WILKO JOHNSON has no intention of dying on stage.
The Dr Feelgood guitarist has been gigging as much as he can since he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2012.
Although he realises many people would consider it to be the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll death to pass away whilst performing, Wilko intends to hang up his guitar when he feels too unwell to play to the best of his ability.
When quizzed on whether he would like to go out on stage, Wiko told BANG Showbiz: “My dear friend (The Deviants singer) Mick Farren did that last year; no I don’t think I would like to do that. I’ve decided I’m going to carry on playing while I’m still fit to do it. Once I start getting sick, I’m not going to do anymore. I don’t want people to see me like that.”
Instead of worrying about his disease, Wilko’s diagnosis has given his career a new chapter and he was overjoyed to get the chance to work with his friend and idol Roger Daltrey on their album ‘Going Back Home’ - which features re-recorded versions of Wilko’s songs with The Who singer on vocals.
However, one side-effect of his tumour is that it is hindering his guitar playing on stage.Wilko - who performed at ‘An Evening with Suggs’ last week to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK - explained: “Since I got diagnosed, it’s certainly raised my profile. It’s been a bit baffling for me I was supposed to be dead in October, I’m not dead, I’m still going and so far I haven’t suffered any ill-effects. I’ve got this big lump which sticks out. When I’m on stage my guitar kind of rocks on it, and I’ve spent years with it resting on my hips. I’ve just got back from a tour of Japan with Roger, it’s all sold out. I love Japan and it’s just great to be doing gigs, especially when I think I shouldn’t even be here at all.”
