Cult Musician Wilko Johnson "So Alive" as Death Approaches

A 70s star dying of pancreatic cancer performs final "farewell concerts" for fans in the UK. Eileen Hsieh reports.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Entertainment

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Celebrity, Music

People

Wilko Johnson

Places

United Kingdom

Transcript

STORY: Vigorous, energetic, Wilko Johnson is here to give it all. The cult musician from the 70s beat band Dr. Feelgood has embarked on a "farewell tour" for fans in the UK, after learning he is dying of pancreatic cancer. With probably less than one year to live, the 65-year-old is now becoming more aware of his everyday surroundings. SOUNDBITE: Wilko Johnson, musician, saying (English) "It just makes everything much more intense, you know. Just walking down the street can be pretty good man, you think 'woah I am walking down the street - it's great!'. // everybody's going to die but generally it's something for the future, you put it off. // But when you've more or less been given a date (laughs) it makes things a bit different." SOUNDBITE: Wilko Johnson, musician, saying (English) "You get on stage and suddenly all of everyday life and everything you have got to leave that behind and play so it's a weird thing to be doing anyway so I think it's pretty much the same now as always - it's a good kick." For many of Johnson's fans, the eccentric punk rock star will always be one of Britain's "national treasures", as one newspaper affectionately dubbed him. SOUNDBITE: Hilary Robertson, fan, saying (English) "It's going to be sad but who knows when any of us have got our number coming up and what a great way to go out."