Wilko Johnson

Wilko Johnson
Background information
Birth nameJohn Andrew Wilkinson[1]
Born(1947-07-12)12 July 1947
Canvey Island, Essex, England
Died21 November 2022(2022-11-21) (aged 75)
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • actor
  • guitarist
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
  • piano
Years active1970–2022
LabelsUnited Artists
Formerly of
Websitewilkojohnson.com

John Andrew Wilkinson (12 July 1947 – 21 November 2022), better known by the stage name Wilko Johnson, was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter and occasional actor. He was a member of the pub rock/rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s. Johnson was known for his distinctive guitar playing style, which he achieved by not using a plectrum but playing fingerstyle. This enabled him to play rhythm guitar and riffs or solos at the same time creating a highly percussive guitar sound.

Johnson and Dr. Feelgood were an influence on the English punk movement. Paul Weller said of Johnson: "Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he's right up there. And there are a lot of people who'll say the same. I can hear Wilko in lots of places. It's some legacy."[2]

In 2011 and 2012 he appeared in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, as the mute executioner Ser Ilyn Payne.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sweeting was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Beaumont, Mark (23 November 2022). "Wilko Johnson, 1947-2022: proto-punk guitar pioneer with a fighting spirit". NME. Retrieved 26 November 2022.