Johnny Winter * A Tough Life Battling Addictions* The Best Blues Players?

Johnny Winter Guitarist and singer from Texas. A blues player who could rock and roll. A great slide player. Just a short documentary on him and his career.
#johnnywinter #bluesmusic #bluesrock
Help Me Baby
• Help Me Baby [Boston, ...
Photos:
Dave Hedstrom
/ daveshootsbands
Paul Nelson
/ paul.nelson.733076

[@RiverDocs]

Just a quick question here for you all. Who is your favorite slide player or players??

[@scottsievert3128]

George Thorogood

[@chuckl4961]

Jeff Beck, but alot of close seconds.

[@JohnDoe-jp8fx]

Duane loved Johnny so did Derek Trucks…..Jeff Beck ? Wtf

[@HoustonRoad]

Stevie Ray

[@dean828]

Rory Gallagher, Mick Taylor, Johnny Winter, Duane Allman...

[@davidtyler3116]

I worked for a concert promoter and supported one of Johnny's shows. I took him around the city and he asked me to get him some whiskey. After he drank so much I thought how can he now play? He killed it. One of the best performances I have ever seen. I have his autograph from that night. A night I will NEVER forget. RIP brother Johnny, you were the best blues player I ever saw.

[@RiverDocs]

Yes Johnny could toss a few back in his day. Never seemed to affect his playing though. Thanks for the story and for watching the video.

[@televinv8062]

You're in very rare company. You got one of THE best of all time hammered and, an autograph too!! We praise you buddy, lol 🙏👍👍🙏👍🙏

[@sammyquinn1]

I've loved Johnny since 1969 when my friend played his first album for me. I was such a fanatic I would answer people's questions with JW lyrics. For example, if I were asked " How ya doin' today? I'd say "it's kinda hard to tell, but I'm still alive and wel." I've been to 1,000 rock concerts and 999 of them where Johnny Winter.

[@iceWaterProductions1]

That’s our Uncle Johnny. We live down here is SouthEast Texas where it stinks to high Heaven with all the chemical and oil plants. They’ll never be another Johnny Winter. And if there parents who live around these parts and they don’t play and tell the stories about Johnny to their kids those little punks won’t wind up amounting to Nothing.

[@davidtyler3116]

@@iceWaterProductions1 Loved Johnny and Edgar. Johnny played to my soul. I listen to him all the time.

[@leonardsmith2170]

Very nice. I've been a Johnny Winter fan for over fifty years. It kills me whenever a "top-ten guitarist" list leaves him off. I think Rolling Stone had him at like sixty-something. Ridiculous. RIP Johnny. A great bluesman.

[@user-hy6nz3yw2g]

You are me. Been a fan since 1970. Rolling Stone had him at #70. They lost all credibility with me, after that. I think of Johnny as family. Still have a really cool picture of him in my living room.

[@albertbeaney2580]

Rolling Stone is a RAG. It’s better used as toilet paper. It doesn’t exist in my mind. To disrespect JW like that goes to show you how much they know.

[@vachron]

I agree! It also bothers me when they leave out Steve Howe in the top group - I've realized that their list is not what a musician's list would be.

[@MrEdWeirdoShow]

There's no way JW is not in any Top 10.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

I saw Johnny in the mid 90s. His bass player led him out and put him in his spot. He picked up the guitar and hung it on Johnny. I was thinking the show would suck. Wrong. That man burned the place to the ground and I don't think he ever opened his eyes. It was amazing.

[@RiverDocs]

He was sure something special that's for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@jacksaintjack2844]

An absolute fingerboard savant. He knew more licks than anyone and could play any style. Fast as lightning and no one could touch him when it came to slide.

[@televinv8062]

100% And he was so steeped in the blues that hanging out with and producing Muddy etc, was like buddies drinking in a bar watching football. J.W. was a TITAN!

[@coryscot7975]

Such speed!!! God almighty,but so fluid.

[@MARKIEBANUNCE]

Nope DUANE ALLMAN would have shredded him Yes

[@leonardsmith2170]

@@MARKIEBANUNCE Duane thought so. "I can cut him" he was quoted as saying at the time. I'm a big fan of both but I'm not so sure that Duane could "cut" Johnny.

[@tedschmidt3288]

​@@leonardsmith2170I suppose it's what style/sound you like. I saw them both in May 71 same night. Allmans opening for Johnny Winter. It's only an opinion of what you like, but I prefer Duane Allman's slide.

[@rickmcconnell5380]

Cheers to Paul Nelson for all he did to help bring Johnny back to the stage!

[@anthonymaccherone]

I was at the show Paul played with Johnny at the Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction Vermont. Second time I've seen Johnny live. Both were just wow shows. Almost fifty years apart.

[@RollingStoneZzzzz]

@@anthonymaccherone I remember see that show on his schedule. Love J.W.!👍🏻😉

[@doncalista4172]

Thank you Paul. You rock!

[@MDavidG1]

RIP Paul Nelson. He died of a heart attack while on tour in early 2024.

[@farmbikemike8923]

Johnny Winter “Live” is one of my top 3 recordings of all time.

[@RiverDocs]

That was one of his best! The guy could really play! Thanks for watching!

[@loilt5091]

Which "Live"..."Live And", cuz he had a few of them❓️

[@chriskroll4166]

@@loilt5091 captured live of course . That's Johnny's best album hands down. 🤷

[@jamescroy9464]

“And Live” my first Johnny Winter record. That version of “Johnny B. Goode” is fantastic

[@loilt5091]

@@jamescroy9464 So much so, that I prefer it to the Stones. No one covers them better than Johnny, (Jumpin' Jack Flash, Siver Train, Let it Bleed, Stray Cat Blues)...no wonder they wrote Silver Train in his honour.

[@craigwinters5724]

Saw Johnny in the Fall of1970 with Rick Derringer touring for the Johnny Winter And album. Opening was the Allman Brothers with Duane and Berry. All my friends at college were excited to see the Allman Brothers. I didn't know who they were then. I went to see Johnny. He didn't disappoint. One of the best shows I've ever seen and the standard against which I measure all others.

[@RiverDocs]

Wow I bet that was a great show to see! Thanks for watching!

[@giftedplanksify]

I seen Jonny perform in his later years. He had these incredibly skinny arms and was worried that the weight of his guitar would knock him over. He had a bunch of tattoos on his forearms but he made his playing seem so effortless. Great show. Fuck yeah 😎 👌

[@phlushphish793]

I grew up loving Johnny Winter & passed that on to my son. I never picked up guitar; but, he did & got pretty good. After Johnny died, my son had a dream where he saw Johnny playing guitar while sitting on a wall. He walked up, talked to him for awhile; and, when he reminded him that he was dead, he smiled & walked away!

[@edwhite7475]

He should write a song about that-

[@davidfarris894]

THAT IS HEAVY SHIT.LOVE JOHNNY WINTER FOR AROUND 46 YEARS NOW.HOPE YOUR SON IS JAMMING THE VERY SAME SHIT JOHNNY DID.

[@SURRYHOUSE2]

Love it. Thank you

[@stephenfassbender-ko6fz]

Love your story What a dream . Johnny was the catalyst of my first real love and marriage that lasted years. Miss him badly.

[@paulflanagan5395]

YOUS R BRINGIN TEARS 2 MY EYES, ONLY "GOD SELECTED PEOPLE" R ALLOWED BY GOD 2 ENJOY SUCH EXPERIENCE'S, (GOD HIMSELF ALWAYS TAKES ME ON VOYAGE'S, CONSTANTLY, "TIME TRAVEL") DAT IS SOMETHIN HE'LL REMEMBER ALL THE DAY'S OF HIS LIFE. WOW, AWESOME. ( 3 )

[@daveparker1083]

I had the pleasure of knowing Johnny for close to 30 years. Very well done!

[@marshallsack5417]

In my opinion, hands down, Johnny was the best blues & slide guitarist ever. I loved Albert King, Fredy King & Jimmy Hendrix for their blues & their unique styles but Johnny really interpreted the blues with feeling & speed that was his own and that no one seems to have copied. Rest in peace, slide rider!

[@loilt5091]

Freddie & Albert weren't slide players...Jimi, barely.

[@MarcosMamuth]

Leslie West deffined Johnny as a Picasso on the slide, and I agree, despiste his last performances, in my opinion, were very bad due to his health conditions.

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

I met him & his band in part because a good friend was in charge of security. We all literally chopped it up for over an hour. He then shuffled up the ramp & blew everyone away. He was to slide guitar & blues what Pavarotti was to opera. And one of the nicest most down to earth really cool people I have ever met. What a genuine class human being. Johnny. I hope you are jamming in Heaven. RIP Mr. John Dalton Winter III.

[@loilt5091]

@@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454 I hope your buddy didn’t work for his former, sleazoid manager, Teddy Slatus… ☆ Pavarotti...I agree with what his brother Edgar, likened him to, (for his inexhaustive, ability to seamlessly improvise), the John Coltrane of Blues Guitar. Rather like the song the Stones wrote for him; The Silver Trane 🚂

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

@@loilt5091 Thanks for the info. The festival was Winter’s End 1970 @ Ft. Lauderdale around 1970. He was in charge of backstage onljy.j So I don’t think he was a business jkmanagerial type. Just a head-not-a-fed guy with a couple of connections. But one of my greatest lifetime memories. Just a 100% down to earth real person. The song by the Stones was new info to me. So was the questionable manager you mentioned. I was never a part of concert mgmt. Just a guy with some friends in some interesting places. Did Woodstock also. Good times. Good memories.

[@MrDavemiley]

I was lucky to have seen Johny Winter Live "FOUR" times . He was 100 % awesome all four times !!

[@thomasfiscus7321]

Me too!

[@manuelmontiel5418]

I saw Johnny twice. The first time was Toledo Ohio ,he was touring his " Saints and Sinners " LP He was accompanied by Randy Jo Hobbs and Richard Hughes,

[@drlecter8145]

Ditto Dave

[@garymack8070]

Same . One was at the Fillmore East - Johnny Winter And . How lucky was I ? Thank you Johnny for all the great music you left us . I love you ! So grateful to have seen you live !

[@user-hy6nz3yw2g]

Saw him 4 times too! Last time was 2009 in Chicago.

[@GBeret83]

Saw him blow the doors out of Bogarts Nightclub in Cincinnati back in 1991. He played nearly 3 hours, encored twice, and was on his way back out for a third when the owner almost literallly threw the hook around him because of a city ordinance about closing time for nightclubs. One of the most awesome and dynamic shoes I've ever seen.

[@maxpuppy96]

Johnny's slide came from a cymbal stand from a drum set. He also would use copper plumbers pipe, but the cymbal stand pipe was his main slide.

[@altonwilliams7117]

I saw him play here in Texas not too long before he passed. They led him out to the stage and handed him his guitar and he let it rip!🎵

[@ronrice1931]

I bought a Johnny Winter album in 1969 thinking it was Johnny Rivers. I wanted to here "Secret Agent Man." Boy was I surprised! At first I thought, oh no wrong record, then I thought, holy cow who is this? So good! Left a lasting impression on me.

[@leonardsmith2170]

That's funny.

[@chasetower6773]

Johnny played with a Passion and gave Fans one Hell of a Show.

[@mikefannon6994]

I remember seeing Johnny at a bar in Atlanta (Electric Ballroom), about 71. He would come to lip of the stage, still playing, and lean over, grinning at the audience there, then quickly step back. Having fun!

[@nasticanasta]

Saw this amazing blues legend many times, but last time I saw him about a year before he died, a guy on each arm led him out to the center of the stage to a chair, he sat down, a guy came out with his guitar and put it in his hands, that huge hat he wore just barely created a shadow over his eyes, they looked like two black holes... it was sad and kinda scary....but then he played, and I forgot about his poor health. I got to see Edgar and Johnny together in concert...excellent. RIP

[@nasticanasta]

I just realized I have some clips of one of his last few concerts on a video cam I have! I’m gonna post some soon, I need to get a card reader

[@RiverDocs]

If you put them on youtube come back here and leave a link so I can watch them too :-)

[@walkerpeterson1149]

I also saw him play in the same condition,he sat down,it was in the valley in California,a small venue,he put on a great show, dearly loved,and will always be missed, RIPJohnny

[@donniemoyer9261]

I saw em when he was ripped and when he was straight..the last time sat in that chair and played for almost 2 hrs..Tempe Az

[@ronnyvonallmen6892]

Johnny Winter “Captured Live” is a Must Have Album….

[@dean828]

Johnny Winter... I was saw him one time only, late 1990's in a big club in Louisville, Kentucky... he was mesmerizing... just stood by his microphone and played his heart out for 2 hours... only had a bass & drummer... people just walked thru the room and looked up for a second and moved on... only a handful of fans stood there the whole time... I was one of them... he was a true force of nature... GOD given talent galore... the whitest man to ever play the Blues... and beloved by Muddy Waters and other genuine black Bluesmen... a man who fought his weaknesses and frailties all thru his life... I pray he found God's mercy & grace, sure would love to jam with him in Heaven one day.

[@zivkovicable]

It doesn't surprise that he was playing to only a handful of people. The Blues scene in the US is dire, & has been for a while. A shame that this great American musical gift to the world is ignored at home. I'm pretty sure Johnny Winter was still playing to packed houses in Europe & Japan during this time. I'm a UK based musician, & i often back US Blues artists when they tour Europe. Most can't believe the love they get from packed houses over here..Legends of the Blues who can barely get a gig in the IUS.

[@phlushphish793]

Keep that dream & you will! My son saw Johnny in a dream after he died. We both love him!

[@stephenbarnett1366]

I saw him on baxter Ave in the 90s. Every time I saw him always AMAZING

[@paulflanagan5395]

&, PER GOD, YOUS WILL N THE "NEW HEAVEN & EARTH", CAN YOUS IMAGINE THIS??? JUST ASK GOD 2 TEACH YOUS HOW 2 TRULY VISUALIZE, (USIN YR IMAGINATION, DAT'S 1 OF THE PURPOSES HE GIFTED US WIT IT), DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE'S, I ASSURE YOUS, GOD WILL NOT FAIL, 2 BLOW YOUS AWAY. & YOUS R AN ADOPTED CHILD OF THE "MOST HIGH GOD" I CAN C YR "LIGHT" SHINE THROUGH WHAT YOUS WTOTE MY BROTHER. MAY THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF CONTINUE 2 LOVE/TEACH/INSTRUCT/PROTECT/TRAIN UP/INCREASE/STRENGTHEN/& USE YOUS 4 HIS SET PURPOSES N YR LIFE, & YR FAMILY, (EVEN IF THE OUTCOME IS NOT FAVORABLE) JUST LIKE YOUS DIDN'T ASK 2B BORN, HAS NOTHIN 2 DO WIT WHY GOD BOTH MADE & CHOSE YOUS B4 HE EVER LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD, YOUS R CHOSEN , SET APART, CALLED, ACCORDIN 2 HIS GLORY. AMEN

[@DFDuck55]

Something that makes Johnny Winter's guitar playing and stage presence even more amazing than most people realize is that being albino his eyes were extremely sensitive to light, and he was very cross-eyed so was considered legally blind.

[@funkydellyc8419]

Those pink eyes and white hair tripped me out the first time I saw him up close a 10 year old youngster.

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Im leagally blind.

[@smtpgirl]

Mean Town Blues, BEST SONG EVER. The Johnny Winter And Live was my first album purchase in 1972. I was 12 years old.

[@NathanSmith-xf7rk]

Me too, same age

[@eugenesteenhuisen4065]

What a blues man he was.

[@kevinjohnson8758]

Johnny was on our record players the most in the 70's. we rocked

[@richardmindemann6935]

Johnny has to be included in any list of finest blues guitarists. His slide playing was exquisite. Check out his cover of Dylan's Highway 61Revisited..

[@deluxe67x12]

His version of Highway 61 Revisited was so good! When I saw Dylan in Vancouver in the late '90s, he basically did his version of Johnny's version.

[@billyshane3804]

Now you're talkin' ! Right On!

[@robertmceuen3630]

I love the band he played with on the album "Johnny Winter and... Live. Johnny, Rick Derringer, bass player and drummer. The name Billy Jo Caldwell sticks in my mind. The other name was just mentioned: Randy Hobbs. Whoever the bass player was, on the track "Jumpin' Jack Flash" the bass line is some of the best I ever heard. Entire band is 10/10.

[@robertmceuen3630]

@@bak-mariterry5180 Randy Jo should be mentioned when speaking of the world's finest bassmen.

[@robertmceuen3630]

@@bak-mariterry5180 Thanks. I saw Edgar live at Winterland, oh, it had to be early 70's. When his song "Frankenstien" was hot. I will get a copy of "Roadwork".

[@NH-ox1gr]

Johnny Winter And...Rick Derringer, Randy Jo Hobbs on bass, and Bobby Caldwell on drums. Yes, 10/10!

[@robertcalva3773]

Johnny is one of the best blues -rock players ever!

[@jaaklucas1329]

A real rockin bluesman, Texas blues at its best. Needs to be recognized as one of the blues greats.

[@scottsteel4230]

Johnny was the first concert I ever went to back in the 70's. I swear, the man's fingers were on FIRE. LEGEND.🔥🎸🔥

[@loilt5091]

Keith Ferguson, Johnny's former bassist & one time Fabulous Thunderbird, admitted to being mesmerized on stage, watching his hand speed.

[@scottsteel4230]

@@loilt5091 I was front row, real close, and the man was just someplace else. He was going on an incredible journey, and took us all along for the ride.🎸

[@funkydellyc8419]

He was the first I ever saw also..back on 67 I think.

[@georgeedward1226]

I was lucky to see Johnny perform in 1980 in Central Park. It was one of the most amazing musical experiences of my life. I was mesmerized by his guitar playing and sound. His band, Jon Paris on bass and Bobby T Torello on drums were tight knit and played up a storm as well.

[@JohnDoe-jp8fx]

My hero from the first time I heard him ! Hit me like a ton of bricks!

[@bluesrockguitar1484]

Same here

[@krisdecave4167]

Nothing but respect for Johnny and his music......i was 13 when i first heard Johnny Winter and live............R.I.P.

[@mikefannon6994]

I saw Johnny several times, from a bar to the second Atlanta Pop Festival with 400 thousand people. Ran into him in the Atlanta airport, walked up, said "hey Johnny". He was great, no star trip, just a nice guy. I remember thinking the first time I saw him - man, this cat plays rhythm and lead at the same time !

[@markmcdonald5711]

I have a picture of Johnny and Janis Joplin onstage together at that festival.

[@stevenmccart5455]

I've seen Johnny countless times since the first time I saw him in 1970 and he always put on a great show.

[@jimiplayscobo5877]

I also saw him a bunch of times too. Still Alive and Well tour was my first time it was something else :-) Peace

[@jamespardue3055]

The Live And album was how I got hooked on Johnny, '70 until today, he was always near the top of my favorite guitarists and blues vocalists. RIP JW, and THANKS!

[@stevetrimble7007]

Still my fav album!

[@farmbikemike8923]

That’s the one! Hooked.

[@perberntzen6474]

Best blues guitar icon Ever!😊🤠

[@green323turbo]

Wow, thanks for this. We don't want Johnny to be forgotten . A lot of this generation only saw Johnny as an old man, and didn't know him when he was a stadium filling Firey guitar master. He will always be my favorite guitar player . I saw Johnny at least 5 -6 times live from the mid 70's up to 2012

[@RiverDocs]

You're welcome. Thank you for watching and your comment!

[@frederickmoller]

I grew up listening to Johnny Winter's And lp album, my go to music.

[@rawzone1]

Johnny is the reason I started playing guitar, saw him at Louie's Rock City in Arlington Virginia 45 years ago, he fired up a joint tossed it out to the crowd they went crazy and he screamed smoke it, don't fight over it

[@erwildersr]

Awesome spot!!! Wish it was still active. I’d still go and I’m 70…

[@funkydellyc8419]

too funny! 🤠

[@jerrystohner712]

Just one listen to his Highway 61 song made me realize how great he was

[@beatlehmann3424]

One of my Favorite Guitarists ! Especially love his works between 1970 and 1978 !!!

[@martinheath5947]

Played guitar like a-ringin' a bell... The original Johnny B Goode!

[@shirleydillard7127]

Johnny you are the best. I love you and miss you. RIP brother.

[@bradsense7431]

Johnny Winters self titled " Johnny Winter" LP released in 1969 is fantastic. Great acoustic sound and gritty Delta Blues. And " Still Alive and Well " LP is great. Of course his work playing and producing Muddy Waters in the seventies was also great and was a great thing for Muddy.

[@williammoore3790]

Purchased that album after seeing an article about Johnny in Life magazine. I was 15 and more into the am radio rock of the time. That album spoke to me in a way that I never could forget. Lifelong fan after that.

[@mauriceclemens3286]

I saw Johnny and Edgar in the early 70’s. He was a great guitarist. I later saw him at the House of Blues in Dallas in the early 2000’s. He had to he escorted on stage to a chair,his back was so bad. But he still could hail on his guitar. What a showman!

[@phlushphish793]

I've seen Johnny more than any other performer. At least a dozen times, probably over 20. My son got to meet him & got his pic with him in his tour bus. That is now my computer's screen saver!

[@nursedude01]

I saw him at Jazz Fest in NOLA in probably 2005. Same deal. Assisted onto the stage and looked in horrible health. But the moment he laid his hands on the guitar it was magic. He shook the fuck out of that tent and wrought every ounce of energy out of that guitar.

[@msaintpc]

Johnny and Hendrix were my idols, still are.

[@Manuel-gh9wm]

My Uncle Roy Buchanan. At the time I was married to his niece Carla. I met him for the first time and I'm always hurt his albums and loved his music since I was an early Rock and roller during the interview I asked him who did you like as a blues guitarist beside yourself he said that Johnny Winters was the world's fastest blues guitars and he admired him Roy stated you would like to do an album with with Johnny. But now I believe they're both in heaven praying for the Lord's Glory I am coyote Redskins my stage name Amen to that

[@tomstclair961]

I saw Johnny and Edar live in the west Palm Beach auditorium in the 70s. It was when Frankenstein first came out and they went on tour. It was one of the top 3 concerts I've ever been to. They raised the roof that night in that bldg.. We love you Johnny Winters!!! You are a great and powerful soul, and a true blues and rock pioneer that cut another new path of music, and sound to the human ear.. God be with you always my friend. 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸💪💪🇺🇸🇺🇸✌️😎😇🙏

[@johna7661]

I saw Johnny and Edgar in Minneapolis, probly on that same tour. At one point between songs I hollard out : Rock an roll! . Edgar heard me and said: “ you wanna rock and roll ?” And lit off Johnny B. Good . One of my best life experiences,

[@jamesbenoit5252]

As for sideman, Johnny Winter bassist at Woodstock was Tommy Shanon, Texas legend and most famous as "Double Trouble" bass man for Stevie Ray Vaughan. Met him too, not too friendly 😄. Chris "Whipper" Layton, coolest rock/blues dude ever. Spoke to him for a good 20 minutes. I never ever mentioned SRV. I think he was relieved. During his "Arc Angels" era. Mid/late 90s.

[@robertgriffin7569]

IMHO, Best blues guitarist ever... definitely my all time favorite, RIP Johhny. ✌️❤️😁

[@davidgodley521]

'Johnny Winter And' was my favorite.

[@michaelmcdonald3057]

Very respectful doc about The Guitar Slinger. Loved him since the 70"s and saw him live often. As he began to fade more in health I wondered why he kept going. I first assumed it was for the money but then realized why. The Blues. R.I.P. Johnny.

[@howardderosier2190]

Johnny's music was introduced to me in 1970 I was 9yrs. The music and sound of that time were RAW, all ways like The slide, and Johnny was the King. We all miss him very much,and may never have a guitarist like him again. Rest with our star Johnny you earned it. God Bless Johnny and the Blues.

[@dextert8188]

Still Alive and Well was always my favorite song from JW....it speaks to me so much when I hear it....this man was a true bluesman with a good heart

[@stevenharten6201]

Back in the early 70's I bought all these albums. I was a real fan of Johnny Winter. I still have all his albums though not in great shape because i nearly wore them out listening to them.

[@peterjons3954]

The Johnny Winter And album is one of my essentials! I bought it when it first came out and listen to it all the time to this day. His version of Highway 61 on the Captured Live album is another favorite. Really, too many to list .And don't get me started on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!!

[@carlwyatt]

He was one of my biggest influences since I was 12 years old.. I love his music ever since.. That makes it 50 years :) I really miss him being around

[@televinv8062]

I don't care what anybody says. He was one of the best and deserves WAY MORE praise. I remember as great as SRV was, shock factor was muted because there was Johnny Winter in early 70's. And I got to see him once too!!! 🙏👍🙏👍

[@zivkovicable]

The two Muddy Waters albums Johnny Winter produced & played on are absolute masterpieces..."Hard Again" was the first Blues album I paid for with my own money when I was twelve. I still listen to it today, although i'm on my third vinyl copy now, i wore the first one out. .

[@simonvanderheijden432]

What happened to the second one?

[@zivkovicable]

@@simonvanderheijden432 Still playable, but not as mint as the third. I have a CD version too.

[@richardbartolo2890]

Johnny left a permanent impression on me for life. I watched his show at the Fillmore East when he was touring his Progressive blues experiment album. In an age (the 1960's) where looking unique was vogue, Being an albino with fleecy white hair and pink eyes set him apart from every other act. And his trio of Tommy Shannon & Uncle John Turner was a really tight package. I didn't know Johnny was on methadone most of his life. If the clinic he went to started him on methadone, Then they they didn't help him at all. They just speed up his death. That drug long term eats away your bone marrow, And after a few decades walking becomes difficult if not impossible. I now realize that's the reason Johnny went downhill physically. I always wondered why around the 1990's and later Johnny started to look much older and started sitting down when he played. His bone marrow was eaten away. I know a whole army of musicians who admire, respect, and regard Johnny as one of their top 1, 2 or 3 main influences. For me he was number 1.

[@chriskroll4166]

Have you ever read Johnny winter's book or seen the 90-minute documentary on him. 🤷

[@phlushphish793]

It wasn't the clinic, it was his manager. Whenever Johnny would sober up & start asking, "Where's the money?" he'd dope him up again. Kept him on methadone for 35 years! Luckily, Paul, as mentioned in the video (didn't know his name) noticed his friend was being slowly poisoned to death by his manager, stepped up & said 'I'm managing Johnny now! You're fired!' & weaned him off methadone by slowly emptying gel caps until they were empty. Check out 'Down & Dirty' video memoir. A radio DJ said the best thing to happen to Johnny was he got off drugs. At first, he did an interview where Johnny would only answer in one word sentences: "Yes. No." He told his manager, "I love Johnny. He's welcome back any time; but, I can't put this interview on the air!" The next year, off drugs, he was answering in complete sentences. The year after that, in full paragraphs. The year after that, he was telling lies!"

[@chriskroll4166]

@@phlushphish793 Exactly. Everything you said is in the documentary and is correct about weaning him off with empty gel capsules. The best thing that ever happened to Johnny was when the people around him started to actually care about him. 🙋

[@loilt5091]

His former manager, the sleazy weasel, Teddy Slatus, got him hooked on painkillers, after he broke his hip. Being legally blind, due to his albanism. Surrounded by Slatus slew of leeches, feeding off Johnny's fame & fortune, on the road, while drugged up & drinking. His slow decline in health & loss of his blinding, speed, fluidity & virtuosity, was obvious to those who truly knew his prime years. Thankfully, Paul Nelson rescued him, giving him due respect, in his latter days.

[@tgfabthunderbird1]

The man who introduced me to the blues...saw him several times, a musician beyond words.

[@gstlb]

I walked in on him performing at a small club in Houston way back when. I’ll never forget it.

[@thumbsaloft]

One of the absolute greatest ever, a true GUITAR GOD!

[@robertmceuen3630]

I think Johnny's band from Johnny Winter and... is his best work. The bass player is tremendous; some of the best bass lines I've ever heard. RIP Johnny. Thanks.

[@davidteller7681]

Randy Jo Hobbs

[@robertmceuen3630]

@@davidteller7681 On "Jumpin' Jack Flash" he is definetly hurryin' up. One of the best bass lines I've ever heard. I'm 70 and have been listening to R&R for at least 55 years, so that is saying something about Mr Hobbs bass playing.

[@TheAdventuresOfDougan]

I saw Johnny in concert at least a dozen times, the last one early January 2010 at a blues club in The Village in Lower Manhattan. I had every one of those albums too.

[@funkydellyc8419]

Nice..

[@vincentlussier8264]

I saw him play in Montreal three times! All three times he blew the roof off the joint!

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Johnny and Edgar are gifted.

[@SuperLoveandfaith]

Along with his awesome playing, Johnny was a fantastic blues singer and sang beautifully on ballads as well, particularly on his very early recordings.

[@rockerfromhk]

Johnny Winter and BB King were the best blues guitarists to me.

[@lawrencecarver4233]

I met Johnny Winter in a bar in Austin Texas and he was awesome he played that night and blew the door open

[@gregnewman2512]

First i thought that at any point, the narrator would try and sell me a reverse mortgage. But, great job people. Enjoyed this. RIP, Johnny Winter and Wilford Brimley, Jr.

[@RiverDocs]

LOL... thanks for watching!!

[@mchristr]

I saw Johnny at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco in the early 80's. It was a dinner show and my table was against the stage. I'm rarely in awe of celebrities but sitting four feet from his microphone stand was surreal. He'd been my guitar hero since junior high and I couldn't believe I was sitting there. What a amazing player he was.

[@glennscott2488]

Muddy Waters.." Champagne when I'm thirsty.. Reefer when I wanna get high" no one writes nor plays like muddy n johny... RIP brothers😎🤘

[@davidboysel4509]

I got the privilege of seeing him in Miami. Early 90s he came out of his poolside bungalow. 2 big guys carried him one under each arm. They got him to the stage put his guitar in his hands and then he played one of the greatest sets I've ever seen.❤❤❤

[@brianreynoldson1965]

Been a fan for 4 decades. My wife was never a fan of the blues, until I introduced her too the genius of Johnny Winter. When he headlined the Saskatoon Jazz Festival, it was our date with destiny. It was a magical night and two months later I read on the internet that Johnny had died on tour. My wife and I were crushed.

[@act.13.41]

Johnny was one of a kind. Truly talented.

[@guitarzan0515]

Thx for this! Johnny was incredible, his Tone and Style were unmistakable! RIP

[@RiverDocs]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@farber2]

In the 60's he was a great blues singer as well as a guitar player.

[@georgecovetskie6717]

You know how many young guitar players I turn on to Johnny that come back to me and say WOW, Johnny Winter is a totaly off the charts player ! It makes me smile. I said the same thing when I first listened to him back in the early 70's.

[@brucemarston5344]

Whether in rock’n role mode or pure delta blues, without a doubt he was one of the best if not the best blues guitarist ever. Still love those rolling guitar riffs after 50 years.

[@jonneet2126]

I "discovered Johnny Winter one day when I was in junior high school. I had a little money saved, and there was a xtore, Gov Mart, jyst up the hill from our house. They had a huge area with thousands of music albums opened for customers to try. I smoked a number and went there to find a great album from a new artist to me. I came upon the album, Second Winter, which had a striking purple cover photo if Johnny playing his guitar. I found it was the only three sided album I ever heard of too. I put it on the record player and was totally blown away with Johnny's guitar playing, and loved his slide work on Highway 61 Revisited. I bought that album and became a lifelong fan of JW! Bought all his albums. Another top favorite was his live Johnny Winter And album with Rick Derringer. I only got to see Johnny live one timd, at a club in south Seattle called Montana's. Also saw Robin Tower there twice. Johnny remake Ned to be one of my top guitar players along with Jimi Hendrix, Dianne Allman, Stevie Ray,. Thanks for this video!!

[@RiverDocs]

You're welcome and thank you for your comment and watching!

[@pualdupvandoff8199]

@ Jon Neet Johnny was so good, especially in the earlier years, before the life really took it's toll on him. I have proly 80% of everything he recorded. The thing is, Johnny could play a lot of different styles, but stuck to blues rock cause it was his bread and butter. You can hear little pieces of it sometimes in some of his earlier stuff. There's some country in there (he credits Merle Travis as a big influence). Songs like "Love Song to Me". Also lots of blue eyed soul. One of his earliest recordings is an obvious James Brown nod. I got to see him a few times. I believe we were at the same show at Montana's, as I only remember him playing there once. (Saw Trower there too😏) If so, you got to see him in his prime. He had Jon Paris on bass, late 80's or early 90's, when (I think) he was playing at his best. Johnny really was on fire that night. Just really, really good. Never forget that, because I remember they came back for an encore, and he broke into "Wildwood Flower" an old country style instrumental that I'd never heard him play. He was tearing it up, when some meat head down front jumped up and down with a beer in his hand. The image of the stream of beer flying out of the bottle, arcing up in the air almost as if in slow motion, and then landing SPLASH across Johnny and his guitar, is frozen in my mind. Johnny stopped dead in the middle of the song "we play music for you, and you throw beer on us? Fuck you" He flipped the finger and walked off stage. Just shook my head and walked out. Couldn't believe it..

[@jonneet2126]

That was the show I was at! Some dipshit threw beer on him.

[@user-gh3dh4ee4g]

RIP - one of the best

[@allorganicplanting]

Johnny winters was great. And his music still lives here on earth and it's amazing. Now he's playing his Incredible style of music blues in heaven. And they all are Digging his Incredible Style of guitar Playing.

[@tobinharris8107]

Love Love Love Johnny. A true original and not afraid to be different. So glad I got to see him a few times; he will always inspire. God Bless him.

[@gregprice4365]

Jonny and rory gallagher are my inspirations for my lyric writing wrote one for johnny he never saw called, inquisition blues humor and blues that was johnny there will never be anyone like him a true original

[@edwardcowardin4014]

Saw Johnny twice not long before he passed away here at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Someone helped him out on stage, sat him down in a chair, handed him his guitar and he knocked my socks off both times!!!! Amazing!!! RIP JOHNNY 🙏

[@billyshane3804]

Johnny Winter - Champion & Legend RIP

[@glenkepic3208]

Wow ! Fan since Johnny Winter and Live in '71. Bunch of titles here and dig all of them. Just got an Epi Firebird, I think of Johnny Winter everytime i pick it up.

[@johnny-r]

I got turned onto Johnny as a teenager. We were all listening to "Captured Live," and since that day 40+ years ago, I have been in awe of this man. The "Sweet Papa John" solo has been my favorite solo since that time - I never heard anything better. I've played guitar all these years, but never like Johnny.

[@samgamgee42]

I was 14 when my brother brought home the album "Johnny Winter 'And Live" (about 1973)...I was never the same ...

[@JoshuaRoberts-kq9cs]

Without appearing rude or uneducated this is the first time I have heard of Johnny Winter but I sure as hell will pester my music store to find his music for me

[@onazram1]

Saw Johnny play many many times! His first album "Progressive Blues Experiment" and "Live And" with Bobby Caldwell playing drums, who was only 19 at the time, are my favorites....

[@patricklee780]

"Stilll Alive and Well" is my favorite such a great display of Rock and Blues...

[@conrad7668]

he's my master mechanic on slide guitar since over 40 years!

[@allanrussack2844]

A beautiful and heartfelt commentary about a fully deserving legend. Thanks for compiling this video!

[@lennyluzitano8920]

Johnny Winter..came into my young life on a Friday night...when my mom told me I could pick out any album I wanted..I saw for my first time...a Johnny Winter album...wow..when I played it at home...I was amazed..at his melodies slide blues playing...i fell in love with .my blues hero...I was only 14 years old..

[@stephanietribuna8591]

LOVED the They Only Come Out at Night album back in the day! Still love it to this day. Nothing better! RIP Johnny.

[@jchow5966]

Johnny Winter - is an amazing album!!!!!!💟

[@sheilabrennan4481]

Yup... just listened to it again after years... phenomenal!

[@christrudell7966]

Seen Johnny Winter at the Canadian World Music Festival in 1979. Unbelievable band

[@randysiler7458]

I grew up in Houston in the 60’s & 70’s. Mr Johnny Winter was the best along with ZZ Top. I will listen to their music forever.

[@guybross1200]

Always loved Johnny saw him twice woodstock & once at the Tarrytown theater in n.y. in 1996 only 900 seats there. He did not look well they said not to use flash on pics. because of his eyes, no more jumping around, they sat him on a stool, but he played his ass off at least 1 and a half hours and the only thing he sang in to the mic was{ YEAH BABY]. R.I.P.