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Friday, 18 January 2013

Wilko Johnson announces farewell gigs after terminal cancer diagnosis

Wilko Johnson, guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood, will perform four farewell concerts in the UK during March 2013.

The news follows last week’s official statement on Wilko’s Facebook page that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the pancreas and has chosen not to undergo chemotherapy.

Says Wilko’s manager, Robert Hoy: “The four UK dates represent an opportunity for Wilko to express his sincere thanks to his fans for all the support he has had over his long career.”

He’ll be playing London Koko (March 6), Bilston Robin 2 (March 7), Holmfirth Picturedrome (March 8) and Glasgow 02 ABC (March 9).

Tickets will go on sale from Monday January 21. Box Office: 0844 478 0898, www.thegigcartel.com.

The four UK dates sady represent Wilko’s final farewell.

After returning from a tour of Japan, he plans to record a new studio album, and will also release a live DVD from 2012’s UK tour.

He is also planning a short tour of France.

In addition to pioneering Dr. Feelgood’s iconic mid-seventies, pre-punk British R&B sound, Wilko moved on as the guitarist for Ian Dury and the Blockheads.

Today, Wilko’s own band includes Blockheads members Norman Watt-Roy (bass) and Dylan Howe (drums).

In 2009 he featured in Julien Temple’s Oil City Confidential – a fascinating full-length feature film documentary about Dr. Feelgood. The film received many accolades, including the MOJO Vision Award at the MOJO Honours List 2010.

Dr. Feelgood originally formed in 1971 as a British pub rock band from Canvey Island, Essex. Their name derived from a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who was willing to overprescribe drugs.

It is also a reference to a 1962 record “Dr. Feel-Good” by the American blues pianist/singer Willie Perryman (nicknamed “Piano Red”), which Perryman originally recorded under the name of Dr. Feelgood & The Interns.

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