Johnny Winter: A Blues Icon's Unwavering Journey Through 2006

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Reunish Rite Theater in West Reading, PA. This is a historic first with many more such shows scheduled for the futureion show with Johnny, brother Edgar and Rick Derringer scheduled for15 April 2006 at the Scott.

Synopsis: The article "Still Alive and Well" by Dave Rubin, published in May 2006, is an insightful interview with legendary blues-rock guitarist Johnny Winter and his guitarist/manager Paul Nelson. The piece chronicles Winter's musical journey, highlighting his rise to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s, his influential work with Muddy Waters, and his comeback after years of personal and health struggles. The interview touches on Winter's early influences, including Clarence Garlow, Chet Atkins, and Robert Johnson, as well as his technique, gear, and notable collaborations, particularly with Rick Derringer. Nelson also provides valuable insight into Winter's playing style, career revival, and their plans for a new album, Roots , featuring guest artists like Billy Gibbons and Dr. John. The article emphasizes Winter’s resilience and ongoing passion for the blues.

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Synopsis: In "Bluesman Brings Crowd to Its Feet," Sue White of The Saginaw News captures the electrifying atmosphere of Johnny Winter's live performance at the Black Forest Brew Haus and Grill. Despite his frail physical condition, the Texas blues legend commands the stage with his signature guitar work and soulful renditions, leaving the audience awestruck. This article provides a vivid account of Winter’s enduring talent, his connection to the blues, and the excitement he brought to a crowd eager to witness a living legend in action.

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I am a big fan of Johnny Winter and have always wanted to attend one of his concerts. Living in Europe, it hasn’t been easy, but a couple of months ago, my wish finally came true.

On May 5th of this year, my brother and I went to the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in Florida, where we were able to see Johnny play live. I had heard and read about Johnny’s health issues, and some said his playing had weakened, but I can tell you that was definitely not the case this time.

He came on stage unassisted, with someone helping him sit down and find his microphone. But as soon as he started playing, his fingers just flew across the guitar. I think everyone in the audience was amazed by how well Johnny played that night. He performed big hits like “Johnny Guitar,” “She Likes to Boogie Real Low,” “Highway 61,” and more.

We were just meters away from him, and I had such a great time watching him perform. Though he sat down the entire time and had his eyes closed for most of the show, he played for about an hour and a half with a powerful voice that was still going strong.

His band was excellent too, although I wasn’t a fan of the drummer, Wayne June (if I recall correctly), singing one song. I thought his voice was pretty weak compared to Johnny's.

At the end of the concert, Johnny stood up and left the stage, only to return seconds later with his Firebird guitar to finish the show. It was an incredible performance by Johnny Winter that I will never forget. I feel privileged to have seen him up close, playing so well.

If you have the chance to see the legendary Johnny Winter this year, don’t miss it—just go for it.

Thanks, Johnny…

Juan Pablo

I heard Johnny Winter last night for the first time in more than 10 years, and I’m glad I did. I was a little hesitant about going because I was worried he might not be as good as I remembered, which could diminish my memory of him. I had read that he was really struggling during his 2004 shows and that he’d had some health problems back then.

In January, I heard him interviewed on XM Radio, where he talked about giving up drinking and stabilizing his health. Apparently, that’s true. While he’s lost a few steps musically since I first saw him in 1974, he’s still very much worth hearing. His playing was quite good. He did a slowed-down version of “Black Jack,” a song I’d heard he sometimes had trouble with, but it was fantastic. He did mess up the lyrics in the first verse of “Highway 61 Revisited,” and some of the slide work was simplified from how he used to play it, but it was still thrilling to hear. Overall, mistakes were very few, and his playing was at a high level. His voice was noticeably stronger than on the Live in NYC album and I’m a Bluesman .

The show lasted exactly 90 minutes. Johnny walked on stage unassisted, though someone had to show him to his chair—his vision is clearly poor. He played sitting down the entire time, which I’ve heard he’s been doing for the last few years. Most of the show was played on his Lazer guitar, but he switched to his Firebird for a few songs near the end.

The setlist included: Hideaway , Sugar-Coated Love , Black Jack , Tore Down , Johnny Guitar , Lone Wolf , Hoochie Koochie Man , She Likes to Boogie Real Low , Mojo Boogie , Highway 61 Revisited , and a few others I don’t recall—I was taking photos instead of making notes on the setlist.

The opening act was Cyril Lance, who was unknown to me but also excellent.

Johnny is touring extensively this year, and if he comes to your area, I strongly recommend going to see him. Last night’s show was unforgettable.

David Roberson

In this 2006 interview, legendary blues-rock guitarist Johnny Winter sits down with Kenny Buffaloe to reflect on his storied career, musical influences, and the state of blues and rock today. Known for his seamless blend of blues and rock 'n' roll, Winter discusses key moments in his journey, including his collaborations with Muddy Waters and encounters with icons like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. As he continues to tour and release new music, Winter shares his thoughts on staying true to his craft, his impact on future generations, and the timeless nature of the blues.

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For any Johnny Winter fans, I’d like to report that hearing Johnny and the band at the House of Blues, Chicago, last Friday (26/05/06), was a fantastic experience. I’ve been a long-time fan and have recently read stories about his ill health, with some fans claiming he "doesn't have it" anymore. Yes, he’s no longer the young man from Texas who was courted by Columbia Records back in 1969—Johnny is now 62 years old. Reports of him having to be helped onto the stage and being nearly blind have been grossly exaggerated.

It was heartwarming to see a roadie assist a slightly hunched-over Johnny as he navigated scattered audio cables and equipment to take his place on a comfy-looking old chair at center stage, where he remained for the entire show. The reports of Johnny being nearly blind might stem from the fact that albinos have a heightened sensitivity to light. I noticed that throughout the 75-minute performance, he rarely opened his eyes to the stage lights. Watching him look at his watch near the end assured me he’s not blind, as earlier reports suggested.

One thing I missed upon hearing Johnny's latest Grammy-nominated album was his howling vocal style. His vocals on the album sounded weak and strained, but this wasn’t the case during the House of Blues performance. He sounded much stronger and managed to deliver some very enthusiastic vocals, much to the delight of the audience. The set contained approximately 12-14 songs, tight and polished. While he took time to drink water between a few songs, other tunes flowed seamlessly into the next with precision.

Although guitarist Paul Nelson opened with the first song, he bowed out and didn’t return once Johnny took the stage. Also missing was James Montgomery's harmonica playing, which is present on many tracks from the latest album, I'm a Bluesman . As a former bass player myself, I was captivated by Scott Spray’s performance—he was in command of his instrument, more of a virtuoso than just a bass player. Rounding out the trio was Wayne June on drums—simply awesome! These two guys weren’t just backing up a legend; the three of them were entirely enthusiastic about playing the blues together, and the crowd knew it.

Using an Erlewine Lazer guitar for most of the performance, Johnny's playing was clean and heartfelt. This isn’t a guy touring just to make a few bucks. It’s clear that Johnny continues to perform for audiences all over the country because he genuinely loves to play. Switching to a Gibson Firebird, Johnny closed the show with some remarkable slide guitar work, playing the encore "Highway 61" to a roaring crowd. It was a great performance by one of the best blues guitarists ever.

By Deano

Dunlop is set to introduce a new slide, named the "Texas Slider," carefully modeled after Johnny Winter's iconic slide. The product is expected to be released worldwide during the winter of 2006-2007.

In the same month, Johnny Winter is featured in the July issue of Penthouse magazine (though not for the reasons one might expect). The feature is part of a special guitar-focused article, which also includes notable guitarists such as Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, and others.

On 31 August 2006, Johnny Winter performed at the Paradiso concert hall in Amsterdam, and I was fortunate enough to attend. The show began with a short instrumental, with Paul Nelson assisting on guitar. Then, without any assistance, Johnny walked onto the stage, took his seat at the center, and greeted the audience. The crowd erupted in applause as he opened with "Hide Away." Though played at a slower tempo than in his prime years, it still felt incredible, with Johnny’s signature licks flowing smoothly and accompanied by some impressive improvisation.

The setlist was fairly predictable, including: Hide Away , Sugar Coated Love , Black Jack , Boogie Real Low , Start Over Again , Lone Wolf , Hoochie Coochie Man , Tore Down , Johnny Guitar , Mojo Boogie , and Highway 61 Revisited . Throughout the performance, Johnny's vocals were noticeably stronger than they had been in recent years, and his overall guitar playing was excellent. The solos during Black Jack and Johnny Guitar were particularly outstanding, reminiscent of the energy in his earlier performances. I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality of his slide guitar playing, which was much more intricate than what we saw in the Live in Times Square DVD.

The entire audience, myself included, had a wonderful evening, thrilled to see Johnny performing in much better shape than in recent years. The only area of improvement I’d suggest would be the addition of a skilled harmonica player, like James Montgomery , whose absence was felt. While Scott Spray and Wayne June were excellent, a harmonica would have elevated the show from "good" to "perfect."

Best regards,

Frank Rooijmans

The Johnny Winter concert on 7 December at the State Theatre in St. Pete, Florida, was a memorable experience. Johnny confidently walked on stage, without a cane, and took his seat. A roadie carefully placed his Lazer guitar on him and adjusted his microphone. Paul Nelson had already performed a warm-up song with the band, so the audience was fully energized for Johnny’s entrance. Notably, this was the first time I’ve seen the band start exactly on schedule, with the show kicking off promptly at 9 PM.

After Paul Nelson left the stage, Johnny opened with "Hideaway," followed by "Sugar Coated Love." The real surprise of the evening came when Johnny launched into "Miss Anne" from Second Winter , a song I’ve only seen him perform once or twice in all these years. The rest of the set included Lone Wolf , Tore Down (featuring Scott Spray on vocals), Black Jack , Mojo Boogie , She Likes to Boogie Real Low , Johnny Guitar , and concluded with an encore of Highway 61 .

Johnny's playing was excellent, and his voice was impressively strong. One subtle change I noticed was during Highway 61 , where Johnny replaced some of the more intricate slide work with a technique involving running the slide over the first pickup of his Firebird. The crowd loved it, seemingly unaware of the original licks. From my spot, just 6 or 7 feet away, I only noticed him struggle with a few riffs, but he recovered smoothly, and the crowd remained unaware. His fluidity and mastery of the performance were clear, and I didn't catch any missed lyrics. Johnny is back.

The crowd itself was surprising, as it was more diverse than what I’m used to seeing at Johnny’s shows. There were young people, gay couples, and a mix of different walks of life, all enjoying the music. One particularly enthusiastic fan, no older than 21, positioned herself directly in front of Johnny’s chair, resting her head on his monitor throughout the entire show. Hearing the comments of people as they left was equally heartwarming. Words like "Legend," "Guitar God," and "Master" were frequently mentioned as people praised Johnny on their way out.

I doubt this show was much different from any other Johnny is performing on this tour. It was clear that Johnny was giving his all, and this small club in St. Pete, Florida, on a Thursday night was no exception.

A special mention must be made of Paul Nelson, Johnny’s new manager, who deserves immense credit for restoring Johnny’s health and life, and for cleaning up the mess left by his previous manager, Teddy Slatus. Paul is working on a book that will delve into these details, which I’m very much looking forward to. Until then, if Johnny Guitar comes to your town, don’t miss it. You won’t regret it.

Best regards,

Tom Richards