Wilko’s health battle continues

Wilko Johnson has revealed he knew he was on the road to full recovery when he suffered a bout of depression.

He’s battled the illness all his life – but it was absent during his struggle with cancer, which had been expected to kill him until he underwent pioneering surgery in 2014.

Johnson, who returned to action earlier this year, tells the Irish Examiner: “It’s funny. Last night I started to think about my wife, who passed away 10 years ago.

“I said to myself, ‘What’s the matter with you? You ought to be happy you’re still here.’ But it doesn’t work like that, does it?”

Even though he’s on his Still Kickin’ tour of the UK, he hasn’t yet fully got over the 3kg tumour that was removed in an 11-hour operation.

He says: “With the first comeback show, I distinctly remember thinking, ‘Blimey, this is bloody tiring.’ I was still recovering. Actually, I am still recovering.

“I find it much easier now – every day, I feel stronger. You wonder where will it end… Will I end up feeling like Superman?”

Johnson completes his Still Kickin’ run in July, then hits the road with Status Quo in November.

UK tour remaining dates

May 29: Dublin O2 Academy

May 31: Roryfest, Ballyshannon

Jun 06: Lunar Festival, Tanworth-in-Arden

Jul 30: Cambridge Folk Festival

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.