Wilko and guitar

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 10

Wilko and guitar

Wilko Johnson, the manic British guitarist, is considering bringing his band, the Solid Senders, to New Zealand with him next year, and trying to get their last album, “Ice On The Motorway” released here and in Australia.

The cult guitarist, formerly with Dr Feelgood, is on the final leg of The All Stars Play The Blues, tour featuring among others Hammond Gamble, Midge Marsden, and Beaver, and who play at the Gladstone Tavern tomorrow and Saturday evening.

For Johnson it has become a case of “have guitar — will travel.” Although he is out of the international limelight, Johnson is still a cult figure,' and he and the All Stars have been packing them in up north since the tour began this month.

Johnson said he enjoyed the New Zealand tour with lan Dury and the Blockheads three years ago (although while in Christchurch he seemed to have a Walkman strapped permanently to his head), and welcomed the chance to return when offered the trip.

But luck has not been on the guitarist’s side. Booted out of Dr Feelgood, his initial Solid Senders band melted, the independent record company that released “Ice On The Motorway,” went bankrupt not long after the album was out, but he is still finding work. To some, it might sound depressing, almost like Low Profile’s “Elephunk” song. “I don’t, have a manager. I don’t have a record com-

pany,” Johnson said, but he does not miss the star turn, and in fact sounds quite cheerful. He is also impressed by the standard of musicianship in New Zealand and the enthusiasm of the audience. Johnson plays a set of about six songs, including one or two Dr Feelgood numbers, with Neil Edwards (bass) and Dennis Ryan (drums), plus some other numbers with the whole All Stars band.