WILKO Johnson is living proof that old rockers don't die...they just lose a little hair.

The founder member of Dr Feelgood, who went his solo way in 1977 citing "musical differences", has hardly changed otherwise.

His enthusiasm, verve and obsession with hard rock rhythm and blues remains undiminished.

He slaps lead guitar and, using little dialogue, hits you with tune after tune.

But Wilko Johnson has a secret weapon guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat during one of his charged sets.

Bass-player Norman Watt-Roy may have also lost some hair but none of his flair from the days when he was with Ian Dury as one of teh Blockheads.

Watt-Roy must be one of the best bassists around the live circuit, often playing lead to Johnson's manic strumming and strutting.

Also backed by drummer Monti, who showed great love and enthusiasm for this purist R 'n' B set, Wilko set about packing a record number of recordings into the short evening at the Huntingdon Hall, Worcester last Saturday.

A disappointing but nevertheless enthusiastic crowd heard a LP-length version of Don't Let Your Daddy Know, in which Johnson and Watt-Roy fed off each other's solos.

And in the classic Back In The Night, Johnson reclaimed his crown as the

king of punk R 'n' B.

You can't often say that a guitarist, bass player and drummer, with a couple of amps and a PA, can make such a powerful sound. Yet it's in that raw simplicity that Johnson excels and Watt-Roy is able to pluck the last bending note out of his fretless bass. Good R 'n' B is good for R & R....

JOHN MURPHY