Post by rtbuck on Jun 14, 2010 10:12:50 GMT -5
Any fans? I know he's seldom if ever mentioned here but I've always been a big fan. Back in the 70's I would buy any album if their was a Chuck Berry cover song(Hell,I even bought 38 Special's debut because they covered "Around & Around") & one day while thumbing through the "W" section at a record store I came across Johnny Winter & noticed the live shot on the cover of 'Johnny Winter And Live'. Back then I was also addicted to live albums buying 'Status Quo Live','Rainbow Onstage','Steppenwolf Live', & even the Ozark Mountain Daredevils double live to name a few. Anyway, I picked up the album & noticed "Johnny B. Goode" on it & also noticed Rick Derringer was in the band so I bought it without hesitation & I was blown away. By 1986 I was up to 17 Johnny Winter albums. My favorite tune by Winter is 'Still Alive & Well" which has been my catch phrase for years when I'm asked how I'm doing
I'll never forget seeing him live back in 1983 at a bar called "Rooftops" in Buffalo,NY. Spanky Madoo was with me for that show & we were about 12 feet from the stage. The crowd was pretty wild (mostly rowdy bikers) & at one point there was a guy in a wheelchair near us & he was arguing with a biker & next thing you know the biker pulled out a switchblade but was dragged away before any damage was done. Johnny Winter has always been a blues/blues rock & roll artist so that's what the rowdy crowd was there for. Opening the show was a local band called Fat Brat led by an oversized guitarist named Kenny Wilczak who was known for his bluesy style. The lights dimmed & Fat Brat was announced & what did they open with? "Everybody Wants You" by Billy Squier!! Holy Shit, the place went nuts & I thought for sure there would be a riot as the crowd booed & cursed loudly. The singer stepped up to the mic & said "Here's an old BB King number" & the band went into either "The Thrill is Gone" or "How Blue Can You get"(I can't remember which one because both were played from what I remember.) Winter had a 3 piece band with he, bassist/Harmonica Jon Paris, & drummer Moe Potts & they kicked ass playing a blazing set including songs such as "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo"(which was originally released on his 'Johnny Winter And' studio album which Derringer later did on his debut solo album'All American Boy'),Bony Maronie,Highway 61, It's All Over Now, & of course Johnny B. Goode
Johnny Winter is still going strong & a great biography called "Raisin' Cain" was just released. A great Book complete with Sex,Drugs, & Rock & Roll.
I'll never forget seeing him live back in 1983 at a bar called "Rooftops" in Buffalo,NY. Spanky Madoo was with me for that show & we were about 12 feet from the stage. The crowd was pretty wild (mostly rowdy bikers) & at one point there was a guy in a wheelchair near us & he was arguing with a biker & next thing you know the biker pulled out a switchblade but was dragged away before any damage was done. Johnny Winter has always been a blues/blues rock & roll artist so that's what the rowdy crowd was there for. Opening the show was a local band called Fat Brat led by an oversized guitarist named Kenny Wilczak who was known for his bluesy style. The lights dimmed & Fat Brat was announced & what did they open with? "Everybody Wants You" by Billy Squier!! Holy Shit, the place went nuts & I thought for sure there would be a riot as the crowd booed & cursed loudly. The singer stepped up to the mic & said "Here's an old BB King number" & the band went into either "The Thrill is Gone" or "How Blue Can You get"(I can't remember which one because both were played from what I remember.) Winter had a 3 piece band with he, bassist/Harmonica Jon Paris, & drummer Moe Potts & they kicked ass playing a blazing set including songs such as "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo"(which was originally released on his 'Johnny Winter And' studio album which Derringer later did on his debut solo album'All American Boy'),Bony Maronie,Highway 61, It's All Over Now, & of course Johnny B. Goode
Johnny Winter is still going strong & a great biography called "Raisin' Cain" was just released. A great Book complete with Sex,Drugs, & Rock & Roll.