A MUSIC promoter who used to live in Allenheads has shared his memories and experiences of the late Dr Feelgood star and solo musician, Wilko Johnson.
Jim Semmence, 72, has promoted music 'on and off' since 1969 and used to run The Kings Head pub in Allendale from 1991 until 1996.
Jim said when he owned The Kings Head, the pub had a 'big reputation nationally for live music'.
"We were able to pull in some famous names, people used to travel across the country to Allendale. One lady came from Japan."
One band was Dr Feelgood in 1995 and 1996. "I've worked with Dr Feelgood every year since, once a year or twice a year."
Formed in 1971 with members Johnson, Lee Brilleaux and John Sparks, Dr Feelgood quickly grew within the pub rock scene.
Wilko left Dr Feelgood in 1976 due to disagreements in the band.
After Wilko left the band, Jim worked with him later in his career as part of The Wilko Johnson band.
"Dr Feelgood has always changed over the years but the current lineup has been together for 40 years.
"He (Wilko) was quite a character," Jim said. "He was very eccentric."
Speaking of working with Wilko in the three-piece Wilko Johnson Band, Jim said: "One of the things that impressed me about him was that when you put a band on you always get a rider, which is basically what food they want, what drink they want.
"With Wilko, it was just a carton of orange juice, that was it.
"The other thing, it sounds like a peculiarity, but during the show itself the band used to play for 60 minutes exactly. The 'but' is that there were no breaks. He didn't stop to talk, he didn't stop to do anything, they just played one track after the other.
"He had the nickname of the Machine Gunner for a couple of reasons.
"The way he held the guitar, his peculiar walk on stage, he used to shuffle around stage, and he had this incredible piercing stare. You just couldn't take your eyes off him when he was performing.
"A fantastic guitarist in the style of punk-cum-rhythm-and-blues style, and a very fast guitarist.
"I'd say Wilko was one of the first punk guitarists. Wilko's credited with influencing a few people, not least Johnny Rotten. Johnny Rotten cites Wilko as one of his early influences.
"His stage presence was just electrifying, that's the key to it."
Dr Feelgood will perform at Allendale Village Hall on December 16, supported by local musicians The Mount Hooley Band.
"It will be a good one for two reasons, it'll be a good one for people who just like Dr Feelgood, and it'll be a good one for people who want to remember Wilko Johnson," Jim said.
"Apart from being a fantastic guitarist he was a fantastic character. When you meet Wilko Johnson you don't forget him."
Wilko died aged 75 on Wednesday, November 23.
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