‘From what I could see from the script, all I had to do was go around giving people dirty looks…’ Wilko reveals to Metro his memories of playing the formidable Ser Ilyn Payne (who is still on Arya Stark’s kill list), amid Game Of Thrones season 8 fever!
Check out this excellent, in-depth and typically humorous interview with the man himself in Guitar Exchange magazine. Many thanks to journalist Paul Rigg.
The UK tour is underway – thanks to everyone who has attended shows so far!
Here are a couple of excellent new in-depth interviews, specifically in support of the Southampton (March 9th) and Newcastle (March 15th) dates. Enjoy!
Need a little reading matter to round off the week? Here’s a lovely interview with Wilko in Guitar World. Thanks to Mark McStea for spreading the ‘Blow Your Mind’ gospel across the pond!
‘Anyone who’s ever loved Wilko’s music has got a major treat in store with Blow Your Mind. After the audience-broadening appeal of the Daltrey collaboration, hopefully this release will cement his new-found status and finally get him the recognition he deserves Stateside.’
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/tele-meister-wilko-johnson-is-ready-willing-and-able-to-blow-your-mind
Thanks to gentleman Gideon Coe for featuring this slice of live vintage Wilko / Solid Senders! Still time to listen again.
Squeeze frontman and co-founder Glenn Tilbrook will join Wilko Johnson on the UK leg of Wilko’s upcoming tour dates, starting on February 28th2019. The special guest dates with Wilko will run either side of Glenn’s own headline shows.
At both his solo shows and on the Wilko Johnson tour Glenn will be promoting awareness of, and donations for, The Trussell Trust, the charity that supports a network of foodbanks around the UK. At most venues there will be food drop points and collection boxes, and Glenn will also be donating all profits from his merchandise, including an exclusive 4 track EP, to the organisation.
Glenn says “it is shameful that in the 21stcentury there are people that can’t afford to put food on the table.. Anyone, from any walk of life, can fall upon dire times, and I hope that by doing this tour it will remind people that there is a very real need. Most of us can do something to help – be it giving some food or a little money – and I hope people coming to the shows are inspired to donate. On the 3rd September 1975 – Squeeze opened for Dr Feelgood at St Albans Civic Hall. They were the only band I’d ever seen besides us, who were doing short concise songs and hitting you between the eyes. They blew my mind. I’m so happy to be doing this tour with Wilko and his extremely talented band and am pleased he has accommodated support for The Trussell Trust on this tour”
Wilko says“It is good to be on the same bill as Glenn again – we both come from the same milieu and I’m sure that it will be a great show. I’m happy to be supporting the Trussell Trust on this tour and to help raise awareness about the important work that they do.”
Food donated at the venues will be collected and distributed to the nearest Trussell Trust foodbank.
Foodbanks provide a minimum of three-days’ nutritionally balanced, non-perishable tinned and dried foods that have been donated by the local community. A list of itemsin a typical food parcel are: cereal, soup, pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes/pasta sauce, lentils, beans and pulses, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tea/coffee, tinned fruit, biscuits, UHT milk and fruit juice. If possible audience members are asked to check with local foodbanksto see what supplies are currently needed.
Tour dates
Special Guests with Wilko Johnson
| 28/02/2019 | Opera House, Buxton |
| 01/03/2019 | Parr Hall, Warrington |
| 02/03/2019 | De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill |
| 08/03/2019 | Cliffs Pavilion, Southend |
| 09/03/2019 | Engine Rooms, Southampton |
| 10/03/2019 | Alban Arena, St Albans |
| 13/03/2019 | The Robin, Wolverhampton |
| 14/03/2019 | Picturedrome, Holmfirth |
| 15/03/2019 | Opera House, Newcastle |
| 11/04/2019 | Yarm Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Stockton |
| 12/04/2019 | Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh |
| 13/04/2019 | Fibbers, York |
| 25/04/2019 | Junction, Cambridge |
| 26/04/2019 | Tramshed, Cardiff |
| 27/04/2019 | Town Hall, Cheltenham |
Glenn Tilbrook Solo Tour
| 16/03/2019 | The Grand, Clitheroe |
| 21/03/2019 | St Mary Magdalene Church, Cobham |
| 22/03/2019 | Revelation, Ashford |
| 23/03/2019 | The Pavilion, Hailsham |
| 28/03/2019 | Komedia, Bath |
| 29/03/2019 | Acapela, Cardiff |
| 31/03/2019 | St Mary’s Parish Church, Kingskerswell |
| 02/04/2019 | The Wharf, Tavistock |
| 03/04/2019 | Lighthouse, Poole |
| 05/04/2019 | St John The Evangelist Church, Oxford |
What better than to head to sunnier climes in the bleak midwinter? In February, Wilko and the boys will be doing just that – playing the below two dates in Portugal shortly after appearing in Madrid (9th) and Barcelona (10th) – see our live dates section for further details.
Wilko is one of 40 of the world’s most esteemed rock legends to feature in the fantastic new book ‘The First Time’, a collection of interviews by BBC Radio 6 Music star Matt Everitt. Other contributors include Blondie, Yoko Ono, Alice Cooper, Pete Townshend… it’s essential! Check it out!
Now here’s something we can believe in! We love this feature and hope you do too. Words by Ian Fortnum.
