Johnny Winter Live April 24, 1973 Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens

[@WheatonBrad]

Later in his career, Johnny welcomed fans to his RV for autographs, and did meet and greets at record stores. He was hospitable as heck both times I met him. The first time, he signed the pick guard from my Firebird. The second time, he fixed the signature (which had smudged.) But, that's not the coolest part. I asked him to record a short "Get well" message for a friend, and Johnny fan, who'd been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Without hesitation, Johnny said, "Hell yeah. Let's do it!") He then recorded a sweet message for my friend. It brings tears to my eyes to recall his generosity in that moment.

[@tomflynn2912]

I was able to meet and talk to Rick Derringer which was very cool, nice guy,. But man, to have met and had such a cool experience with Johnny, good for you man!!

[@peterbetts858]

Cool story . . ive been a fan since 1975 ,saw him a few times ,and any interviews ive seen with him , he was always very cool n down to earth. its a bit surprising that a man that ferocious with a guitar could be that grounded to talk with . Long Live Boss Man Johnny !

[@dougfriedman]

@@peterbetts858 All true, I went to see him at two small shows in Santa Ana at the Observatory and I got to see him and his band in his RV and get an autograph. Same thing at another small show in San Juan Capistrano at The Coach House. I carried his amp for him too. Nicest guy ever, just like the interview.

[@peterbetts858]

@@dougfriedman too cool . im in Canada but ive seen him 4 times . never got close to him , talked to his guitar player , paul Nelson ? for half hour in Halifax n s . once tho.real down to earth ,nice guy . out in the lobby . funny but people were walkin by like he was the janitor ,not recognizing him as the guy who just played with JW for 2 hours .yuppies eh ,. but ,u carried his amp , whoa , what a fender deluxe twin ? what kind of boots did he have on ?

[@mikehemens9359]

Thanks amazing story. That's what life is about.

[@kevinlundgren1169]

Seen Johnny three times , the first two , he had help getting on the stage , the third time he walked out on his own , two weeks before he passed away ! All three times he started the show with a rip roaring tune to get the crowd going !!! Yes , each time I did go out to his RV to get an autograph , one time I asked the rest of the band to sign also , they all freaked because nobody asks them for an autograph , my CD , ROOTS , has all four autographs on it!! I got other things signed and I got pictures of my wife and myself with Johnny , and a friend of ours with the bass player !! Johnny Winter has rocked my world for over thirty five years , too bad I didn't hear of him a little sooner !! And yes , I have hours and hours and hours of Johnny Winter !!!!! You are definitely missed Johnny , and to everyone out there that is a JOHNNY WINTER fan ,,,, keep on jammin !!!!!

[@dcbluez4883]

Oh the good Ole days. Seen Johnny dozens of times and always spectacular. Especially 70s shows. Not only do you hear but you feel it from head to toe. Louder the better

[@peterbetts858]

Did u ever see uncle john turner drumming for him .

[@skullfoot]

wow must have been amazing. How was that tone coming from that twin???

[@BlairPackham]

I was there! Day after my 14th birthday. What a show.

[@frankrichards3089]

Blair Packham Richard Hughes and Randy Jo Hobbs on this correct?

[@kreetoe]

Ya me too. Exactly four months after my fourteenth birthday.My first concert, I was there to see Slade but was blown away by Johnny.

[@dCaddyshk]

@@kreetoe Hey Man! I was there too. I was 14 and I really don't recall seeing Slade (and I loved them too). Did they perform before Brownsville Station? Thanks.

[@kreetoe]

@@dCaddyshk I do remember seeing him with Brownsville Station but that was another concert.

[@stefanschleps8758]

1973 also the year of my first concert(Leon Russel) Also 14. Pig's Rule! 🎉

[@greatgooglymoogly]

Live Still Alive And Well era Johnny Winter !!!!!! Saw him every year until Captured Live. Saw the Johnny and Edgar Together show too. Great times . Miss Johnny ……

[@TFJoos]

Crap... how much more BADASS can a guy get!!!???? WWHHHHHOOOOOOOO!!! YEAH MAN!!!!!!

[@AndyWade-pp1vs]

What a set, man oh man

[@gayleash9712]

Rest easy, Johnny. You're music will live on. You were loved....

[@jimmybusk]

This really makes me happy! Because I saw Johnny a few times at this same period at Madison Sq.Garden,and remember very clearly what this Action Event looked like, and very,very Clearly What This really Sounded like near the stage ! This "Crappy" cassette recording is much more valuable than a "clear" recording, where some Douche record producer added his "finishing touches". Very few guitarists had his 'built in' clock timing,and very few had his lightning speed,and as this tape proves, No one out there could sing Rock and roll, and play guitar at the same time like Johnny. I saw a lot of concerts as a teen,and it's no secret that MSG was the worst place to see a concert,But I have to say The best concert that I ever saw was Johnny Winter at Madison Sq Garden. Hats Off to the Master engineer who recorded this bad boy !

[@jimgouwens9930]

TELL IT.

[@thrillionaire6567]

Totally agree with you 👍

[@peterbetts858]

RIGHT On , Canada .

[@bill6287]

Awesome, only one Johnny winter, no one else could compare

[@peterbetts858]

Yup he and Muddy Waters were good friends and bandmates , and labelmates , the last 10 years of Muddys life .

[@danielwillametz4453]

Those were the days my friend

[@glennfoster1012]

I was here! My girlfriend & I were 16! My 1st live concert ever! Johnny was fabulous! Rock me Baby Rock Me All Night Long! Thanks for posting 👍

[@borriffick]

My first concert ever was Johnny Winter at the Molson Place Forum Toronto in 1993! He was still totally on fire then too thankfully. Would have been incredible to see him in 1973 though!

[@glennfoster1012]

When Johnny hit the stage..there was nothing but bic lighters on fire, cig smoke and screaming fans! We were searched on entry..Security was mainly looking for camera's..thank goodness..lol...We couldn't here a thing for about 3 hours after that concert..Johnny's fabulous electric guitar 👍

[@gordmacdonald1292]

Brownsville Station opened.......Smoking in the Boys Room

[@pataxe8108]

I was at this show , if I’m not mistaken he played for over two hours ,He kept playing even when they turned the house light on. I heard Harold Ballard had them turn the house lights on. He lived in an apartment in MLG.

[@cookz2]

I was there, Slade opened

[@bgmojohands60]

I saw Johnny at the Spectrum in Philly in ‘74 when I was 14. It was my 2nd concert and I went with a group of between 10-15 guys. I became a lifelong fan of JW. As much as I loved Johnny Winter And Live, Captured Live changed my guitar playing style. Loved Guitar Slinger - Wax Museum in Washington, DC, and a great show at the Warner Theater in ‘86! Johnny and Jon Paris were so tight in the 80s - 90s+ RIP John Dawson Winter …

[@brucybabyy7355]

i love Johnny, but this is my fave period.

[@JIMIJAMS]

Love John Dawson Winter |||, seen Johnny in 75 at Long Beach Arena with Black Oak Arkansas when I was 17,, bomb ass concert.!!!👍.

[@janzimny7957]

Seen Johnny with Edgar Winters and Rick Derringer at the gardens too! I believe it was the Winterfest tour! What an amazing funking night that was!!😆😆😎😎😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@shlomoweinstein2775]

Thank you for posting this! Since everybody tells how often they saw Johnny: I was at four of his concerts. One in Europe and three in the US of A. And then, as things sometimes seem to happen, I "ran" into him at the hotel on Wilshire Boulevard in LA where we were both staying. One word leading to another and I ended up in my fifth concert as a treat of his to me. Very generous, backstage and all.

[@user-cs4px2er4o]

Mntap melodinya.jln. cadas

[@wintersbone-johnnywintertr1102]

So underestimated, what a genius. Such a shame....

[@chriscullen6949]

johnny playing with an envelope filter or half cocked wah, tremendous tone as usual

[@LegendsofMusic]

I saw him a few months before this show - same set list. It was FABULOUS!!

[@eah4641]

This is so great. I love Johnny Winter

[@jimgouwens9930]

Good taste.

[@kevinkiso4579]

Damn, he's bending some of those notes/strings - I would imagine his Firebird to just disintegrate in his hands.

[@bishlap]

Saw Johnny many times here in NY/METRO area right on the heels of his "Still alive and well" release... those were the best Johnny live shows, he was really rockin in those days and in an era of guitar "Gods" Johnny was right up there w/ the best.

[@rockystone967]

I was at this Show in Waterbury. It was the second show he had once he got out of rehab. He played two shows after Waterbury at Maple Leaf garden, on the 24th and 25th. Best show ever. Tuesday, 3 April 1973 - Palace Theatre, Waterbury (not Westbury) Johnny Winter Plays Palace in 1973 Johnny Winter at the Palace Theatre in 1973 has been released on a bootleg CD. This Bootleg Contains Two Additional Songs From 1975 Palace Theatre: Sweet Papa John, Pick Up On My Mojo. Setlist of this concert Rock Me Baby Intro Of Susan Warford The Good Love Aint Nothing To Me Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo, Too Much Seconal Rock & Roll Jumpin Jack Flash Johnny Be. Goode Silver Train

[@babydaddy1930]

Treasure trove of guitar licks....loved Johnny since first time I heard him in about 72

[@Richard-vu7kh]

What a Monster !! Black-cat bone just kicked my ass - FAN-TAS-TIC ! IT must have been absolutely mind-blowing to have been at that concert.

[@user-be1pf2rq1k]

Thanks for posting. Was there at MLG with two friends, sitting in the end blues beside the stage. We were gobsmacked. Was lucky enough to see Johnny again 37 years later in Peterborough, ON. We were both a bit older, lol.

[@larrynolletti4594]

What are we waiting for.....Johnny Winter Live Bootleg Series....release immediately...!!!!!

[@mikephalen3162]

Didn't get to see him until 2007 at the House of Blues in Dallas. Fantastic.

[@tommagocs6040]

Saw this tour in Dania, Florida at Pirates World...Fog Hat was the opening band.

[@NicholasANappiNick]

WOW!!!

[@green323turbo]

He's on fire here, wow. he plays that hard studio lick from Rock me baby at 1:19

[@SuperBolin1]

OMG!! This is the first freaking concert I ever went to when I was 13 years old. I was so young, and so confused why my parents would let me go? Oh well. It felt like it was me and 20,000 bikers. Just like when I went to see the Right Hon. RN Marley several years later as Maple Leaf Gardens. It felt like it was me and 20,000 Rastas. Much Love for this Post

[@georgecandreva2842]

He don't need no stinkin' guitar pedals!

[@thomasvee329]

Johnny IS the pedal!

[@cosmic687]

straight in and CRANKED!

[@kevinkiso4579]

Listen to how those kids just fckn loved Rock and Roll ... Arenas and stadiums full of kids screaming for Rock music. I was one of those kids. It's so sad what's happened to the kids these days.

[@benkasameyer6582]

Love JIMI please but I love Johnny Winter. They hung out and loved each other.

[@cliffnote7058]

Saw this show May 1 1973 in Chicago...unreal.

[@FrontDesk-rr8re]

What venue did he play in chicago ?

[@cliffnote7058]

@@FrontDesk-rr8re Universal Amphitheatre...2 drummers, his wife on stage banging a cowbell, him groping her onstage, playing with balloons....etc. We called the Johnny circus...lol

[@FrontDesk-rr8re]

Good Times Thanks

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

@@cliffnote7058 The Amphitheater...lol, what a barn. saw a bunch of shows there, beginning with Black Sabbath on 2/11/73. Maybe 74. "What's that smell like autumn, fellas????" lolol

[@nothwind]

@@daveguitarnowski4402 saw the Stones there , 6/20/72, early show.....life changing

[@dogchaser8656]

Still Alive & Well!

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

How many times did I nearly blow up my stereo with that tune!?

[@martindowney8737]

It is almost impossible to imagine what will happen next.

[@johnchalmers]

That is great sound for an audience recording ? I wish many of the other audience recordings on KZbin sounded as good . I was born in Toronto 9 years and 13 days before this concert .The first show that I ever witnessed at Maple Leaf Gardens was The Who in May ( I think ) , of 1980 . It was the tail end of their 1979 North American Tour . The one where 10 kids were trampled to death in Cincinnati . The last show I ever witnessed at Maple Leaf Gardens was The Kinks ( I think ) in 1985 . I think I've only seen two shows since then in Toronto and they were Tho Who in 89 and Aerosmith , Metallica and Black Crowes in 91 ? Both shows were held at the old Exhibition Stadium in Toronto .

[@scottmcdonald3893]

Just to set the record straight this show was on April 25 1973 with Slade as the opening act.I have the ticket stub and yes indeed it was a great show.

[@upperleftcoastchelseafan7718]

Pretty sure they had to douse the fretboard on his Firebird after that version of Johnny B Good. Holy shit man, that may be some of his fastest playing ever and I've heard and saw (75'-83') alot of his playing in my days. Did Johnny get wild and out of control? Hell yes he did and somehow managed to keep it together in the rawest form. Loved Johnny's blues but I sure loved his balls out turbo rock days too. 2020 and his shit still blows me away. RIP John Dawson Winter.

[@peterbetts858]

Yeah he was one of or the fastest but ,i say he Rarely got off the rails with it , his timing was stunning . but he kept the pedal to the floor so hard ,. it did sound outta control . makes me laugh when i hear all these metal diddlers goin , Johhny is a texan , with a cowboy hat on , playin some electric blues and ill lay my money down on him everytime . i got JW and live , when i was 14 and i havent looked back , Still Enjoying the Ride .

[@jchow5966]

Thank you!!!!!!!

[@gdshdsfjhdhx8200]

Johnny play too much seconal on this tour but as far as I know it's only on the Hollywood Palladium concert great slide guitar it only came out on the bootleg album Johnny Winter live at the Hollywood Palladium I think it was April of 73 Wicked slide guitar I love to recordings from the still alive and well tour he was using two drummers on that tour rest in peace Johnny Richard Hughes and Randy Hobbs and let's not forget Uncle John Turner

[@peterbetts858]

uncle john !

[@nordvegfigg7746]

Brownsville Station and Slade opened.

[@antrygis1]

I've got to find a great live recording of Johnny doing more of the Still Alive and Well L.P.

[@borriffick]

You should definitely post it!

[@gracielaalbornoz1253]

Winter the king rock and roll super gtr god bless you allways un my heart...

[@martindowney8737]

I have to admit I want to fly.

[@gracielaalbornoz1253]

Que grande, Winter, marco la diferencia, siempre en nuestros corazones...

[@paulzendo6079]

There's ALL in it...Golden years! 👍 Thanks :-). 🎼🎶

[@btlnckr]

This is Righteous!

[@amoruzz]

👍👍

[@turbokarma1]

Johnny is played real good, and real loud ! Fuckin' WICKED !!!!

[@robertcalva8664]

All I can say is..., YEAAHHHHHH!

[@gunny2shoes102]

was there, think April Wine was actually the headliner. this 3 piece Johnny power trio burned the place down, Johnny finished without an encore, everybody backstage knew they just blew AW outa there, was a joke, left after second song.

[@green323turbo]

+gunny 2shoes , and April Wine is still playing..Miles Goodwin is looking pretty rough though.

[@actualfootage]

The April Wine concert was at The Gardens in 1980. www.setlist.fm/setlist/johnny-winter/1980/maple-leaf-gardens-toronto-on-canada-6bf96e1a.html

[@benkasameyer6582]

and I read somewhere about Johnny's management keeping him pilled up, on the road. I know some good west coast people that toured with him supporting him. He was always a gentleman and a professional. Listen to the precision of his play, nobody can play like that. And he sang, better than anybody, fearlessly. And his sense of humor. And all the songs, what he did for Muddy and countless other people. And And And. Just like JIMI, Johnny Cannot be replaced. Think about how many fake JIMI's you see,have heard etc. There is no bar band guy or ham artist that can approach Johnny Winter on any level. Long Live Johnny Winter. If I can't have you baby, I'll jump into the river and drown"

[@peterbetts858]

yup the lps , on Bluesky , he did with Muddy , everybody talks of his getar playing but what i really enjoy on them is Johnnys voice , 70 s lil younger , but hes got one of the best voices in the Blues if u ask me . funny how someone that white can sound so much like Howlin WOLF . TRUE point u make about cover bands on him ,the rest of them are or were out there ,, but i dont really ever hear Anybody try and do Real Johnny Winter . Pick On .

[@shelleyharris2850]

🍁 maple leaf

[@magdat5104]

Magnificent!

[@davidmacleod9313]

I was going to say that I was probably there but then saw the date! I was in jail. Lol

[@leedee4968]

😎

[@SingleMalt77005]

Were Rick Derringer (guitar),, Randy Jo Hobbs (bass), and Bobby Caldwell (drums) in the band for this gig?

[@markmalone5384]

Caught Johnny during the same tour in Montreal, with John Paul "JP" bass + Bobby T. Torello drums. Not shown on this Toronto video is "Drum Solo, I'm ready & Rockabilly Boogie (see Rockpalast 1979), which they played at Le Theatre Outremont! (of course Montreal beats Toronto!) Would give my eye teeth to see that video...Anyone out there???

[@markmalone5384]

Correction, John Paris on bass...

[@markmalone5384]

Never mind...Wrong tour!

[@winterguitarkingyea]

John Paris wasn't around then, It was Johnny Winter (RIP Great Super Star) - Richard Hughes (drums deceased) Randy Jo Hobbs (Bass, deceased)

[@erikt454]

Just looking for hot live Johnny B Goode's 'cause Chuck Berry just left us... Anyhow, wasn't there a split bill with Johnny Winter and King Crimson at the Forum around this time? Wish there was a recording of that...!

[@green323turbo]

@@markmalone5384 , THis is 1973, Jon Paris didn't play until the 80's

[@larryduvall9475]

i think i got the blues

[@pfaffman100]

+Larry DuVall Ditto!

[@robertwamboldt9437]

No vidio😢

[@dCaddyshk]

I was at this show... Brownsville Station opened I think?

[@damianscarff7021]

The April Wine show also had Red Rider on the bill with Johnny and his band Bobby T torello and Jon Paris

[@green323turbo]

No, that one was in the 80's . This is 1973 .

[@peterbetts858]

yup so gunny 2 shoes is off , loverboy wasnt even born when this show Burned .

[@martindowney8737]

Saw a woman sanguine answereing questions. She was a god in a car.

[@benkasameyer6582]

This guy was scary better than everybody, Jimi was not sober enough to keep up.

[@peterbetts858]

whoa . ..

[@cosmic687]

never

[@peterbetts858]

KINDA TWO DIFFERENT styles . Jimi used way more effects ,that added to his style . Johnny didnt use effects . Other than speed and string bend and of course slide . Straighter blues , Jimi was more psychedelic .

[@cosmic687]

@@peterbetts858 im yet to hear better playing than the Fillmore east stuff with band of gypsies. the only one who was on that level for playing AND tone was Alvin lee.

[@potatofry1237]

Slade must of been kool to see

[@martindowney8737]

When you are in a shop undecided between one product or another might I suggest Kung Fu?

[@peterbetts858]

unless u can find happy meal coupons on the sidewalk .

[@VilleMaunu]

Sounds like only one guitar...so trio playing...

[@JohnAllanification]

the april wine tour happened in the eighties that had to be awfull for such a player as jw the blues and pop weird stuff it was

[@timscott6081]

when I saw JW on this tour, Foghat was the opening band @ Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Md... 6/15 /73

[@green323turbo]

Johnny was still mostly R&R in 1973, he's playing 2 Stones songs in this set.

[@martindowney8737]

Not my concern.