Born John Peter Wilkinson in Canvey Island, Wilko Johnson is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor, icon of the British music scene, and treasured East Anglian.
After graduating from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 1970s, he joined Essex rhythm and blues group, Pigboy Charlie Band, who soon evolved into Dr. Feelgood.
Dr. Feelgood were the vanguard of the British pub rock movement, and Wilko’s innovative style and stage presence were the driving force behind the band’s early success. He became famous for his distinctive finger technique and a choppy strumming action that Wilko has described as “the stab”. In 1980 he joined Ian Dury’s group, The Blockheads.
In 2009, Wilko featured in Oil City Confidential, a film documentary by celebrated director Julien Temple, which explored Dr. Feelgood’s emergence and success in the 1970s. His acting prowess was spotted and led to his role of executioner Ser Ilyn Payne in Game of Thrones.
In early 2013, it emerged that Wilko had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. However, a physician and fan of Wilko’s referred him to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where an oncologist declared his condition operable, although with only a slim chance of success. With little to lose, Wilko agreed to go ahead with the radical procedure.
In October 2014, while receiving the “Icon Award” at the Q music Awards, Wilko declared that he was cancer-free.
Professor Martin said: “Wilko Johnson exemplifies the pioneering creativity, talent, drive and dedication required to achieve success in this most demanding of professions.
“As an iconic East Anglian, he will be an inspirational role model for all our students, and of course, particularly our students of music.”
Having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, Suzi Quatro is a global rock legend. Born in Detroit, she moved to England in the 1970s during which time she released a string of hits including Can the Can, 48 Crash and Devil Gate Drive, each of which sold more than 1 million copies.
In her native USA, she was perhaps best known for playing Leather Tuscadero in Happy Days, and she developed her acting career further in the 1980s, appearing in episodes of Minder, and Dempsey and Makepeace.
In 1986, she appeared as Annie Oakley in a West End stage production of Annie Get Your Gun. And in 1991, she performed the title role in the musical Tallulah Who?, which told the life story of actress Tallulah Bankhead.
In 2013, Suzi performed in America for the first time in over 30 years, at the Detroit Music Awards, where she received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to her by her sister, Patti. She continues to perform live, playing at over 100 shows worldwide each year.
Her charity work includes active participation in the ‘Rock Against Cancer’ campaign.
Professor Martin said: “Our University has enjoyed links with Suzy for some time, and she has expressed an interest in collaborating with us on a number of projects, specifically our Popular Music undergraduate degree course, and our ongoing work in Music Therapy.
“As an adopted East Anglian, and a globally-recognised, pioneering talent in a previously male-dominated arena, Suzi will be an inspirational role model to our students.”
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