The road: Johnny was simply smoking Wednesday night at B.B. King's in Times Square (photo here) and played Friday night at Rams Head Onstage in Annapolis, Maryland. He's there for one more show tonight. Click here for ticket information.
On the Web: Here's a recent story from the Halifax (Canada) Daily News: "Old Man Winter Rocks On."
On the road: Johnny's show tonight at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts, is sold out. After this evening's gig Johnny will slip across the border for a one-nighter in Halifax, N.S., Canada (also sold out), before returning to the U.S. for his Wednesday (Jan. 23) appearance at B.B. King's in Times Square. After B.B.'s, Johnny gets a day off before heading down to Annapolis, Maryland, for two nights (Jan. 25-26) at Rams Head On Stage. Click here for ticket information.
2008: Year of the Firebird! The folks at Nashville-based Gibson Guitars have announced plans for 15 new models this year, and one of them pays tribute to Johnny's signature axe. The Gibson Custom Shop Johnny Winter Signature Firebird V is a beautiful re-creation of the iconic 1963 instrument that has been readily identified with Johnny for decades. Johnny was given a chance to check out the prototype at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in late July, and suffice it to say that Gibson has done a remarkable job reproducing all of the tiny, intricate details of Johnny's actual axe.
On the Web: A killer album of Johnny photos can be found right here.
On the Web: In May of 1969, less than two weeks after Jimi Hendrix's infamous Toronto drug bust, Johnny, Jimi and Stephen Stills found themselves jamming in a New York club. "He wanted to play the songs he grew up on: Freddie King, Earl King, and Muddy Waters," Johnny told Charles Cross, the author of Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix. "When I played with him, I deferred and let Jimi play lead."
According to Cross' book:
The jam lasted until three in the morning, at which point Jimi suggested they move to the Record Plant. That night he cut Guitar Slim's "The Things I Used to Do," using Winter on bottleneck guitar.
Take a listen by clicking right here!
And don't forget: Johnny's Live Bootleg Series, Vol. I is now on sale! Johnny, who produced this release, has teamed up with Friday Music and plans to open his personal vaults for a special series of archival releases. Click here to order.
On the road: Johnny will play a one-nighter at Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut, tonight. Showtime is 8 p.m., and you can find tickets here.
Johnny will then be off a few days before hitting the road and rounding out January with the following shows: Dexter's at Riverdale, N.J. (Jan. 16); Kowloon at Saugus, Mass., where Johnny will be joined by friend and former bandmate James Montgomery (Jan. 17); The Stone Church in Newmarket, N.H. on Jan. 18 (see interview here); Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Mass. (Jan. 19); Rebecca Cohn Art Centre in Halifax, N.S., Canada (Jan. 21); B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City (Jan. 23); and Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, Md. (Jan. 25-26). To see a complete list of scheduled dates, click here.
UPDATE: Looks like the Newmarket, Fall River and Halifax performances are sold out! Check with the venues to see if any additional tickets might become available.
For your reading pleasure: "A Winter Tale of Hot Blues at Clearwater." Published in the Elgin (Ill.) Courier-News.
Johnny to play Chicago Blues Festival: In what promises to be one of the year's highlights, Johnny will make an opening-night appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival on Thursday, June 5. His performance, which will celebrate the legacy of Muddy Waters (and will also include harp master James Cotton), will mark Johnny's first time at the storied festival since since the inaugural event in 1984, according to the Mayor's Office of Special Events.
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