I saw in the Guardian yesterday that guitarist Wilko Johnson has died.

I do remember reading during the 1970s about the most famous band he was in, Dr Feelgood. This was in music papers that had a London bias.

In many ways the band’s sound was against the times – of the early to mid-70s at any rate, being guitar and drum based and eschewing any Prog Rock or Glam Rock tendencies. They did, however, point to the revolution that was punk.

They did manage to have a top ten hit in 1978 with Milk and Alcohol but the first time I saw them (on television) was, I think, many years later (though it is possible I witnessed the original Old Grey Whistle Test appearance) in one of those retrospective shows the BBC is so fond of performing this song.

Wilko certainly had a stage presence.

Dr Feelgood: Roxette

John Peter Wilkinson (Wilko Johnson:) 12/7/1947-21/11/22. So it goes.

Marie Fredriksson, half of Swedish pop/rock duo Roxette, died earlier this week after a long illness occasioned by a brain tumour from which she had seemed to recover but which unfortunately recurred.

Roxette’s œuvre was one of those which you recognise when you hear them but maybe can’t quite put your finger on fully. Or is that just my age? Their songs tended however to be accomplished and reasonably well-polished.

This one was a no 1 all over the rest of Europe but reached only no 4 in the UK.

Roxette: Joyride

Gun-Marie Fredriksson: 30/5/1958–9/12/2019. So it goes.