johnny winter live in copenhagen 1970

Since Johnny Winter passed away in July there's been some interesting videos appearing of his live performances over the years, but there are none more remarkeable than this 20 minute live performance filmed in Copenhagen in 1970. The venue is an initimate cellar or club setting obviously picked especially for the occasion and the audience is closely seated at tables and chairs just feet from the performers.
Don't be misled by what appears to be the passiveness of the young 'heads' watching this, they sit with quiet and rapt attention witnessing a unique performance of Winter in his prime that none there could possibly have fully appreciated at the time. From Texas to Copenhagen in 1970 would have been like a visit from anothert world. Remember this is recorded just 12 months or less after after his legendary 'Second Winter' album and his performance at Woodstock.
It gives us a front row seat view rarely recorded on film of one of the great guitarists of the era. There's even a sighting of Winter's 12 string Fender strung with 6 strings when at the 15.20 mark he switches to slide and plays an extended version of 'Mean Town Blues'. This is the same Fender he played on the storming version of Highway 61 studio version on Second Winter.
The picture and sound quality is so clean you'd think it was recorded last year. The magnetism and energy a Johnny Winter performance was, is all here. It's now a truly remarkeable piece of history.

A series of Johnny Winter Remembrance Shows have been scheduled over the coming months in the States.

Sep 06 – Granville, OH – Hot Licks Blues Fest with guests Sonny Landreth, and Lance Lopez
Sep 10 – Mystic, CT – Olde Mystik Village Theater with Debbie Davies, and James Montgomery; plus a screening of the documentary
Sep 14 – Middletown, NY – Brian’s Backyard BBQ with Gary Hoey, and Montgomery; plus screening of the documentary
Sep 18 – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Hall with Davies, and Hoey
Oct 10 – New York City, NY – BB Kings with Davies, Lopez, Joe Louis Walker, and Montgomery; plus screening of the documentary
Nov 21 – Fall River, MA – Narrow Center For The Arts

johnny winter gone

photo © Legacy

Only the other week we ran a post on the trials of reaching 70 years old in rock and roll and still touring. (post : a dangerous age for rock and roll) . Then if it wasn't sad enough to be given the news the Tommy Ramone had passed away last weekend, be it at the slightly earlier age of 66, we now have this mornings statement from Kid Logic Media that the legendary blues man Johnny Winter passed away last night in his hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland, age 70.

The Texas 'White Lightnin' as he was nicknamed, Johnny Winter was one of the most enigmatic and exciting live performers that blues and rock music has ever seen. Despite the many years of hard times in his life with him being stuck at the pointed end of serious drug addiction, mainly encouraged by his filth of a long time and exploitative manager, in the later years Johnny was rescued from an even earlier demise by his new found manager and guitarist, Paul Nelson who got him back to a drug free life and helping him relaunch his career. Maybe it was this second life with his music that Johnny found he could never abandon again as he toured consistently there after and for the last decade.
His early years in Mississippi Delta following in the footsteps of his blues heroes were spent dueling it out in the Southern blues clubs or what was then clumsily called 'the Chitlin' Circuit' and as equally daunting being the only white blues player. He sat in with legendary names Muddy Waters and BB King in sessions and held his own. BB King tells a story of him being brought on to play, (paraphrased) "some white kid?" "within minutes you knew he knew some stuff".

By the time Winter sprang his band on the 1969 Woodstock audience his performance was electrifying. This was a truly sensational guitarist and only equaled by Hendrix in the mastery of redefining what the blues was to a new generation already absorbing Clapton, Page, Beck etc.
His classic second LP release and double album 'Second Winter' was as much progressive blues as it was powerful rock, although he always saw himself as a blues man only, the sound of Winter's electric slide guitar and Texas drawl was as familer a sound as Hendrix's wah pedal by 1970.
There were performances that went down in rock history, The Fillmore East, The Albert Hall, even on television in early 70's 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' with the band playing "Jumping Jack Flash" live. From his early days to his last Johnny Winter has inspired generations of young guitarists to listen and explore blues playing for themselves.
Want to play some Johnny Winter blues on your guitar?

Here's some fine examples of his tunings in action - "Dallas" (open G), "Mean Town Blues" (open A), "Highway 61" from "Second Winter, "Mojo Boogie", "Stranger Blues" (open D), or the red hot version of "Highway 61" from "Captured Live", or "Let It Bleed" (open E).

And that is the greatest gift Johnny Winter leaves us.
So long Johnny.

Here's Dylan's masterpiece 'Highway 61 Revisited' in the hands of a master.

crossroads guitar festival

This April 12-13 sees the fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival being held at Madison Square Gardens. The concerts originally founded by Eric Clapton as a charity for funding an Antiguan drug centre have become a gold standard for showcasing the greatest guitarists and artists from around the globe. This years line up will include, Albert Lee, Allman Brothers Band, BB King, Buddy Guy, Earl Klugh, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, John Scofield, Robbie Robertson, Robert Cray and Taj Mahal, although the list won't end there and many more of the great and good will be fitted into shows held over two nights.
The 2010 concert was an open air festival held in Toyota Park, Chicago. One of the performances on a sunny afternoon in June saw Johnny Winter guesting with the Derek Trucks band. Winter turned out his classic Highway 61 and judging by the look on that bands face including Derek Trucks this was a moment they'd all only dreamed of, but was now actually happening.
The Crossroads Festival site is > here

johnny winter blues lesson

Around 2010, Guitar World recorded an interview with blues legend Johnny Winter, and if that wasn't joy enough to have the rare chance to hear the man talking about some of his early days in music he then goes on to give a demonstration of his mastery on the slide guitar.
Guitar World obviously originally accompanied the video with actual tab illustrations of the chords and they're referred to during the 10 minute film.
Although no matter how well meaning this is you can't help but feel despite these most useful diagrams when it comes to actually seeing Winter's technique in action with his classic cover of 'Highway 61' there'll be every chance you will sound nothing at all like the Texas White Lightnin'. Don't be disheartened though.. neither does anyone else.
But it is a unique opportunity to have a close up look at one of the worlds great blues players and listen to him talk about starting out at a young age and being influenced by Clarence Garlow and B.B. King, his memories of Freddie King, and then onto the meaty matters of thumb picks, open tunings and slides, finally finishing off with a quick blistering run through of Highway 61 and an example of Elmore James' style of slide playing.
Guitar World have high hopes for everyone viewing and called this a 'Johnny Winter Blues Lesson', but the reality is by most peoples mortal standards, it is a 'Johnny Winter Demonstration' and riveting viewing none the less.
Johnny Winter begins his 2013 European tour dates from April.

johhny winter tour

It is truly great to see Johnny Winter is back on tour. Since his ghastly Machiavellian manager died leaving behind Winter a wrecked shell of a man his new manager and guitarist, Paul Nelson has guided him back to a drug free and happier existence, helping him relaunch his career over the last years.
Now for the first time in a couple of decades Johnny Winter has begun an extensive tour with a settled band of fine musicians, beginning now in the USA and by 2013 will be reaching Europe followed by Australia and Canada.
UK dates are scheduled for April 2013 in London and 5 other venues around the country.

It's a rare chance to see one of the legends of blues and rock&roll if not literally back on his feet, Johnny plays sitting these days, you'll still hear some of those classic numbers as he was to play on the David Letterman show early in 2012. Although you do need to forgive the rather weak joke that Letterman blurts out at the end "...get some cheap speed.. and drive all night", yes a truly classy thing to say to an ex dope addict. Still, the band are are happy to laugh along and if Letterman can never be accused of ever being classy he obviously was thrilled to have this giant of the guitar on the show, and it should be noted playing his old Gibson Firebird !
Now that's real class.

johnny winter

"This guy has screwed so many people it makes me mad to even talk about him."
That's Johnny Winter talking about his old manager and Record Publishing owner Roy Ames. When Ames died in 2003 he left no heirs and no obvious owner of the rights to many of Johnny's output over many years. Royally screwed is the best description.
According to one biographer, only about fifteen percent of Winter's commercially-available recordings are legitimate, leaving 85 percent that he had no control over.
The 'Texas White Lightning' is now back on his feet and released an album in September 2011.
Here's the man in 1988 and one of his classic versions, "Rock Me Baby".
Happy birthday Johnny!

hendrix

OK, so there's nothing here that can be added to the tomes already written about James Marshall Hendrix.
But the 27th November 1942, is the date of his birth. And that's worth celebrating with a not often heard recording of him jamming with Johnny Winter, the Texas "white lightning". It is the sound of two unmistakable blues giants.