JW Q & A Archive If you have a question for Johnny Winter, simply email it to us. We can not guarantee every question will be answered. Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 Q: Really enjoyed your interpretations of the Freddie King instrumentals, "Hideaway" and "Sen-Sa-Shun" on the Live in NYC '97 CD. Are you considering doing any other King instrumentals on your next CD, such as "The Stumble" or "In the Open." A: I am still in the early stages of planning for my next record. I will give it some thought. Q: Hi, I'm an audio engineer living here in Aust and have been running a production supply business for some years now. And you might say a rather big JW fan. And of course living here in Aust we don't get to see JW regularly, actually I believe he's only been here once. Consequently I intend to travel to the states to see him. So what I would like to do, if possible is hook up with his production management and work on some of his touring schedule. Is this possible? Any contact numbers and assistance along these lines would be greatly appreciated. A: Contact Skyline Entertainment. Q: Johnny. I'm a 43 year old Beaumont native and met you at the Jefferson County Airport in 1969. I'd like to humbly make a request for you to give us long time fans a short medley of the "Rock and Roll" tunes like Jumpin' Jack Flash, Good Morning Li'l School Girl, Rock Me Baby, Suzi Q, Hoochie Koo, etc. I guarantee the crowd would freak totally out! I'd also think Illustrated Man would be a good set addition. Or, you can just plug in and play what you want to play. Either way, I'm there with you, front and center! YYYEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! A: Thanks for the input. I will give it some thought. Q: Hey Johnny, I bought a tape earlier this week of a guy named Keb Mo. The title of the album is "Just like you." I first heard this guy a couple of months ago while channel surfing on TV late one night and came upon a edjewmakayshunal/cultural station and he was on, just playing some mighty good blue notes. He plays a variety of styles and to me seems like a very versatile musician. I really like this tape and thought that maybe you might like it to, you know one blues head to another blues head, so I went out and bought another copy for you. I am sending it to the Slatus Mgmt. address as listed in the fan club section in this web site. Check out the tunes like "Standing at the station" and "Perpetual blues machine" I think there is some really good guitar work on this tape, Though I must admit I am not much of a musician myself, I can only play the stereo and only so-so at that. So check it out when it arrives, and if you don't particularly care for it yourself, pass it on to somebody that might, or throw it out the window. A: Thanks for thinking of me. I will keep you in mind when I get the tape. Q: A lot of fans will always want to hear you play the rock stuff you did in the 70's. Some haven't caught on that you've moved away from that & now do mostly blues shows. Greg Allman re-recorded "Whipping Post" (a song I'm sure he was tired of playing) and made it into something new by slowing it down. Any thoughts of doing that to some of the "classics" you did in the 70's? I don't mean staples like "Johnny B Goode" or "Hoocie Koo" but some stuff from the Second Winter LP or Still Alive & Well would be (I would think) pretty easy to play around with. Any thoughts? A: I have many thoughts on this subject. Not sure which song I would choose. Q: How about a television show featuring the great slide players of our generation doing the music that inspired them. Johnny does Robert Johnson better than anyone I've heard, but maybe an hour with the likes of Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, etc. It might be a great way to introduce Delta Blues to a new generation as well as entertain those of us who are long time fans. It could also feature the history of the National Steel, a unique story in it's own right. As far as an acoustic set in his live shows, I'd love to hear "Dallas," "Kind Hearted Woman" and "Broke Down Engine" live. For that matter, would like to hear more electric slide. Saw him in Toronto in the summer and he only played one slide tune, this from the finest slide player I've ever heard was a bit of a disappointment. It would be nice if he would keep the Firebird out for two or three songs. A: My manager, Teddy Slatus, wants me to do an acoustic tour. Maybe that would get you to see more of my slide. Q: I think Johnny is definitely capable of pulling off the acoustic set or anything else for that matter! I would really like to see him do that in the future. A: My manager, Teddy Slatus, wants me to do an acoustic tour. Maybe that would get you to see more of my slide. Q: ...after listening to 'The Sky Is Crying' from Live in NYC 97 I think Johnny Winter is still one of the greatest slide guitarists I have ever heard. A: I am planning on doing more slide songs in the future. Q: He still lives up to his Legend to me man! I would love to hear Johnny make the blues song 'Mean Mistreater' (acoustic or electric) part of his current set. I heard him play it live once and it has stayed with me ever since. Very beautiful guitar harmonics and a way of expressing the blues that only a one in a million guitar virtuoso can do. A: I will never stop playing. As you get older, you slow down. I'm still trying to keep an active schedule. Q: I would kill to see him play "Dallas" live. But I did see him at the HOB in Hollywood, CA recently and he ain't looking or sounding good these days. Sorry Johnny, I know how great you are as I saw you rip the house down at the Country Club in Reseda, CA in the eighties several times...even saw Brozeman open for you a couple of times. What a treat. Hope you are feeling better soon. BTW for all you Winter fans look out for one of the hottest new talents in blues "The Eric Sardinas Project" is a must see. A: I'm not 20 years old. But I'm still doing what I love best. Playing. Q: I read Robert Santelli's article on your website talking about Doug Brockie. I was in bands with him all through out high school in Englewood up to the time he joined your band. Have your paths ever crossed since then? Do you know what happened to him? I was sorry to hear about Richard. P.S. Great show in Philly Wednesday!! A: Doug Brockie is trying to put a band together. He called my manager but I have not heard any new news. Q: I like your expression and feel very much. Your energy never failed to get me up. But being on an island on the equator (Singapore), it's not easy to catch a good show. Am surprised that you responded to so many queries posted. I feel you are a straight forward person with a lot of character. Really hope to catch you here in concert, or in person, someday. A: I always want to be straight with my fans. I love you guys & girls. No plans yet for Singapore. Q: Did you ever do any jamming with Smokin Joe Kubek? If you did it must have sounded great. A: Never have. Q: I don't know how much you had to do with the editing and releasing of your records in the "old" days (1971), but I would like to ask, if you had anything to do with the editing of the "rock and roll-cry" - that you used to start "Johnny B. Goode" with - from that to the single release of "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" from "JW And Live"? And why was it done? I still enjoy listening to this live recording that I think is one of the best ever made. Only rivaled by The Allman Brothers "Live At Fillmore," Clapton's "Just One Night" and "24 Nights" and of course you and "Muddy 'Mississippi" Waters" live. "Deep Down In Florida" I think is one of the greatest recordings. Listening to "JW And Live" is just like being there again. Even if it was a rock'n'roll age, you still managed to play wonderful blues. "My Own Fault" for one. Why don't you release a box? You must have miles and miles of tapes from your more than 30 years in the business! Some of your very first singles would be interesting to get with your comments. And you backing Calvin Johnson and Lazy Lester. And why can't we have the complete Woodstock video? The one shot we got in the anniversary edition is really great. You look so good and we need footage from that period. A: Thinking about a boxed set. I need to get permission for a complete Woodstock video. I will look into it. Q: Dear Johnny... I first saw you at the Springfield Civic Center in 1974 and have traveled the country seeing you at least 2 times a year through 1990 when you stopped touring for a while. I even made a trip from Massachusetts to California to see you at the San Francisco Blues Festival. I bought a '63 Firebird that you formerly owned, tour case and all and I would love it if you would sign the guitar for me and allow me to take a picture with you. You have given me 25 years of great pleasure and believe strongly that you are the best guitar player and singer of all time. I plead for your accommodations. A: Thanks for the years of support. Q: I was also introduced to JW through Captured Live. About 3 years ago I was so sick of my guitar playing and we were just hanging around my buddies house drinking. He put on an old record and it just spun my head around! I played that record over and over that night. It is the most pure, rocking and ass kicking display of virtuoso electric blues guitar on record. My playing has improved 100% since that night. Me and that same guy included Roll With Me in our set after that also. I have yet to pick up all the discs, but I have many now. I'm a 17 year old high school senior, and I started listening to you about 2 years ago. The first time I heard the "Captured Live!" album, I fell in love with your music! Ever since I started listening to you, I've been so inspired that my own guitar playing has progressed to a new plateau. One day while surfing the 'net, I came across a tour date in Lackawanna, NY (which is about 2 hours from where I live) and I realized I had to go and see you. From the minute you started to the minute it was over, I was hypnotized. I couldn't believe I was actually standing 6 feet away from the greatest guitar legend of all time! I guess what I'm really wondering is whether having fans as young as me is inspiring to you, though I don't think it can be as inspiring as you are to me. Thank you for all the great music and great times I've had with it. Good luck with the new album! A: Thanks for all your support. Q: Do you have any plan of releasing this recording on CD (John Dawson Winter III) As it has three of my all time favs. on it. (Stranger, raised on rock and Sweet Papa John.) A: It's really up to Sony Records. Q: Bonjour M. Winter, I just want to say tank you very much to play for us in Quebec city, I was so disappointed of that rainy windy and cold weather, I was sure you won't play, I don't know but its the first time in my life I saw you with a long sleeves shirt, I'm sure you remember that night and I would like to have commentary thanks again. A: It sure was hard playing that night. The rain and wind were chilling my fingers. Thanks for coming out that night. Q: I saw JW in Chicago 11/12/98 and he seemed somewhat comatose during the set. Was it just partying, or some other distraction? A: It seems that you did not see my earlier response to the same question posted earlier. I take medication for anxiety and it slows me down a little, but, I still keep an active schedule. Q: You mentioned possible plans to put out a video next year that would contain old material as well as Live NYC 97 footage. Are there plans to include anything from the Royal Albert Hall London 1970 concert? That was the first time I saw you. I met with Edgar and yourself outside and got your autographs, which I still treasure. Brilliant concert, but some video footage would sure 'top up' the old memory... A: No plans of Royal Albert Hall footage. Sorry. Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12