Ducks Deluxe incidentally had another Groovies connection Garvey had previously roadied for them.Įventually Ducks Deluxe called it a day with a memento farewell live album on Skydog’s Dutch sister-label Dynamite. Skydog were close to both the UK and US underground scenes, and by 1975 had already released records by the much-revered Flamin Groovies and Kim Fowley amongst others. When RCA let them go, pioneering French indie Skydog Records stepped in to issue an EP. The band kept busy in the UK and also in Europe. Brinsley Schwartz and Billy Rankin of Brinsley Schwartz also joined the band in their later period. Bassist Nick Garvey, who also happened to be accomplished on piano, oboe and trumpet, went on with fellow Duck Andy McMasters to have big hits such as ‘Airport’ with The Motors. He later went on to be a lynchpin of Graham Parker’s Rumour and Nick Lowe’s Cowboy Outfit, and recorded with Carlene Carter, John Hiatt and Billy Bragg, as well as a solo album, ‘Big Guitar’ on Demon Records. Guitarist Martin Belmont, who earlier was a roadie for Brinsley Schwartz, was responsible for one of their best-known songs, ‘Something’s Going On’. Signing to RCA Records, they released the albums ‘Ducks Deluxe’ (1974) followed by ‘Taxi To The Terminal Zone’ (1975).ĭucks Deluxe attracted some fine musicians. Alongside originals were a handful of covers: it’s quite likely that Joe Strummer, then of the 101-ers, first heard Ducks’ version of the Bobby Fuller Four perennial ‘I Fought The Law’ before turning it into the Clash classic. With a fluent amalgam of blues, soul and boogie laden with sex and drug references, they were swiftly welcomed by crowds also buzzing on new US bands such as Little Feat working with a similar template. Ducks Deluxe were a central part of this scene on the new circuit of venues open to good-time roots music. Managers Dave Robinson and Dai Davies teamed up with Jake Riviera and other like-minded bookers and bands, and a small hive of activity built up around an office above the Hope & Anchor pub in Islington. After Sean Tyla having paid his dues with both Geno and Freddie ‘Fingers’ Lee, he formed Ducks Deluxe in 1972, with an initial line-up of Martin Belmont, Tim Roper and ex-Help Yourself Ken Whaley.ĭucks Deluxe, alongside their close associates Brinsley Schwartz, soon became part of a ‘back to basics’ underground musical community. Learning your musical trade by touring with Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band is one of the best soul/funk groundings one can ask for in the UK – the hard-working soul trooper, immortalised in song by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, was perhaps the nearest we had to the bands of the US ‘chitlin’ circuit’. Touring constantly, he always turns in a crowd-pleasing show … so make sure you catch Wilko live! Wilko's busy gig schedule regularly takes him around the UK, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Finland and Japan.
#Wilko johnson equipment plus
Feelgood live ’75 DVD plus CD is also released, on EMI. Now ‘ Red Hot Rocking Blues’, the first new studio album since 1998 is due, a collection of Wilko-ised covers of classics by people like Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Sonny Boy Williamson, Leadbelly, etc. Completing the 3-piece is former Blockheads drummer Monti, recently replacing the long-serving Salvatore Ramundo.īack In The Night, a ‘best of’ Wilko Johnson retrospective from the past 22 years was released in 2002. The much-revered bassist (also known for his sessions with Frankie Goes To Hollywood and The Clash) has been Wilko’s foil for the past eighteen years, providing a solid foundation for Wilko to scatter his wild guitar tricks over. Teaming up with IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS for their Laughter album led Wilko to regular guest appearances with them over the years, and the association brought a partnership with Norman Watt-Roy.
Then under his own name he released further albums, including Ice On The Motorway, Barbed Wire Blues and Going Back Home, and finding a live audience particularly in Europe and Japan for his frantic, exciting gigs.
Splitting from the Feelgoods, Wilko formed the Solid Senders and signed to Virgin for an eponymous album. In that era of turgid progressive and fey glam-rock, their high-energy dirty R&B and be-suited appearance was a mini-revolution, bringing rock’n’roll back to the roots and giving inspiration to both the UK and US fledgling punk scenes. 1 chart-topper) and Sneakin’ Suspicion, put Wilko and the Feelgoods firmly on the rock landscape from 1974 to 1977. Feelgood, Wilko Johnson’s manic performances and choppy rhythm/lead style became their distinguishing trademark.įour groundbreaking albums, Down By The Jetty, Malpractice, Stupidity (a UK no. Founder guitarist and songwriter for the 70’s r&b band Dr.
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