played." You are truly a "blues God!"
Thank you Johnny Winter for all the incredible music and awesome shows you brought to my life... Forever loved & Forever missed.... MoonDreams & SeaWishes to my favorite Bluesman !
I only got to see Johnny one time. It was in Atlanta at the Fox Theater. It was on Aug. 16, 1977, the same day Elvis died. Johnny totally blew the roof off of the place. I'll never forget it as long as I live.
People discuss guitar players in relation to other players style but some players you hear and see, the individual is just so much in a different dimension that they are incomparable. In a separate category by themselves. Johnny Winter was in a place with nobody around. Class by himself.
One of the things that I think made him special was well versed in acoustic blues and, then he learned from some of the electric players and combined the two styles.
Saw Johnny two nights in a row at the Town & Country Kentish Town and Highbury c. 1992, I think. The Highbury venue was tiny and Johnny was great but the second night, in a much bigger and better venue, he kicked some major fucking arse. His version of Link Wray's Rumble was a shredder's delight. RIP Johnny!
'bout 30 years ago I saw J.W. downtown Dallas,WestEnd market place outside show....I was very into HeavyMetal music...he played a slide guitar solo that Kicked my Ass......we miss ya brutha....*every now & then it's kinda hard to tell,but I'm still ALIVE & well*
We won't be seeing anyone with the talent and desire of Mr Winter. Was blessed to see Johnny play 6 - 7 times in the last 10 years. Everytime he came to Saint Louis I had to go to his show. Last saw Johnny June 23, 2014. He put on a killing show. Will miss getting to see him play live.
