'He was a lovely, lovely guy'

Barrie Wilson, recalled by Robin Trower

(From a December 2001 interview in 20th Century Guitar ... read the whole text here)

Was B.J. Wilson amazing from the beginning?

He was very, very gifted. He joined us when he was sixteen. He was a couple of years younger than us, and he was already very good.

The truly great drum losses from the UK were Bonham, Keith Moon and B.J. - an irreplaceable cat as a player. What were his beginnings before he played with you?

He had a drum kit, he must've done some bits and pieces, but I think we were the first proper bunch of musicians that he played with.

I doubt they'll ever be another Procol Harum, I couldn't see how there would be without a B.J. Wilson.

No, this is right, isn't it. He orchestrated the drums. He was a lovely, lovely guy. A sweetheart. Very, very creative.

Well he made the first Joe Cocker record happen, A Little Help From My Friends, all that is him.

That's right. He just blows his way through stuff. He was so inventive.

One of the querants here is Jimmy Vivino, a great guitarist who's played in Al Kooper's band The Rekooperators (on his excellent live album Soul of a Man, and another AK solo album Rekooperation), as well as his own solo album Do What Now?" and is the house guitarist in the Max Weinberg Seven, the band for the Conan O'Brien Late Night TV Show: his discography is here. Nice that he's so clued-up and admiring about matters Procolesque (thanks, Joan)

 BJ's page at BtP