As a long-time fan of Johnny Winter, I must express my concern regarding his show last night. First of all, I love Johnny, and I am always thrilled to have the opportunity to hear him play! However, last night was a sad occasion for New Orleans. Johnny had to be helped onto the stage and was so out of it that he couldn't sing the lyrics to his songs. He prolonged nearly every song to an uncomfortable length, except for the last one, and ended his set 10-15 minutes early. Because of the extended length of his songs, I believe he only played five songs in an hour and fifteen minutes.
Of course, Johnny never faltered in his guitar playing, but his appearance was so shocking that the audience gasped when he came out on stage—Johnny appeared beyond frail.
I am writing this because I believe if someone doesn't help Johnny soon, he may not be around much longer to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Many people last night expressed their belief that this would be the last time we see him in New Orleans. I understand that his family, particularly Edgar, has likely done everything they believe they can. But I am pleading for someone to intervene and help Johnny get the assistance he needs to save his life.
On 7 March 1998, Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer played at the House of Blues in New Orleans, and Edgar dedicated a song to "my poor brother Johnny." Now I understand what he meant by that statement. Please, help me help Johnny! I want him to live a long life, and at 54 years of age, Johnny is at the prime of his career. It's devastating to see him looking so thin. What can we do? - Debora
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I debated whether to write a review of this concert, but after reading some of the current posts, I feel compelled to do so.
First of all, I want everyone to know that I am a long-time Johnny Winter fan. I started listening to him at 14 years of age and just turned 40 on 25 February, so it's been 26 years for me. I've always felt a strong connection with Johnny, partly because his birthday is 23 February 1944, and mine is 25 February 1958. But beyond that, I truly love Johnny and his music!
Fortunately, Johnny enjoys playing in New Orleans. During the upcoming New Orleans Jazz Fest in April, Johnny typically makes an appearance, although it’s usually a last-minute thing, so you have to be ready. The last time he played here was three years ago on the riverboat. Before that, he performed at Tipitina's, and though he appeared frail, I only felt the urge to send him some orange juice. He could still shout with spirit and had a zest for life. But this last time, I felt like calling for a hospital drip to pump some life into him.
I've seen Johnny perform more times than I can count, but last Sunday night was a shock. I felt compelled to send a message to Edgar (who also played a show at the House of Blues on 7 March 1998 with Rick Derringer). Edgar had dedicated a song to "my poor brother Johnny," and now, after 22 March 1998, I truly understand the meaning behind those words.
As usual, Johnny's booking was last-minute. Another band cancelled, and Johnny took the slot. I was ecstatic and couldn't get to the phone fast enough to order my tickets ($20.00 plus a $2.00 handling fee each). What a deal! Savoy Brown, with Kim Simmonds, put on a great show before Johnny took the stage.
I moved to the front row for Johnny—I was as close as you could get. No announcement was made before Johnny appeared. He was practically carried down the stairs to the stage, and the audience gasped when they saw him. This was the thinnest I have ever seen him. His arms were so bony that they lacked any semblance of muscle tone. His black jeans hung loosely on him, and his rear end was completely gone.
Johnny played for 1 hour and 15 minutes, which is impressive considering he appeared so intoxicated that his tongue hung out of his mouth. He did not move on stage, except twice, and forgot the lyrics to his songs. He never opened his eyes, never shouted "Yeah, alright," and there was no dialogue between songs. At one point, he sang the words "Going to a party and everybody is there" during "Boogie Real Low."
The first time Johnny moved on stage, he shuffled gingerly to his guitar, which lay open and flat on a table. Without opening his eyes, he struggled to put the guitar in its case. A young roadie watched in shock but did nothing to assist. It seemed that his youth might have contributed to his stunned reaction.
The second time Johnny moved, he spun around without lifting his feet from the same spot. He gave the audience a big smile, and we went wild, though we were worried the spin might make him dizzy enough to fall. Fortunately, that was the extent of his movement.
Johnny also seemed to lose track of when his songs should end. While I enjoyed the extended play, the bassist and drummer exchanged glances, rolling their eyes as they tried to follow Johnny’s lead, unsure how long it would continue. It felt uncomfortably long.
Throughout the show, people kept saying that this might be the last time we’d see Johnny perform. It broke my heart, even though I cherished being close to him and hearing him play. He remains the best guitar player, despite all these difficulties. I believe Edgar, Johnny's family, and his friends need to step in to help save his life.
- Debora
