So much has been written about Texan albino guitarist Johnny Winter's roller coaster career that you could be forgiven for thinking it's all been said before. But even by the historical standards of rock's murky underbelly, what has happened to Johnny Winter in the past decade or so defies belief. Johnny tells us about being back in the saddle, while his guitar playing overseer/manager lifts the lid off some incredible goings on that rendered Johnny close to death's door, and will soon be the subject of a book.
All that said, the upshot is that Johnny Winter is back touring the world, and boasting a Grammy nominated album 'I'm A Bluesman' But unlike most of the usual hype, this is a real cause for celebration as with Paul's help and his loyal band, Johnny is back playing reams of fluid notes as he reaches back to his blues roots. Born Beaumont Texas in 1944 Johnny Winter long ago entered the pantheon of top Texas guitar players. The list may stretch as far back as Blind Lemon Jefferson, T Bone Walker, Freddy King, and Albert Collins, and has since included the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, (who Johnny taught to play guitar at his house) and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, but arguably Johnny Winter was the guitarist who first crossed over a whole generation of people in the 70's to Rock-Blues.
He made his mark as early as 1969 with the 'The Progressive Blues Experiment' and the unique triple sided release 'Second Winter'. Thereafter, he cut 40 or more albums included the best selling 1973 'Still Alive Well, and the supreme 1976 'Captured Live' album before he enjoyed another renaissance with 1984's 'Guitar Slinger', the first of a celebrated trio of albums on Alligator records. For over 35 years Johnny Winter has carried guitar and rock blues fans along with him.
In between times he resurrected Muddy Waters career in 1977 with three more excellent albums including the Grammy Award winning 'Hard Again' and occasionally cut albums with his brother Edgar Winter. But in truth since 1991's 'Let Me In' and 1992's self explanatory 'Hey Where's Your Brother' there's hasn't been much. This all changed in 2004 with 'I'm A Bluesman', an album that has re-launched his career.
As Paul Nelson in our second interview spells out, Johnny has overcome scurrilous management practices that gravely affected his health, bank account and well being. I caught Johnny in his comfortable tour bus - a smaller version than his legendary Silver Train of old - at the Brook in Southampton as part of a sell out UK tour. Essentially booked to re-establish both his profile and reputation, this is his first UK tour since the ill fated Bishopstock festival.
The king of one liners reflects on his career as a seminal rock bluesman's that has come full circle from being a 15 year old kid in a club, persistently asking BB King to let him on the stand, to being an active, elder statesman of the blues himself.. 'When I went into the black blues clubs, nothing ever happened to me.
I went to black clubs all the time, and nobody ever bothered me...
I always felt welcome, and eventually I got the chance to play, and they must have figured I was good.' Many years ago you stated that when you played Texas clubs people wanted variety, and when you became famous, everyone wanted familiarity. Was playing the blues a happy medium in that respect?
Oh absolutely. It sure was. Blues crosses over a lot of boundaries, people recognise it, and I can still play a little rock too.
And that's what we play blues and rock (laughs). You are back on the road again, how has the touring been going and is it something that you still enjoy? It's been excellent, and the crowds have been good, and I like the band I've got.
I like playing to people, though the travelling can be tough. The Grammy nominated and aptly titled 'I'm A Bluesman' seems to be a return to your roots, is that the case? Yeah, I never really liked to stray too far away from the blues.
We did well with the rock stuff a few years ago but it was what people wanted at the time. I'm happy with the album, and with the band.
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