Special guest performers have been announced for the Southend run of Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’Roll, the acclaimed biographical play with live music celebrating the life of Dr Feelgood co-founder Wilko Johnson.
The production arrives at the Palace Theatre, Southend from 12 to 17 October as part of its UK tour, returning the story of the Canvey Island-born rock pioneer to his home county.
Opening night will feature appearances from Simon Johnson of Eight Rounds Rapid, who is Wilko Johnson’s son, and Norman Watt-Roy, who performed alongside Wilko in both Ian Dury and the Blockheads and the Wilko Johnson Band.
A post-show Q&A will also take place following the first performance, featuring writer Jonathan Maitland and Dr Charlie Chan, the doctor whose diagnosis overturned Wilko’s original prognosis and gave him nine additional years of life.
Further guest appearances throughout the week will include Billy Bragg, punk legends Ruts DC, Nine Below Zero, Johnny Squirrel, Malcolm Wilkinson, Jeff Chapman and Steve “West” Weston.
The Southend engagement coincides with the 50th anniversary of Stupidity, Dr Feelgood’s landmark live album, which became the first live album to debut at number one in the UK charts when it was released in October 1976.
Simon Johnson said, “I remember Suggs saying ‘the great thing about Wilko is he just kept on going’. After Dr Feelgood’s heyday, my dad persisted playing pubs and clubs, supporting a family on what is (not so affectionately) known as the ‘toilet circuit’. He later returned to the bigger stages, attracting new audiences via Julien Temple’s Oil City Confidential. This led to being cast in Game of Thrones. Then cancer thrust him into the spotlight as a stoic national treasure. Now, four years dead, a play about his life is going on tour. He just won’t f**k off. It’s pretty good.’’
Billy Bragg said, ”As a big fan of the Feelgoods and a local Essex lad, I’m very excited to be appearing as a special guest with the cast of ‘Wilko’ at the Palace Theatre in Southend. Wilko’s unique rhythm/lead guitar dynamic was a huge influence on my own ‘chop and clang’ style of playing and to be performing his songs in sight of Canvey Island is a real honour.”
Dennis Greaves from Nine Below Zero said, “When I saw Dr Feelgood on the Old Grey Whistle Test on March 14, 1975 my life changed forever. The next day I formed a band. As big fans of Wilko and Dr Feelgood, it’s a great honour for Mark Feltham and I to perform at Wilko’s play in his hometown of Southend and to keep the legacy and influence of Dr Feelgood alive.”
Segs and Leigh from Ruts DC said, “Wilko was a brilliant, exciting original songwriter and musician who changed many lives. To see and to hear him play was an experience unlike any other. Words like ‘legend’, ‘genius’ and ‘hero’ are overused but Wilko was all these and more. It’s an absolute honour to be a small part of this wonderful play.”
Written by Jonathan Maitland and directed by Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll tells the extraordinary story of the influential guitarist, songwriter and occasional actor, charting his career from Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury and the Blockheads to his appearance in Game of Thrones.
The production features live music and stars Georgina Field, Jon House, David John, Lara Lemon and Johnson Willis as Wilko.
Jonathan Maitland said, “Wilko’s is one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll stories ever told and his songs are some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll ever recorded. Even so, when I first read the play to him at his home in Southend five years ago, none of us could have imagined how much his story would go on to connect with audiences. My only regret is that he’s not around to see this tour happen but I know, for sure, that he would have been absolutely thrilled.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
