Wilko Johnson: Album is a ‘dream’

Wilko Johnson admits it’s a ”dream” to make an album with Roger Daltrey because he’s ”supposed to be dead”.

The 66-year-old singer – who announced he had terminal pancreatic cancer in January 2013 – has teamed up with Roger to create ‘Going Back Home’, and he insists music has helped him with his illness.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: ”It’s been an amazing year for me. To still be alive after I’m supposed to be dead and making an album with Roger Daltrey is a dream. It has really helped sustain me.

”I’ve been a manic depressive all through my life, going up and down. There have been dark nights of the soul and all that sort of stuff.

”Now I’m thinking, ‘F***ing hell, you’re alive, what more do you want?’ The basic feeling I have now is better than the basic feeling I’ve had before in my life. I like being alive so much more.”

The former Dr. Feelgood guitarist – who was told he’d unlikely live a year after he refused chemotherapy – believes his determination has encouraged other people suffering with cancer.

He explained: ”People with cancer or people who know someone with cancer have told me they’ve been inspired.

”I’ve been getting all this mail and people come up and shake my hand. They seem to care about me which is very, very touching.”

Roger, while addressing Wilko, adds: ”When they realise what’s happening to you, they drop their egos and become human beings.”

‘Going Back Home’ will be released on March 24.