Wilko Johnson

One of the great guitarists of the 1970s, Wilko Johnson bridged the chasm separating hard-driving blues-rock and tense post-punk. On the records he made with Dr. Feelgood, the pub rock band he co-founded with singer Lee Brilleaux and bassist John B. Sparks, he showcased a visceral fingerstyle technique that felt as aggressive as a punch and as wiry as a boxer. Johnson's restless attack is a large reason Dr. Feelgood's revival of British blues didn't feel nostalgic: his blend of rhythm and lead guitar gave the band a pulse and opened the doors for non-blues-based guitarists to ...