I went to school with this guy back in the day We attended James Bowie Junior High School Everybody played guitar and there were some guys that were actually better than Johnny in school but they went on to college, got married and hung it up for married life but,Johnny stayed with it and improved his craft. He never mentioned James Bowie in his biography and I always have wondered why he didn't. I remember one time in science class we were studying sound waves and the teacher took out a tuning fork and let us listen to it. She said it was in the key of c. Now Johnny sit up front because he was an albino and had weak vision and when he heard the tuning fork sound, he cocked his head to one side and I could tell he was listening intently. He asked the teacher if she could strike it again. She did and he said, Mrs. Lindsey, it sounds like a G on my guitars. Mrs. Lindsey said no, Johnny , it's a C and looked at the box to verify her remark. Well, Mrs. Lindsey had made a mistake. It was a G. She then said, "Class, Johnny is right,it's a G note. Johnny had perfect pitch.
Being a fan of Johnny for whole my life it's really nice to hear this story. I watched him at a live concert in Paradiso, Amsterdam for his 'Let me in' album promotion but there were not many folks around here because for some reason he's not very well know in the Netherlands but he will be in my heart forever.
Having sat up all night after a show in Fresno,...long & crazy story, Edgar came down to Johnny's room, & hung out. I had bought a near mint, ungodly incredible sounding '41 Martin D-28 in Topeka on the way to the Bay Area, & another week or so to go. My girlfriend & I were actually staying in the La Honda, Ca. area, so I took the D-28 with us to Johnny & Edgar's gig & hotel. Johnny tuned it up, but Edgar,....kept trying to get it absolutely perfectly in tune, literally for hours! Johnny & I both had close to perfect pitch then, but Edgar did at that point in life, have true perfect pitch. We both kept reminding him that it was Pre-World War II wood, very lightweight top, & it would keep keep going slightly out, especially since I had tuned it down, & back up several times as we drove through the Rockies, etc.... Johnny commented several times that Edgar did indeed, have "perfect pitch."
Bless his soul man. He’s a little nervous up there but you can tell he’s like the sweetest, humble dude. Blues just flowed right through him. Mad respect for Mr Winters!
@@wailuawilliams6384 Learn how to spell… This Letterman video is May ‘83, Johnny beat heroin by ‘72, releasing the appropriately titled, Still Alive and Well, in March 1973. Wake up, junior‼️
A reporter once asked Jimi Hendrix how it felt to be the greatest guitar player in the world. Hendrix answered, "I can't answer that one, you'll have to ask Johnny Winter."
drivesideways. As he got older his speaking voice was almost baritone but his singing voice was the same. He was a truly good guy. Generous with his knowledge and time. It still saddens me greatly that he is gone.
first time i saw him ,i walked in the venue and he already had started,he stopped me in my tracks,i was awe struck by his improvisation,endless!!!!I watched the whole show from thay spot,could not move,just camptured!! Thanks for reminding me of that time!!!
@@gj4578 - I saw Johnny AND Edgar together in Birmingham, Alabama at the old baseball field in Summer of 1976, with The Outlaws opening, and before Lynyrd Skynyrd; they had Steve Gaines by then, and the Swampers' guitar players were there, from Muscle Shoals. While Johnny was warming up, he saw that some young guy had crawled into one of his PA stacks and passed out, with his legs and feet sticking out. So Johnny looked over, and then bashed a few power chords, to wake him. No reaction. Johnny walked back to his stack of amps and pegged it; it was squalling and squealing, then he walked out to the front of the stage and looked over, and played a savage riff - and no reaction. So Johnny shrugged and walked back to his amp and reset the level, and they played. Edgar and Johnny played Edgar's big hit, "Frankenstein," and in the middle of his saxophone solo he played the recognizable riff from the "James Bond" movies theme. It was all pretty cool. So, by the time Skynyrd played, the show had run long, and the city of Birmingham(who owned the ball field) threatened to cut the lights. So Skynyrd's spokesman, Ronnie Van Zant, begged to play one last song, which was "Free Bird," of course, and so they played. Slowly and majestically; people were singing along and waving lighters. But the City person with the power button thought the band was deliberately prolonging the concert, and cut the power, just as they were speeding up for Allen Collins' guitar solo extravaganza. And there was a riot. They turned on the outfield lights, so that people could leave, and the crowd could see to throw stuff. The band - who included the Swamper's guitar pickers - grabbed their guitars and fled the stage. Last thing I saw before I left, a not-entirely-empty Jim Beam bottle smashed into Billy Powell's magnificent white concert grand piano, making a dent the size of someone's head. Way to go, City of Birmingham, Alabama. I haven't stopped there, since.
I saw him for the last time at a bluesfest in Ft. Smith, Arkansas a few months before he passed. 2 people had to walk him out on the stage, one on each arm. They sat him in a folding chair at the front of the stage and gave him his guitar. He looked near death, physically. But boy his playing didnt suffer. He lit that thing on fire. Like BB, he was doing what he loved till the day he died. RIP.
I was lucky to see him live in 1986 when he was still healthy and full of energy and fire. He was a blistering hot guitarist with amazing technique , feel and vibrato.
I (finally!) got a chance to see him in 2008. This was at the Birchmere, a dinner theater like venue in Alexandria, VA. Went early to get good seating and had a table right next to the stage. The far end of the table, but still right next to the stage. And Johnny ended up being seated in his folding chair just in front of the table that was to my back. So, I was about 10-15 feet from him. Like you say, he was apparently rather frail and was led on/off stage, though I only remember one person walking him out. And, like you said, once seated and handed the guitar, he "came to life", playing it. Awesome perfomance.
I'm just so glad he's all over RUclips. It must have been hard for him to do publicity shows, especially with a dick like Letterman, who was only happy when he had made a joke at his guest's expense.
Saw Johnny once at BB Kings in NYC in last few years of his life. A roadie helped him out on stage and he sat in a chair. He proceeded to blow the roof off the place! Rock on Johnny.
Johnny had 3rd degree recorded and done in a matter of hours. He loved doing everything in 1 or 2 takes and live in the studio with exception of isolating the drums if need
Saw and heard "The White Texas Tornado" live at DAR Constitution Hall in D.C. in '76. That was his given nickname/moniker back then in his absolute prime during the 70's into and thru the 80's. He and his band blew the roof off the place during that show. And, oh yeah, the special guest at that concert with Johnny was one Muddy Waters.
Johnny Winter is one of my favorite blues guitarists 🎸 of all time. I was lucky enough to see him perform twice. He always gave the audience their money's worth and more. R.I.P. Johnny.
I had the huge privilege of seeing Johnny live at a small town in England called Frome, in 2007. A few years later I saw Edgar in Reading, UK. So happy to have seen these two legends.
Laying out in an open field on a warm summer night feeling no pain from lots of weed. Then comes into the stage a sight and sound had never heard before that amazed and rocked away…instant fan…Johnny Winter…Woodstock 1969.
At the age of 15 in early 1970 I moved from France to the States with my family and right away became familiar with the musical scene from the radio, fell head over heels with CCR who in my mind to this day remains the best American band ever and also started buying blues records, and Johnny Winter quickly became an essential part of that early foray into the incredibly rich blues production of the time ( along with Commander Cody for a different kind of music) but after Jimi Hendrix's passing, he rose above the rest of the crowd, black or white, American or British , because of the untamed raw streak of power he could squeeze out of that guitar...Highway 61 revisited in J. Winter Captured Live Aukland 1976 , the most awesome, scariest guitar duet ever recorded...One of the greatest American Musicians ever, and even the voice fits in..
"Hey I want you to play Blue Suede Shoes again"! Johnny- oh man, I just played it? "Well play it ag'in, I was in the bathroom and couldn't hear it"!?🤣😂 God bless the soul of John Dawson Winter III 🙏
Love seeing this old footage of him, especially talking. You can tell he’s a humble and gentle soul with a passion for the blues. So glad I got to see him several times and even meet him. We love you Johnny!
No words I could ever say or write about Johnny that haven't already been said or written. I love the blues. I just feel so blessed to have shared the same time on this Earth, with the likes of Johnny and SRV. Blessed indeed. Both gone too soon. RIP fellas. You'll never be forgotten.
Saw them in the 80s, three guys in front of a black curtain rocked a house that was waiting for the main act, best backup act ever! Caught the drum stick after the solo and it looked like a dog had spent an hour on it.
Still Alive and Well was the first album I ever bought. It was brand new, and I so was I, in a manner of speaking, as I was only 12 years old. I still have that record, I know every note and word of it, and I still listen to it. And all these years later, that title track has somehow become my own theme song: "Every now and then I know it's kinda hard to tell, but I'm still alive and well." Sometime around 1981 or so I got to work and hang out with Muddy Waters for a day, and of all the stories the great man told me, his love for Johnny Winter probably struck the deepest chord. And just a few years later I had pretty much the same conversation with James Cotton, another absolute legend. If you've never heard it, you just have to listen to his 100% Cotton album. His rendition of "Fever" is so authentic that it's downright eerie.
My story’s very similar, too…already introduced to his earlier albums, it was Muddy & Johnny’s triple Grammy winners that cemented my love & connection to the BLUES‼️
@@dbarker7794 Totally agree…About 30 years ago, Johnny autographed a t-shirt that I’d made, copying the cover of Hard Again in waterproof pastels & pen. His roadie told me Johnny wanted me to make more of them. Nice complement, but it was handmade & it literally a copy, without the rights.
Such a refreshing change from some of today's "celebrities" who espouse nothing but their own personal opinions and narcissistic rhetoric that no one cares about. A reminder of a gentler and significantly purist type of STAR.
I was lucky enough to see Johnny play in my town a little over 20 years ago at a relatively small club. Someone had to guide him up the stairs to the stage, and he looked pretty fragile. But he did not disappoint - I still remember that night as one of the best concerts I ever attended. To this day, I still believe that he didn’t get as much credit as he deserved for being among the greatest that ever picked up a guitar - top tier, no doubt about it! Rest in Peace, Brother!
1969 I’m 15 years old Working at Florsheim shoe store Times Square NYC walking to penn Station to get the train home there was a record store on almost every block Of course you can’t pass by without looking at the albums in the window I see Progressive Blues Experiment with this freak holding a National steel guitar Never heard of Johnny but I had to buy it I still jam (bass)to it today Saw him many times live How lucky to be born in 1954 and experience the greatest music and other art forms there ever was Also The LOUDEST show I was at was Edgar Winters White Trash at the rock pile 1972 Don’t worry We still have Taylor Swift 🖕
Tommy Shannon from Double Trouble played with Johnny Winter at Woodstock and on his first album, Tommy just recently retired and is living in Austin Texas
I remember back in the 70's. He came to play at the Woodland Hotel in my town. I couldn't believe it. Our town was so insignificant ...a small mining town. Amazing he played there....I was too young and underaged at the time. Damn!!! I would of been there, for sure.
This is the first time I heard him speak, RIP Johnny Winter, a true BLUES LEGEND, he had a show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a few years back, only 1.5 Hours away from me, but, couldn’t attend due to lack of Funds, too bad I missed it, he passed away soon after that, DAMN! Anyway, long live his slide guitar!
Have always loved Johnny from the first time I heard him. I'm sorry I never got to see him live. What a gifted musician. I loved his singing as much as his guitar playing, so soulful. RIP Johnny. You are missed.
My 17 year old self snuck into the Bamboo Hut, a beach bar in Galveston in 1966. First time ever being that drunk. Never drank Bacardi again He came on stage and I thought he was an apparition
I seen Johnny numerous times. First time was the Still Alive and Well tour with Foghat as the back up band at Cobo hall in Detroit. What a rockin night that was!!!! :-) Peace
Saw Johnny many times. One concert in Miami when he was the warmup act for Bob Dylan, as usual he blew the audience away. When Dylan came onstage the energy level was so high that Dylan pretty much put everybody to sleep.
@@cumhurtimucin6985 I’m sure he didn’t ever tour with Dylan, but I was at that concert in Miami (around ‘75) with both on the same bill. Who knows, it might have been a last minute schedule change, I just know I was there.
@@cumhurtimucin6985 I agree it’s a strange pairing of talent on the same bill, that’s why I’m thinking it had to be a last minute thing, maybe the scheduled band couldn’t make it and Johnny was in the area, who knows. Few other concerts stuck in my mind like this one over the last 45+ years.
What a great flashback. I saw Johnny at The Stone Pony and I got to stand 10 feet away from him. Fantastic. I also saw him with Muddy Waters at the Beacon in NYC. Another amazing show.
I remember this night on Letterman.🙆♂️ I saw Johnny FIFTEEN different times over the years when he'd come to California; ALL my musician friends knew of my LOYALTY to him!☝😤 Mr. Winter passed exactly one week before my Mother.💙 RIP.🙏🕊🕊
He was great saw him every time I could saw him and his brother in baltimore was great I saw him on his last tour and sure was sad ,he couldn’t hardly walk but sure could still play the guitar, great person
In 1982 I was 8 years old and living in Miami, Fla. with my folks, brother and sister. My father was/is a drummer and (long story short) had met Johnny Winter through a mutual friend. I believe he was in town for a show, anyhow my father asked Johnny if he’d like to get together at our house and jam. My father pulled together a harmonica player, bassist and another guitarist with himself at the throne. I remember we were sent over to our Aunt and Uncle’s house for a better part of the evening. It was a school night so we arrived back at our house at sometime during the night and met everybody, of course including Johnny. My brother and my bedroom was adjacent to the living room jam session and I vividly remember going to sleep as they played “Johnny be good.” My father would say as the years passed it was his 15 minutes of fame. The next day at school I told my buddies that, the guy who wrote the song “Johnny be good” was at my house last night (not aware of my facts). I always have been into music and drumming myself, however until I traveled to Amsterdam in 1997 with a couple of friends and departing on Christmas morning I was in my friends basement waiting to get driven to the airport I was reading the liner notes to a Jimmy Hendrix box set my friend received for a Christmas gift and it had stated how Hendrix had opened up for Johnny … that’s when it finally “clicked”. My old man is still in a band and a complete stud in my eyes.
I saw Johnny and Edgar together with Blue Oyster Cult and ZZ TOP at Anaheim stadium on the world wide Texas tour and to this day it's one of the best shows I've seen
Johnny would basically do like fifteen choruses of soloing and keep you totally interested with new ideas and themes..seemingly getting better with each one...probably played every note possible on the guitar..true artist
Kudos to the writer of that Rolling Stone article (back when it was still worth reading). This man is an absolute legend. Got to see him once at a small outdoor blues fest in the late 70s. He was next to last on a 4 band set, ending with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown bringing Johnny on stage for the closing numbers.
Nice little interview. Johnny was an intelligent and engaging fellow. It’s too bad he messed around with heroin. But he somehow survived for quite a while afterward. His first record for Columbia really knocked me out when I was 14.
Saw Johnny Winter play the Masonic Temple in Detroit back in '77. The warm up acts were .38 Special and AC/DC. AC/DC rocked the house but JW owned the house!!!
saw johnny twice.first time around 79 when he opened for april wine.blew my head off.About four years later again opening for april wine.This time I was there to see him.still blew my head off.
saw him in oakland ca when they recorded the live album then in anaheim with edgar winter zz top and blue oyster cult then in san francisco at the old waldorf incredible
I went to school with this guy back in the day
We attended James Bowie Junior High School
Everybody played guitar and there were some guys that were actually better than Johnny in school but they went on to college, got married and hung it up for married life but,Johnny stayed with it and improved his craft.
He never mentioned James Bowie in his biography and I always have wondered why
he didn't.
I remember one time in science class we were studying sound waves and the teacher took out a tuning fork and let us listen to it.
She said it was in the key of c.
Now Johnny sit up front because he was an albino and had weak vision and when he heard the tuning fork sound, he cocked his head to one side and I could tell he was listening intently.
He asked the teacher if she could strike it again. She did and he said, Mrs. Lindsey, it sounds like a G on my guitars.
Mrs. Lindsey said no, Johnny , it's a C and looked at the box to verify her remark.
Well, Mrs. Lindsey had made a mistake. It was a G.
She then said, "Class, Johnny is right,it's a G note.
Johnny had perfect pitch.
Great story. Appreciate that. Thanks 👍😎
Great story about the tuning fork. What a world we grew up in. I am a huge Johnny Winter fan.
Being a fan of Johnny for whole my life it's really nice to hear this story. I watched him at a live concert in Paradiso, Amsterdam for his 'Let me in' album promotion but there were not many folks around here because for some reason he's not very well know in the Netherlands but he will be in my heart forever.
Great memories thank you 👍🏴
Having sat up all night after a show in Fresno,...long & crazy story, Edgar came down to Johnny's room, & hung out. I had bought a near mint, ungodly incredible sounding '41 Martin D-28 in Topeka on the way to the Bay Area, & another week or so to go. My girlfriend & I were actually staying in the La Honda, Ca. area, so I took the D-28 with us to Johnny & Edgar's gig & hotel. Johnny tuned it up, but Edgar,....kept trying to get it absolutely perfectly in tune, literally for hours!
Johnny & I both had close to perfect pitch then, but Edgar did at that point in life, have true perfect pitch. We both kept reminding him that it was Pre-World War II wood, very lightweight top, & it would keep keep going slightly out, especially since I had tuned it down, & back up several times as we drove through the Rockies, etc.... Johnny commented several times that Edgar did indeed, have "perfect pitch."
Bless his soul man. He’s a little nervous up there but you can tell he’s like the sweetest, humble dude. Blues just flowed right through him. Mad respect for Mr Winters!
W I N T E R
Legend
Heroine
@@wailuawilliams6384
He beat that shit in the early ‘70’s…do some homework, junior…you’re embarrassing yourself.
@@wailuawilliams6384
Learn how to spell…
This Letterman video is May ‘83, Johnny beat heroin by ‘72, releasing the appropriately titled, Still Alive and Well, in March 1973.
Wake up, junior‼️
A reporter once asked Jimi Hendrix how it felt to be the greatest guitar player in the world. Hendrix answered, "I can't answer that one, you'll have to ask Johnny Winter."
THE GREATEST OF GUTARISTS THAT EVER LIVED! NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK!
What a cool, easy-going, soft-spoken guy. Never heard him speak.
Me neither.
He was nervous. On stage he was in his element. Agree. Great guy.
drivesideways. As he got older his speaking voice was almost baritone but his singing voice was the same. He was a truly good guy. Generous with his knowledge and time. It still saddens me greatly that he is gone.
Really a sweet man. So humble
Crazy how soft his speaking voice is, whereas his singing voice is pretty fierce
Saw him several times in the 70s and he was incredible. I’ll never forget him.
I was fortunate enough to see him with his brother, Edgar. They had album together in this period
Saw him at Armadillo world headquarters
Edgar as well
☮️
I saw both Johnny and Edgar in the seventies, but not together.
first time i saw him ,i walked in the venue and he already had started,he stopped me in my tracks,i was awe struck by his improvisation,endless!!!!I watched the whole show from thay spot,could not move,just camptured!!
Thanks for reminding me of that time!!!
@@gj4578 - I saw Johnny AND Edgar together in Birmingham, Alabama at the old baseball field in Summer of 1976, with The Outlaws opening, and before Lynyrd Skynyrd; they had Steve Gaines by then, and the Swampers' guitar players were there, from Muscle Shoals.
While Johnny was warming up, he saw that some young guy had crawled into one of his PA stacks and passed out, with his legs and feet sticking out. So Johnny looked over, and then bashed a few power chords, to wake him. No reaction. Johnny walked back to his stack of amps and pegged it; it was squalling and squealing, then he walked out to the front of the stage and looked over, and played a savage riff - and no reaction. So Johnny shrugged and walked back to his amp and reset the level, and they played. Edgar and Johnny played Edgar's big hit, "Frankenstein," and in the middle of his saxophone solo he played the recognizable riff from the "James Bond" movies theme. It was all pretty cool.
So, by the time Skynyrd played, the show had run long, and the city of Birmingham(who owned the ball field) threatened to cut the lights. So Skynyrd's spokesman, Ronnie Van Zant, begged to play one last song, which was "Free Bird," of course, and so they played. Slowly and majestically; people were singing along and waving lighters. But the City person with the power button thought the band was deliberately prolonging the concert, and cut the power, just as they were speeding up for Allen Collins' guitar solo extravaganza. And there was a riot.
They turned on the outfield lights, so that people could leave, and the crowd could see to throw stuff. The band - who included the Swamper's guitar pickers - grabbed their guitars and fled the stage. Last thing I saw before I left, a not-entirely-empty Jim Beam bottle smashed into Billy Powell's magnificent white concert grand piano, making a dent the size of someone's head. Way to go, City of Birmingham, Alabama. I haven't stopped there, since.
I saw him for the last time at a bluesfest in Ft. Smith, Arkansas a few months before he passed. 2 people had to walk him out on the stage, one on each arm. They sat him in a folding chair at the front of the stage and gave him his guitar. He looked near death, physically. But boy his playing didnt suffer. He lit that thing on fire. Like BB, he was doing what he loved till the day he died. RIP.
I was lucky to see him live in 1986 when he was still healthy and full of energy and fire. He was a blistering hot guitarist with amazing technique , feel and vibrato.
I (finally!) got a chance to see him in 2008. This was at the Birchmere, a dinner theater like venue in Alexandria, VA. Went early to get good seating and had a table right next to the stage. The far end of the table, but still right next to the stage. And Johnny ended up being seated in his folding chair just in front of the table that was to my back. So, I was about 10-15 feet from him.
Like you say, he was apparently rather frail and was led on/off stage, though I only remember one person walking him out. And, like you said, once seated and handed the guitar, he "came to life", playing it. Awesome perfomance.
@charlesgarner2177 - Pretty similar experience here. And even at that point in his life, when he started singing… it gave me chills.
J Winter one of the best blues singer and player in the world.
If you only heard his music, you'd never guess he would come off in conversation as such a very gentle person with great humility.
Both he and Edgar were brought up in a healthy, loving environment…the 2 prodigious virtuoso’s found their early calling & we’re lucky for it‼️
I'm just so glad he's all over RUclips. It must have been hard for him to do publicity shows, especially with a dick like Letterman, who was only happy when he had made a joke at his guest's expense.
One of my favorite guitar slingers - the "Johnny Winter And" album is still amazing to me. - RIP Johnny.
Criminally underated album. Frigging banger of an lp!
I remember having his Johnny Winter Live album, as a young teenager, in the early '70s. I loved it. But the parents? Not so much.
"It's My Own Fault" Johnny Winter AND ....LIVE ... GEZUZ
I first heard the "Progressive Blues Experiment."
I love his self titled debut
Saw him several times in the early 70s and mid 80s. I even met him a couple of times. We was the nicest man. A national treasure and a true legend.
Saw Johnny once at BB Kings in NYC in last few years of his life. A roadie helped him out on stage and he sat in a chair. He proceeded to blow the roof off the place! Rock on Johnny.
Unfortunately he no showed last minute for my BB Kings show probably same tour.
Maybe the night before
Best slide guitarist ever maybe after Duane
Johnny Guitar- true guitar legend. I was blessed to see him twice, absolutelly speachless. 3rd degree is one of best albums I ever heard.
Erd degree is an amazing album. I love it too.
Johnny had 3rd degree recorded and done in a matter of hours. He loved doing everything in 1 or 2 takes and live in the studio with exception of isolating the drums if need
Still Alive and Well was always my favorite.
Saw him twice myself. He was really Amazing!!!
Johnny Winters Captured Live great album.
I had it, and yes it is
Highway 61 off that album my opinion top 5 live performances ever.
Johnny Winter and live
This is the first time I've ever heard Johnny Winter speak.
The guy is incredible guitar player. Thank you so much.
Saw and heard "The White Texas Tornado" live at DAR Constitution Hall in D.C. in '76. That was his given nickname/moniker back then in his absolute prime during the 70's into and thru the 80's. He and his band blew the roof off the place during that show. And, oh yeah, the special guest at that concert with Johnny was one Muddy Waters.
Johnny Winter is one of my favorite blues guitarists 🎸 of all time. I was lucky enough to see him perform twice. He always gave the audience their money's worth and more. R.I.P. Johnny.
Agreed
Met him at an airport. What a kind and gracious man.
JOHNNY is so humble for all his greatness !
THE " TEXAS GUNSLINGER " period ....
this man is royalty in my book, saw him many times, one of the best was at Oakland coliseum when live album was recorded, best concert I ever saw,
I had the huge privilege of seeing Johnny live at a small town in England called Frome, in 2007. A few years later I saw Edgar in Reading, UK. So happy to have seen these two legends.
Laying out in an open field on a warm summer night feeling no pain from lots of weed. Then comes into the stage a sight and sound had never heard before that amazed and rocked away…instant fan…Johnny Winter…Woodstock 1969.
At the age of 15 in early 1970 I moved from France to the States with my family and right away became familiar with the musical scene from the radio, fell head over heels with CCR who in my mind to this day remains the best American band ever and also started buying blues records, and Johnny Winter quickly became an essential part of that early foray into the incredibly rich blues production of the time ( along with Commander Cody for a different kind of music) but after Jimi Hendrix's passing, he rose above the rest of the crowd, black or white, American or British , because of the untamed raw streak of power he could squeeze out of that guitar...Highway 61 revisited in J. Winter Captured Live Aukland 1976 , the most awesome, scariest guitar duet ever recorded...One of the greatest American Musicians ever, and even the voice fits in..
Johnny and Edgar Winter have and always will rock! So talented and it never gets old. Never.
"Hey I want you to play Blue Suede Shoes again"! Johnny- oh man, I just played it? "Well play it ag'in, I was in the bathroom and couldn't hear it"!?🤣😂 God bless the soul of John Dawson Winter III 🙏
I saw him at the Albert Hall in London in the early 70s. How refreshing for the music industry. A shy, polite, and self-affacing man.
Love seeing this old footage of him, especially talking. You can tell he’s a humble and gentle soul with a passion for the blues. So glad I got to see him several times and even meet him. We love you Johnny!
No words I could ever say or write about Johnny that haven't already been said or written. I love the blues. I just feel so blessed to have shared the same time on this Earth, with the likes of Johnny and SRV. Blessed indeed. Both gone too soon. RIP fellas. You'll never be forgotten.
Legend. What a gentle and chill dude. RIP sir.
Saw them in the 80s, three guys in front of a black curtain rocked a house that was waiting for the main act, best backup act ever! Caught the drum stick after the solo and it looked like a dog had spent an hour on it.
The best slide guitar player ever and a tortured soul to the very end. RIP Johnny.
Still Alive and Well was the first album I ever bought. It was brand new, and I so was I, in a manner of speaking, as I was only 12 years old. I still have that record, I know every note and word of it, and I still listen to it. And all these years later, that title track has somehow become my own theme song: "Every now and then I know it's kinda hard to tell, but I'm still alive and well." Sometime around 1981 or so I got to work and hang out with Muddy Waters for a day, and of all the stories the great man told me, his love for Johnny Winter probably struck the deepest chord. And just a few years later I had pretty much the same conversation with James Cotton, another absolute legend. If you've never heard it, you just have to listen to his 100% Cotton album. His rendition of "Fever" is so authentic that it's downright eerie.
My favorite album from Johnny
johnny with muddy on the hard again album got me into the blues in the 70's. rip for both of them.
My story’s very similar, too…already introduced to his earlier albums, it was Muddy & Johnny’s triple Grammy winners that cemented my love & connection to the BLUES‼️
Hard Again was Muddy's best album and was kind of a renaissance for Muddy at the time. Thanks to Johnny Winter.
@@dbarker7794
Totally agree…About 30 years ago, Johnny autographed a t-shirt that I’d made, copying the cover of Hard Again in waterproof pastels & pen. His roadie told me Johnny wanted me to make more of them. Nice complement, but it was handmade & it literally a copy, without the rights.
Cheers Johnny the Old West type mindset in Texas back in the 70s & 90s was a rough place. Glad he had street sense. Thank you for sharing
Such a refreshing change from some of today's "celebrities" who espouse nothing but their own personal opinions and narcissistic rhetoric that no one cares about. A reminder of a gentler and significantly purist type of STAR.
thanks for posting would have enjoyed watching him play with the house band
Saw him at Aragon in Chicago with Rick derringer the best in the 70 's
saw him up close and personal in the paramount in Seattle back in the 70's, one of the finest blues men that there ever was, always gave it 110%
I was 16 years old first time I saw him in Asbury Park, back in 1980. What a legend!
R.I.P johnny you were awesome seen him live in the 80's awesome show brilliant musician.
This man is a legend.
I was lucky enough to see Johnny play in my town a little over 20 years ago at a relatively small club. Someone had to guide him up the stairs to the stage, and he looked pretty fragile. But he did not disappoint - I still remember that night as one of the best concerts I ever attended. To this day, I still believe that he didn’t get as much credit as he deserved for being among the greatest that ever picked up a guitar - top tier, no doubt about it! Rest in Peace, Brother!
Johnny Winter - Champion & Legend
i always had the best times at his shows!!!-loved to see him in a small venue!! or anywhere!!
🌴🌴< < < HIGHWAY 61 JOHNNY AT HIS BEST 4 SURE. > > > 🌴🌴
The first time I saw him in 1968, I was mesmerized. I had never seen anyone play so fast. Great slide work in his early career
1969 I’m 15 years old
Working at Florsheim shoe store Times Square NYC
walking to penn Station to get the train home there was a record store on almost every block
Of course you can’t pass by without looking at the albums in the window
I see Progressive Blues Experiment with this freak holding a National steel guitar
Never heard of Johnny but I had to buy it
I still jam (bass)to it today
Saw him many times live
How lucky to be born in 1954 and experience the greatest music and other art forms there ever was
Also
The LOUDEST show I was at was Edgar Winters White Trash at the rock pile 1972
Don’t worry
We still have Taylor Swift 🖕
Tommy Shannon from Double Trouble played with Johnny Winter at Woodstock and on his first album, Tommy just recently retired and is living in Austin Texas
Defenition of the best bluesman cool cat.
.
I remember back in the 70's. He came to play at the Woodland Hotel in my town. I couldn't believe it. Our town was so insignificant ...a small mining town. Amazing he played there....I was too young and underaged at the time. Damn!!! I would of been there, for sure.
What a guy. Poor feller suffered a long life with substances and depression but he was a great musician
This is the first time I heard him speak, RIP Johnny Winter, a true BLUES LEGEND, he had a show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a few years back, only 1.5 Hours away from me, but, couldn’t attend due to lack of Funds, too bad I missed it, he passed away soon after that, DAMN! Anyway, long live his slide guitar!
Seemed like such a sweet, gentle soul.
His contributions to modern Blues Rock is major and undeniable.
Truly 1 of the greats.RIP Johnny.
Such a beautiful soul! God Bless him! I’d like to say rest in peace, but he’s probably jamming with Jimi! ❤
Have always loved Johnny from the first time I heard him. I'm sorry I never got to see him live. What a gifted musician. I loved his singing as much as his guitar playing, so soulful. RIP Johnny. You are missed.
RIP Johhny....incredible guitar player
Johnny Winter, one of the best guitarists ever !!!
What a very cool unassuming man...god bless Johnny Winter.
Saw Jonny 4 times in different states.....twice in Texas
My 17 year old self snuck into the Bamboo Hut, a beach bar in Galveston in 1966. First time ever being that drunk. Never drank Bacardi again He came on stage and I thought he was an apparition
I seen Johnny numerous times. First time was the Still Alive and Well tour with Foghat as the back up band at Cobo hall in Detroit. What a rockin night that was!!!! :-) Peace
Johnny was plain ass outta sight!
🎉 ✨ 🌟 💫 👍
Saw Johnny many times. One concert in Miami when he was the warmup act for Bob Dylan, as usual he blew the audience away. When Dylan came onstage the energy level was so high that Dylan pretty much put everybody to sleep.
Johnny never toured with Dylan or as an opening act. Just played on his birthday tribute in 1992. And he raised the roof as always
@@cumhurtimucin6985 I’m sure he didn’t ever tour with Dylan, but I was at that concert in Miami (around ‘75) with both on the same bill. Who knows, it might have been a last minute schedule change, I just know I was there.
Well, he was not the opening act. They played the same venue thats all. And in anycase you are damn lucky to have seen it.
@@cumhurtimucin6985 I agree it’s a strange pairing of talent on the same bill, that’s why I’m thinking it had to be a last minute thing, maybe the scheduled band couldn’t make it and Johnny was in the area, who knows. Few other concerts stuck in my mind like this one over the last 45+ years.
"Not as long as I could get a good swing" with the ol axe!
The Legend Country Singer George Jones is also from Beaumont Texas, the Big Thicket!
I saw Johnny with Muddy Waters and James Cotton in Chicago back in the late 70's. The only song that I remember was "I'm a man"
What a great flashback. I saw Johnny at The Stone Pony and I got to stand 10 feet away from him. Fantastic. I also saw him with Muddy Waters at the Beacon in NYC. Another amazing show.
I remember this night on Letterman.🙆♂️ I saw Johnny FIFTEEN different times over the years when he'd come to California; ALL my musician friends knew of my LOYALTY to him!☝😤 Mr. Winter passed exactly one week before my Mother.💙 RIP.🙏🕊🕊
He was great saw him every time I could saw him and his brother in baltimore was great I saw him on his last tour and sure was sad ,he couldn’t hardly walk but sure could still play the guitar, great person
Saw him in Boston, 1979. Amazing.
Wonderful one of a kind talented man.
So humble and sweet
In 1982 I was 8 years old and living in Miami, Fla. with my folks, brother and sister. My father was/is a drummer and (long story short) had met Johnny Winter through a mutual friend. I believe he was in town for a show, anyhow my father asked Johnny if he’d like to get together at our house and jam. My father pulled together a harmonica player, bassist and another guitarist with himself at the throne. I remember we were sent over to our Aunt and Uncle’s house for a better part of the evening. It was a school night so we arrived back at our house at sometime during the night and met everybody, of course including Johnny. My brother and my bedroom was adjacent to the living room jam session and I vividly remember going to sleep as they played “Johnny be good.” My father would say as the years passed it was his 15 minutes of fame. The next day at school I told my buddies that, the guy who wrote the song “Johnny be good” was at my house last night (not aware of my facts). I always have been into music and drumming myself, however until I traveled to Amsterdam in 1997 with a couple of friends and departing on Christmas morning I was in my friends basement waiting to get driven to the airport I was reading the liner notes to a Jimmy Hendrix box set my friend received for a Christmas gift and it had stated how Hendrix had opened up for Johnny … that’s when it finally “clicked”. My old man is still in a band and a complete stud in my eyes.
Love Johnny since his first album..sounds like he was buzzed for Dave
I saw Johnny and Edgar together with Blue Oyster Cult and ZZ TOP at Anaheim stadium on the world wide Texas tour and to this day it's one of the best shows I've seen
Nice kind interview, great job by Dave, Johnny was nervous and deserved the kind way Mr letterman handled it.
Progressive Blues Experiment.
What an amazing album. Mean Town blues is a favorite.
Johnny was one of the very best.
One of my favorites and I am so glad I got to see him once. R.I.P. Johnny, you was a great blues guitarist
My old band back around 2004-5 opened for Johnny. Great guy. But,it was really sad 'cause he was still on the stuff. God rest your soul Johnny guitar.
Johnny was on Methadone his whole life. He quit shooting the horse in 1973 but never got the monkey off his back really.
Johnny would basically do like fifteen choruses of soloing and keep you totally interested with new ideas and themes..seemingly getting better with each one...probably played every note possible on the guitar..true artist
I like how you got a new or different flavor, a new lick or technique with each succeeding album release.
Saw him at the Seattle Center in the late '80s. Cost $5 bucks. Dude was incredible.
Kudos to the writer of that Rolling Stone article (back when it was still worth reading). This man is an absolute legend. Got to see him once at a small outdoor blues fest in the late 70s. He was next to last on a 4 band set, ending with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown bringing Johnny on stage for the closing numbers.
I saw Johnny two times I have about everything that Johnny has recorded a true blues, Master
Saw him one night live and the rest of the band just couldn't keep up with his energy.....one of the greatest to ever come out of Texas.....
I love Johnny. I saw him in a small club in Philly in the late 80’s. Awesome! He is missed by many.
Nice little interview.
Johnny was an intelligent and engaging fellow. It’s too bad he messed around with heroin.
But he somehow survived for quite a while afterward.
His first record for Columbia really knocked me out when I was 14.
Yeah, I was 15. Life changing event for me...lol
Saw Johnny Winter play the Masonic Temple in Detroit back in '77. The warm up acts were .38 Special and AC/DC. AC/DC rocked the house but JW owned the house!!!
Nice to hear Johnny talking. I saw him only one time. He was an excellent live performer.
Johnny and Edgar only come out at night, play all day till it's right.
saw johnny twice.first time around 79 when he opened for april wine.blew my head off.About four years later again opening for april wine.This time I was there to see him.still blew my head off.
The great Johnny Winter! RIP
Legend.
Great stuff…. Thanks, as always!
saw him in oakland ca when they recorded the live album then in anaheim with edgar winter zz top and blue oyster cult then in san francisco at the old waldorf incredible
Absolutely Love Johnny.....
I saw Johnny at the Whiskey a go go in '78, been listening to him since '73 '74
Johnny Winter is Awesome! Life is Hard. Incredible guitar.
LOL Johnny Winters is a complete confident badass with a guitar in his hand. But here he is so innocently nervous. One of my absolute Heroes.
Johnny rocked!!! Laid back and cool.👍🎸🇺🇸❤️
Saw him in Ohio back in the mid 70s. It was an all day concert with many,many bands! Great memories 👍