New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ 45s official website) With one of the first Wilko Johnson signature Telecasters off the production line, 16 year old Wilko protégé Tom Hamilton-Hughes is hitting the road at the end of this month with his band - The 45s.
The 45s are fresh from supporting Wilko on his farewell tour, where Tom had the ultimate honour of playing Wilko's own Telecaster in front of an adoring audience after breaking a string during The 45s set at Glasgow's 02 ABC. On going to the back of the stage to grab his own spare guitar, Wilko's manager stepped forward and handed him Wilko's own iconic red and black Telecaster to finish his set while Wilko watched from the side of the stage.
The 45s will take their raucous R & B to Fitzherberts, the Brighton pub where Elton John watched The Strypes before signing them to his management company on Thursday 25th July. This will be followed by a gig in London's Camden Town when The 45s play the Zoo Zoo Club at the Blues Kitchen on Friday 26 July. The band then head back north to play at Glasgow's Merchant City Festival on Sunday 28th July.
The connection between Wilko and Tom began a couple of years ago when Tom blagged his way backstage at a Wilko gig in Kendal near Tom's home in Carlisle. At 14 years old Wilko assumed Tom was a starstruck fan looking for an autograph. When he invited Tom to ask him a question, rather than the usual fan talk Tom queried a detail of Wilko's playing style. Wilko then placed his Telcaster in Tom's hands and said "go on show me what you can do?" The rest is now history, with Tom and his band going on to support Wilko on his farewell tour. Plans are now afoot for The 45s to play for Wilko at his local pub, the Railway hotel in Southend where the pub sign is now a portrait of the great man himself!
Wilko has said of The 45s, "I was sent a CD of theirs and I thought it was great. They remind me of how I was myself at that age."
The 45s and Wilko will also share a stage this August Bank Holiday Monday when they both play the Great British R & B festival in Colne, Lancashire. A Wilko/Tom guitar jam isn't out of the question and this time they will have matching guitars!
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