one for fillmoreNYC! - Johnny Winter rig run down

[NY Chief]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFAKO2Vjjvo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fillmore nyc]

Thanks for posting that, bro... Its a bit depressing for me cause time (or Johnny himself) has not been kind to the man.

He'll always be THE boss of high energy blues guitar to me, though... he's my Jeff Beck, EVH, whatever.

Meeting Johnny, Muddy and James Cotton when they played the Beacon Theater, and actually partying with the three of them (it was Muddy's birthday) was as good as it ever gets for me... a memory Ill always treasure.

[NY Chief]

Yeah, I thought the same thing but figured you still might want to see it, filly.

Sounds like you had a great time at the Beacon! Wow, how long ago was "The Beacon"?

[fillmore nyc]

Sounds like you had a great time at the Beacon! Wow, how long ago was "The Beacon"?

That would've been around '80 or '81 when I saw them play there. I was heavy into photography at the time, and had pics of JW from all over the place... Central Park, the Pier, Malibu, Lone Star, Felt Forum, My Fathers Place... you name it, I went there.

Anyway, my GF at the time suggested (after the show) that I get the pics (all nice 5x7's and sitting in my car) and try to get backstage. since I did know Johnnys stage manager, "Max" who I met at Malibu in Lido Beach, and had shown him all my pics, which he loved..

So I got the pics, went to the backstage door, where there were like a zillion fans trying to get a glimpse.
Door opens, some dude I never saw before sticks his head out, and I yell out to him "Hey!! Is Max around?? Tell him the guy from Malibu with the pics says "hey".

He goes back in, and like half the people there were like "yeah, dude... YOU'LL get in... sure you will".

Not 3 minutes later, the door pops open again, and there's Max. He says "hey, man... come on in", much to the crowds amazement.

Long story (shortened), we get escorted like 3 or 4 flights of stairs up, and I met Susan Winter, JW's wife who is also a photographer. Showed her the pics and asked if I could at least just say "hey" to Johnny.

Im standing in a large room, with a doorway at one end, and she walks in there, and as the door opens, I see Johnny, Muddy Waters, James Cotton and some other people I dont recognize sitting around the room... hearts thumping, needless to say.

Maybe a minute later, door opens again, Johnny comes walking over to me and my GF and says "I heard you want to show me some pictures... come on in... its Muddys birthday, by the way".

Well, we hung out for like a half hour, looking at the pics, which thrilled Johnny no end. At one point, Susan said to Johnny "we DO have to get downtown later" to which Johnny replied "are you KIDDING?? These pictures make me wanna suck my OWN dick"!!!
I kid you not.

We looked at a shitload of pics, drank some Michelob beer, sung "Happy Birthday" to Muddy Waters and had birthday cake with the bunch of them.

Upon leaving, Johnny shook my hand with both of his hands, and thanked me for being such a huge fan and showing him the pics.

Bottom line?? I coulda left there, gotten run over by a bus, and I woulda died a happy, content young man.
That shit was over 30 years ago, and on the occasion that I run into my old GF, we still talk about that night. It was awesome.

[NY Chief]

Super cool story, filly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yngwie308]

Second Winter with it's three sided double album still absolutely rules on vinyl, haven't played my copy or any lps for at least 30+ years but still remember that one, brings chills..!!
yngwie308