Johnny:  Thanks for the Blues Matters review of my CD, Guitar Slinger; I loved the contrast with Kid Ramos whose massive biceps scare me to death!

Dave:  How did you get started?

Johnny:  My mother won the bingo at Ashington Central Social Club and she bought me my first guitar and I never looked back.

Dave:  With all due respect, your life looks as if it has been a long, hard road?

Johnny:  Yeah, in fact John Mayall’s album of that title got me right into the blues and it has stayed with me ever since.

Dave:  But you haven’t always been a professional musician.

Johnny:  No, I was a builder with a construction firm in Ponteland and I remember building a dry stone wall at Darras Hall.

Dave:  I live there Paul and I hate to tell you but it’s no longer standing.

Johnny: Oh s**t, never mind, as I was saying I worked during the day and at night played the clubs; my favourite was the Lampglass in Ashington run by my former teacher, Doug Cadwell who encouraged me a lot.  I feel sorry for up and coming singers and guitarists today because the venues are no longer there.

Dave:  What is the best thing about being a well-known blues guitarist?

Johnny:  I no longer have to worry about the audience not liking blues!  Also, I couldn’t imagine my life now without the blues, it would take a lot of re-adjustment to do something else.

Dave:  Who do you rate most on the blues scene?

Johnny:  Mainly the black Americans as they’re the most genuine; there is an arrogance amongst some of the white performers over there that I don’t like.

Dave:  Are their plans for another solo album?

Johnny:  Sadly, no because sales don’t justify it but its like you said in your review, it hasn’t had the coverage and, therefore, the recognition.

Dave:  That’s a great shame as there are some great tracks, such as No More Trouble, which are classics of the genre.  And Rod Demick’s vocals are sensational, it’s a pity we don’t hear more of him in the Kingsnakes.

Johnny:  Yeah, but I love the current band and Paul is a great leader and a brilliant harpist, so all-in-all its going well and the long, hard road has been well worth the travel.