Wilko Johnson amateur astronomer!

[Gasman]

Hi guys

Just watching an excellent program on BBC1 about Dr Feelgood`s Wilko Johnson reflecting on his impending death through illness and it turns out he was an amateur  astronomer with rather a nice set up in his own observatory. Seems a remarkable guy with an equally remarkable outlook on life given the cards life has dealt him. Quite an inspiration really .

Unfortunately you don`t see a great deal of his observatory but interesting all the same.

Imagine...The Ecstacy of Wilko Johnson - BBC1

Steve

[Pompey Monkey]

Hi guys

Just watching an excellent program on BBC1 about Dr Feelgood`s Wilko Johnson reflecting on his impending death through illness and it turns out he was an amateur  astronomer with rather a nice set up in his own observatory. Seems a remarkable guy with an equally remarkable outlook on life given the cards life has dealt him. Quite an inspiration really .

Unfortunately you don`t see a great deal of his observatory but interesting all the same.

Imagine...The Ecstacy of Wilko Johnson - BBC1

Steve

Ta for the heads-up. I'll look it up on iPlayer.

[sheeprug]

Hi guys

Just watching an excellent program on BBC1 about Dr Feelgood`s Wilko Johnson reflecting on his impending death through illness and it turns out he was an amateur  astronomer with rather a nice set up in his own observatory. Seems a remarkable guy with an equally remarkable outlook on life given the cards life has dealt him. Quite an inspiration really .

Unfortunately you don`t see a great deal of his observatory but interesting all the same.

Imagine...The Ecstacy of Wilko Johnson - BBC1

Steve

Yes - very enjoyable in interesting program about a rock man with a lot more to him than meets the eye.  I never really got into Dr. Feelgood, but it makes me want to look again.  Some great live clips too!  

Sad though that not everyone with cancer has his 'luck'.  For most it's a hard grim downward spiral. 

SR. 

[MarsG76]

Thanks for the heads up

[laudropb]

I watched this and although very sad it was also very interesting.

[MAN or ASTROMAN]

Saw it last night,and what a great programme it was!

 The only 'downside' was the film being introduced by Alan Yentob!

 However,the film itself was extremely interesting.

 As SR said,there's a LOT more to Wilko that meets the eye- as a 'Roots Rock 'n' Roller' from Canvey Island,(no slur on his birthplace),you'd expect him to have a rather 'Basic' approach to most things-NOT!

 He's extremely cultured,and even studied old Icelandic at Uni!

 He's been a Teacher,and wanted to be a Fine Artist.

  Then there's his Astronomy.

   His Obsy was fitted out with a Meade LX,and there was a 5-6" Refractor in the background in some shots.

  The thing I liked about the film was that maybe 95% of the talking was by Wilko himself.

 The images were wide ranging,well chosen,and quite pertinent to Wilko's ongoing monologue of his life,and Cancer journey.

   And YES-there was some great footage of Dr Feelgood,and also his more recent output-MAN,HE CAN STILL PLAY!

     WATCH IT AND LEARN.

[Mick J]

Directed by Julien Temple and a bit dreamy in places, really enjoyed it.  Always thought Wilco would have made a great Dr Who.

Edit:  Just found a trailer on youtube  (assume it's ok to link - mods ?)

[jason.p]

Just watching it on catch up. Lovely film about an extraordinary man, an inspiration to all. I'm just now recovering from a stroke and went through a patch of feeling sorry for myself. How Wilko is approaching his certain and imminent death is truly humbling. Live for the day, a lesson for all of us.

Good on yer Wilko.......keep on rockin.

[Highburymark]

For punk era veterans like me, Dr Feelgood were one of the standout bands of the mid-70s - merging R&B and pub rock with a punk attitude. They even broke into the charts with 'Milk and Alcohol' - in a choice of white or brown vinyl, if I remember correctly. Saw them play at a pub in Oxford as a 16 year old - they were terrifying.