The Johnny Winter Story

I believe it was Audubon Park in New Orleans, I was watching Leon Russell play. All of a sudden Johnny Winter charges on stage! Leon and Johnny played some of the best blues I've ever heard. It was electric! Well thats my opinion anyway. I don't remember the exact dates, but it must have been the early 70's when I was in my late teens.
Mike

Longue vie à Johnny et à tous ceux qui l'aiment Un francais qui aimerait bien le voir à Toulon .
Claudine

i am just a little french guitarist 25 years ago, i have listen "JW and.."
for me johnny winter is not just a star, but a friend, a brother. jamais je ne le rencontrerai, mais nous sommes sur la meme planete. Merci johnny. Stay " still alive and well " . a big friendly "salut" from France
jc

I love Johnny, and I was only introduced to him by my very dear friend, Tom. I am now 34 years old, sometimes I forget my age! Just because I have had so many people that were so dear to me lost. Talk about the blues!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that when he died, I inherited his attitude. I had the pleasure of seeing Johnny at Chene Park in 1985. I think that it was 1985.I don't know. I'm drunk and I miss my friend. Another one that Tom turned or tuned me into was Hank Williams Jr.-the guy is pretty cool too. I agree though, there is no one that can sling a guitar like Johnny. I never had even heard of him before Tom took me to the concert, I couldn't sit still. Johnny is awesome!! Check out Hank, he is too! Hank Williams Jr. can play a piano with his ass, I kid you not, the man has an awesome talent beyond belief also! I would like to see the two of them jam together with my other favororite and friend, Ted Nugent. I think that the 3 of these men are the all time greats of "guitar slingin'"

I think that the thing that all of these exceptional and awesome artists that I have mentioned is the fact that they know what time it is. Johnny sends us that message in his music, Hank and Ted are awesome musicians also, they are verbal about what they love, Johnny is a hider! I would love to meet that man though!!! I would love to interview him, I have a million questions! I love that man!!!!!! But he is way more "private" than Ted or Hank.

Anyway, those are my 3 all time favorites. I used to go and buy Ted's albums when I was the wee age of 10-with my allowance money. Now, my kids have met him, he's doing all kinds of cool things for everybody, that will be one person that I will never regret looking up to. I think that Ted is a good role model for every man, woman and child on the face of this earth. He knows how to survive, and what life is all about. Something that all of us should and do know, in our survival instincts, something that we should teach our children, something that we should live and breathe every day-I don't even know who you are, but life is based on survival. That's what Ted teaches.

Hank, on the other hand, he likes to fish-but not in the rain. I can relate to that!!! Fishing is hunting. Did you ever see one of those bumper stickers that said,"Alcohol is a drug" ? Well, fishing is hunting. I love to fish. I won't eat fish, but I like to fish...probably cause i don't have to kill the fish to catch him. Or her.

I guess that I would have to really be in bad shape to actually kill and gut an animal. It's just not me. If I were a dinasour, I would be an herbaviour.

Take care.
Wendy

Thanks for the great website.I first got into Winter in Junior High,and his music helped me create my own identity. Not many suburban white middle class types were istening to Black inspired Blues in 1973. Anyway,I have always loved the man's music and I thank you for loving it too.

Man, I love you Johnny!!! You've really brought the "true blues" back into my own 20 years of guitar playing, it was a pleasure to be right in front of you at the Fillmore, SF; on 9-10-99! I hope you stay alive and well enough to come back out here to the Bay Area again! To me your the "King of the Blues" and will always be! God Bless you, and hope to have to honor to jam with with in the next world! Daniel Larsen...guitarist/muiscian for life and beyond.

Daniel Larsen

Sat, 18 Sep 1999 23:58:46 -0400

Just got home to Ontario, Canada from a week in Las Vegas and the Johnny Winter show at the House of Blues. While I was fairly familiar with his songs and such, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw that night. Watching the man play "Mean Time Blues" on much music from a show in 1969 only a week ago made my anticipation grow even more during the evening. No one seemed to have heard too much about him and I didn't know about this website. Anyway the first band was " Texas Hurricane", they were great, nice to see such a young guy play blues , Little Caesar I think he was called. All round great band.

Next up was Susan Angelito, never had heard anything of hers before , not really my cup of tea. Janis mixed with Aretha? I don't know. Band was tight great licks.

10 p.m . Curtain reopens and there he is. I believe there was a split second of silence and the expressions confirmed my own feelings. What the hell happened to this man? Bottom line, I love the guy, the music , but whoever is really responsible for dragging the legend out in front of his fans in such a condition, well, it is very sad. The crowd was appreciative and seemed to get into it, I was about 10 feet away from him at the front of the stage. Never forget it Keith Richards can relax.

Hey Johnny. I havent heard from you in several years. I remember you and Edgar with White Trash and all of the great rocknblues stuff that you all guys made. I am an old Detroit boy, who left in 1976. I moved to L.A. Had a lot of fun, then left in 1981 for Rockinarizona. I loved it there!!!!

I remember Edgar and Johnny. They were the best!!!!

I remember them in small clubs in Detroit in t he late 60's and the early 70's.
EMBRACE YOUR GREATNESS.

I'd been playing guitar in bands and not for 20 years. 4 years ago, all inspiration had left me. Me and my good friend/band mate were sitting and drinking wondering what we should do next. I didnt care. This guy still lives in the 70's and has his entire record collection in his living room.(about 300) He puts yet another record on and 5 minutes later I said "What the heck is that?!" Dont you know who Johnny Winter is? I did but never had a record. "Captured Live" turned my head around completely, and I've collected as much JW as I could since.

I wanted the Firebird/Fender Twin tone but I'll have to settle for Les Paul /Bassman head for now. You could call it a religious conversion. Nobody can believe how much I follow JW. But NOBODY plays with such passion, taste and a genius capacity for blues licks like Johnny!

Keep praying for him, Dave

Hi, It was fantastic to be at Johnny´s concert at Kirjurinluoto during the International Pori Jazz Festival in 16th of July 1999. Many Thanks to Johnny! After sending this message I'll begin to enjoy Your great www-pages. Sincerely, Jorma Mäkelä from Jyväskylä, Finland.

I first started listening to Johnny in 69 after buying the Progressive Blues Experiment album on a suggestion from a music publication at the time. I was an immediate fan. I 've seen Johnny a couple times, once with the Johhny Winter And band that headlined the show ( Santa Monica Civic Auditorium) along with Little Feat and the J. Giles Band. What a show!!!

I didn't think anyone could top J Geils but Johnny made me forget them within minutes of his first song!

Saw Johhny again at the Olympic Auditorium with a terrific lineup of Mountain. Johhny Winter, Frank Zappa and the Hot Rats band and PGE (Pacific Gas And Electric).

Saw Johhny again last year in Costa Mesa at the Galaxy ...great adoring crowd, standard Live in NY set, but it was great to see the man in action. His health is a disappointment but lets all hope he is enjoying himself. He sure seems to be happy on stage.

Check Johhny out on the DVD of Muddy Waters Live in Chicago. Great stuff!!!!

I had never heard Robert Johnson until sometime after listening to Johnny but when I did I was amazed to hear the influence Robert Johnson had on Johnny. Give a listen and you'll see the similarities in their playing. Damn few can ride in the same boat as Robert Johnson and Johnny is one of them.

Be careful with a fool...

Toebe Bush

I went to see Johnny for the first time in about 1990, but I could be off a couple of years or so...I saw him a the Bacchanal venue in the San Diego, CA area. It was a medium to small bar setting, and the best seating area was setup with folding chairs on the wooden deck (indoors). The show was totally great! It was so electric and jamming to me, since I had always loved his old stuff and I had never really imagined what it would be to see him live.

The impressive site during the show was the lady-friend that Johnny had with him that night. It was odd, because she sat behind the band, off to the side, but the stage was not huge so you could pretty much see her the entire show. It was like she was getting her own personal concert while all of us in the regular seating area were going crazy with every song he started and played. She seemed like she was there to help Johnny and to be his light...it was strange and cool.

It was also a cool sight to just see Johnny. He definitely projects a hard-living, hard-rocking, recluse kind of image and he showed that on stage the entire show. His music is very unique, esp. when he is live. Johnny played several of his best hits, but everything he played that show seemed like a thundering hit...he could have played Mary Had a Little Lamb and it would have been kick-ass. I remember Johnny walking or lurking around the stage like he was used to ducking a lot.

One final thing that I remember from that show...while Johnny remained distant and cooly-introverted during his show, I caught a few glimpses of him from the side. He does smile, in a Deliverance kind of way, and the thing that stands out to me is his eyes catching the crowd as individuals. I think he enjoyed the show from his own perspective and maybe that is a good thing for all of us.
Patrick Coronado.

Just came home from Finland after watching both of Johnnys shows. I'm so glad I finaly got to see him live. Both concerts was really good, actually much better than I expected after reading some of the preveous rewues. I ensure you, I 'm not blind and I can see why people are concerned with his health, but I honestly belives that he has the situation under controll. If not, he wouldent be playing. What really warmed my hart was to see the tremendous response he got from the audience both days, aspecially on the outdoor concert. People were shouting for more long time after the creew had entered the stage. When we drove home we enjoyed listning to a "JW-special" radio show with several songs from his recordings together with "mojo" and "boggie real low" from the resent concert. The radio show also included an interwiew where he among other things was asked about his future plans. Johnny replied that he wanted keep on doing what he does, touring and playing his music. The fact that he chooses to go on touring, when he could have retiered and lived a quiet life makes me admire him evan more than I did before. It took 18 hours one way by car to get to Pori to se Johnny Winter, and I would do it again if I get the chanse. Sincerally,
Tore P. Thuen

I found your web site earlier on this week and have spent the last few days going through it. It is very well put together and much appreciated. Music is a very subjective experience so you won't be surprized that I disagree with some of your comments , in particular those on his early recordings. I have got the "First Winter" LP and I really like it. The music on it is good "pop" music heading towards blues. Don't judge it by his Columbian recordings but rather by contemporary records of the same time period, early to mid 60s. You mention that these recordings were by Roy Ames, but according to the sleeve notes the producer was the much respected Huey Meaux, one of the originators of the "Cajun" sound. For the record my favourite album is 2nd Winter, which has goods songs and a great "sound" definitely helped by it being on one and half LPS. CBS released a sampler album in 1970 called Sounds of the 70s, which was crammed with music, including one, "I love everybody" from 2nd Winter. This track really suffered because it was compressed into a smaller amount of space i.e. groove space. I can see why it was decided to spread the 48mins(?) of 2nd Winter over two records it really did allow a clearer, wider sound. I was lucky enough to Johnny Winter at the Victoria Palace in London in 1977 and he was excellent, worth the 260 mile round trip I made that day to get to the concert.
Anyway thanks again for a great site. Anthony Harland

I saw him at the SUNSHINE INN in ASBURY PARK NJ ! I consder myself lucky to hear and see a true "feeling " player . Rick D was with him in AND . He did ITS MY OWN FAULT and all the AND LIVE album. WOW . You never forget . In the 70's bands knew how to jam and outside the ALLMANS he blew us away , rarely repeating licks and running up and back on stage. It is once in a lifetime a qualities like this appear in a musician and an era fertile for this type of musician to be in the MAINSTREAM is not likely nowadays . Some like SRV point to the way and get close . But his singing style and technique are ONE . If you listen to really earl material , ( not the 50's style) when he was developing a rugged singing style he simulated black artists to a tee. This led to his growl later . When you listen to johnny , you feel "blue". You get the "cliche": called inspiration . and want to be part of the song , the playing the cool way he expresses blues . I love your site .
Thanks for the air time ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hank