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: First saw you in late 74 at the Victoria Theater in London, Floyd Radford on second guitar, I actually have a muffled tape of that show, would be happy to get it to you. Later on in the early 80's saw you quite a few times, best was in 83 or so at Billy Bobs in Ft Worth. You have inspired me to play guitar for over 25 years, and I especially loved the Alligator years. So, from over here in jolly old England much luve to you buddy. A: I would love to get a copy of the Floyd Rathford Tape. Please send it to my Management office. Q: Johnny, have you ever played with Dr. John in New Orleans? I know you just played together in Fla. I want to go there and wondered if you ever do? That seems to be a hot spot on jazz and blues and want to check it out this year. I'm sure you and him make magic together as I have a video of the 2 of you from years ago in Canada, I believe it was. I love it. Thanks, and maybe Ted would consider it. A: I did an earlier tour of ÊEurope with Dr. John around 1989 or 1990, Its difficult sometimes to get together due to our different tour schedules. Q: Were you ever asked to make an appearance in the final scene (the battle of the bands) of the Blues Brothers 2000 ? The reason why I'm asking is because there are appearances by such people as Jimmie Vaughan, Dr John, B.B. King, Bo Diddley etc... and you are a blues legend number one so I was kind of expecting when you would show up. A: I was never asked to appear with the blues brothers. Q: It's a real pleasure that you take time to chat with your fans this way. I also think that it is a nice thing, that the management sets up an official home page for you, but I think it's a shame that they don't put up a decent discography for you. The one shown on the home page sucks! No info, no pictures no nothing. If they don't have the records, I will gladly supply with scans from my collection of LP's, CD's and singles. I know a lot of other JW fans will do too. So Mr. Management wake up and design a discography that salutes Johnny Winter the way he deserves A: I would be happy for any photos that I can use for my home page. Q: Hey JW! Met you a few years back through Floyd R. after a show in Orlando and warmed up for you on another occasion with a band called the Houseshakers. Posted a note a while back. Living near Ogdensburg, NY about an hour south of Ottawa and just wanted to see if your heading this direction any time soon? If you and the crew would like to "stretch your legs a spell" prior to crossing the border consider this an open invitation anytime. I have a very private little farm within about 10 miles of the bridge. Feel free to e-mail me anytime. Blues power forever! A: Thanks for the Invite to Ogdensburg, NY. Some real nice thanks. Q: Hi. My name's Jon and I'm 15 years old. I saw you live once at the Bottom Line in NYC, but I didn't really appreciate it yet. I was in my rock 'n' roll phase, and basically I just wanted to hear you do "Rock 'n' Roll Hoochie Koo." Since then, I've gotten heavily into blues, and you're definitely one of my favorites. "Hey, Where's Your Brother?" almost never leaves my stereo. I'm planning on seeing you at your February Club BenŽ show in NJ. I know you've got a few standards (Got My Mojo Workin', Johnny Guitar, She Likes to Boogie Real Low, etc), but I was thinking how cool it would be if you dug deep into the blues bag and grabbed some old classics for the concert. I'd love to hear your take on things like "The First Time I Met the Blues," "Terraplane Blues," and "Good Mornin' Little Schoolgirl." Of course, it wouldn't be a Johnny Winter concert without a reference to mojo hands or some other hoodoo trinket, but I was hoping you could toss in some classic blues you don't usually perform. Thanks a lot. A: I will see you at the Club Bene' in New Jersey, Vito Liuzzi My new drummer will be singing at that show, I hope you like my new drummer. Q: I've been a fan for 25 years, have 13 LP's, including a nice condition (but notched) copy of The Progressive Blues Experiment... is this considered JW's "first" LP??... And... I'm curious of it's value as a collector's item. A: Hold on Tight to Real PBE, real tight. Q: Hi Johnny! I have a video of Germany '79 and it just smokes! It's hilarious because you just want to play straight blues and the crowd and management keep telling you to rock. You mention the "language barrier" and that the audience "hasn't got a lot of taste, but sure got a lot of noise!" Jon Paris is breaking up behind you like he cant believe it. But then you tell "Gary" to turn it all the way up and you just whip it out and BURN! Just fucking amazing video. My question is, why not get together with Jon again? Or even Bobby T? You and Jon definitely had something great together. Stay well Johnny!! A: Bobby T is working on his own band now, same with Jon Paris. Thanks for the Grammy '79 story. Q: Hey Johnny, I own everything you've put out, seen ya at least 2 dozen times. You are an absolute stud. Question: If given the opportunity to put together a dream band, (they could be d.o.a) Who's in it? How about a horn section? A: Never Thought about a Dream Band. Maybe I need to really start dreaming. Q: Johnny... saw you at Stubb's last year during SXSW festival... would love to see you again this year. Any plans for Austin soon??? A: Working on Texas tour dates right now, they will be posted soon. Looks like March or April. Q: Johnny, I saw you at Pearl St. Northampton MA back in May of '86 and every year after that when you were in the area from the Great Woods Blues Fest w/ Stevie Ray to last year at Tuxido Junction. I plan on doing so again next week. From the time that you played at the Webster in Hartford, CT, we noticed that you slowed down a bit. I know a lot of your fans are concerned about you. If you are having health problems (anxiety included), please try some natural remedies such as herbs. They work! There was even a fellow on the "Johnny Winter Story" site that offered his free help. Johnny, you're the greatest, and even if you are slowing down a bit, as long as you keep playing, we'll still come out to ease our troubled souls! Thanks for all the great music that you continue to give us! A: Not to big on Herbs these days. I guess father time is slowing me down a little. Got to keep Working so I can slow the clock Down. Thanks for caring. Q: Yeaaah. Greetings. Think the guy who did the discography forgot an album. One of my favorites, bird don't row boats. However just one of my favorite. Hope to see you back in Knoxville soon. Thought the last show was righteous. Had second row seats. Got some excellent photos. Got the news letter the other month got a kick out of Lisa Lockhart. That was phil & billy some local disc jockeys here in k-town. Anyway I'm out of here catch you down the road. Fan club member. Proud of that. 40 and still rollin. A: Come out to my bus after the show the next time I am in Knoxville. Q: I'm a big lighting Hopkins fan him, Muddy, Hound dog Taylor and brewer Phillips and of course you have had the most influence on my guitar playing. I have always wondered why you have not recorded a LIGHTEN HOPKINS song. I think your at the point in your life where you should play nothing but the blues a lot of your fans don't understand what you really are and that is a bluesman. Your a blues musician who can play anything people are to concern on how fast you can play instead of the feeling of the music. My questions to you is on your next CD will you please play a slow lighting Hopkins song like Goin away or My Father was a Preacher? And what do you really think of Eric Clapton to me he is a good guitar player but he really does not stick to the blues but he wants to say he is a bluesman. You've gave me so much inspiration to stick with the blues and go with feeling. You could have been a rock star but you choose the blues my hat is off to you. I may only be 21 but that does not mean I don't know the blues. And you are the best bluesman out there. A: I will consider a Lightin Hopkins song! Thanks for the input. Q: Hey Johnny, Hope you're feeling better! I saw in the forum the other day, where you mentioned there were no records of you & Janis. Approx. 5 years ago I sent a tape of you & Janis recorded 12/11/69 to Teddy, didn't you get it, it's quite good! You come out & do two songs one being deep down in Texas, the playing & emotion of the two of you together is INCREDIBLE! After both numbers, as you are leaving Janis announces Johnny Winter to the audience, then asks you over the mic "hey Johnny if you here where the party is tonight let someone backstage know & we'll be there later! If you would like a copy of this let me know! Your loyal fan of 30 years Double D A: Teddy did give me a copy. Sorry I did not mention it sooner. Sounded pretty good. Q: I'm a relay big JW fan but I have to say that Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) played a better show this year (or last 2 months) than Johnny. I was really surprised to hear the name of their new drummer-TOM COMPTON. Does Johnny have any memories or thoughts he can share about Kim and Savoy Brown? A: No real memories of Savoy Brown. Q: Just finished watching the Kennedy Center (1998) Presents Muddy Waters. It was an excellent tribute to a cornerstone builder of the blues. Only one thing was missing, that was you performing. At least their was one still photo of you & Muddy The two of you were quite a team in the late 70's, and you are very much responsible for reestablishing his legend prior to his passing. I cherish the 2 shows I saw during that period. A: Sorry I missed the Kennedy Center show. I can't tell you how much I missed the 70's with Muddy. Q: Does anyone have an explanation why the greatest guitarist of all time has been overlooked? Like Muddy, the man is an American treasure, Yet the industry pushes Johnny Lang, K.W.Sheperd and Clapton. You don't see his name mentioned on any of those b.s. best of compilations, the man gets absolutely zero airplay in the N.Y.C.area O.K. Johnny, fess up, ya got caught knockin boots with some big time executives wife did n't ya? A: I have had my share of airplay. I expect to have more in the near future, everything takes time. Q: I can't believe that anyone could be so out of touch as to do the Muddy Waters tribute without inviting you, given your relationship with Muddy in his final years. You resurrected his dead career and in doing so introduced Muddy to many people like me who weren't born during Muddy's heyday in the early fifties. Were you invited and had prior commitments? I tuned in to see great artists performing great material, but I fully expected the highlight of the evening to be you performing any one of a number of his songs as only you can. I was really hoping to see you do "Tribute To Muddy" maybe my favorite song of yours ever. Please clear the air on this one? And how about a Robert Johnson tribute featuring you? A: I was invited to the Muddy Waters Tribute. At that time I was not available. Sorry I missed you. Working right on a Robert Johnson Tribute. Q: PBS aired a tribute to Muddy Waters last nite, and you were not on it! I was wondering why you were not on the show! Also I LOVE your 1991 CD, Let Me In, its the first CD I heard and now I am listening to everything! Medicine Man is the best song, along with Sugaree, Life Is Hard, Blue Mood, oh heck, I like them all!! :)This age of computers is great, I can send you e-mail and I have a picture of you and Janis Joplin (my queen of the Blues) laughing together and being happy on my computer desktop! :) Play a killer show in Alston, Mass on 2-2 I wish I could make it! You came to the Maine Center For The Arts in Orono Maine a few years back, I know the blues fans in the state of Maine and me would love to have you back! A: I was not on the show due to my touring schedule. I love Maine. Waiting for the weather to warm up a little. Love to see the photo of Janis and myself. Q: OK, I'm a 20 year old white blues guitarist/singer from Glasgow, Scotland. I finish university this summer and i wanna play blues.any hints on what to do, who to talk to, who not to talk to. i mean, I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic, so do i do the traditional "head for chigaco/nyc/new Orleans (wherever) with a guitar round my neck and go for the blues jams hoping to get noticed" or what? i have a demo tape, but with a lot blues players, i have to be seen live to be appreciated.ANY info, hints, tips etc. from anyone (including yourself Johnny, of course!!) would be very much appreciated. thanks! p.s. Johnny, gonna play Scotland???? A: I'd love to come to Scotland. If I do come back give me your tape. Good luck with your music. Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12