Flying across the pond for a Florida tour this April is the legacy Will Johns. While you may not have heard of him, his extended family are rock icons. Eric Clapton and George Harrison were both husbands of his Auntie, his Mother’s sister Pattie Boyd. Although he does proclaim that he is a self taught guitarist, the impetus was Eric Clapton, as he often stayed at his country home during his youth. Johns was born in London to actress Paula Boyd and record producer Andy Johns.
Johns grew up in a musical family and was first exposed to musical instruments when visiting record studios where his father, Andy Johns, was a record producer. Some of John’s earliest memories revolve around the smell of electricity and music equipment emanating from the studios his father worked in.
During his youth, Johns’s parents, Andy Johns and Paula Boyd (sister of Pattie Boyd), struggled with substance addiction and alcoholism, leading his uncle Eric Clapton and aunt Pattie to nearly foster Johns. Johns visited Clapton and Pattie Boyd’s house, “Hurtwood Edge”, regularly on weekends and holidays, taking advantage of Clapton’s recording studio to learn to play the drums. Hurtwood Edge was like a second home to the young Johns who continued to get exposure to musical instruments during his frequent visits. Early one morning when Johns was playing the drums, Clapton suggested; “don’t you think it’s time you learned to play a proper musical instrument?” Clapton proceeded to show him the opening riffs to Crossroads and Bad Love, but then let Johns learn the remaining parts of the songs on his own. Johns continued to learn guitar teaching himself his uncle’s songs. Johns was given his first guitar, a Fender Stratocaster, at age fifteen by his father.
At an early age, Johns was between finishing school and living with his uncle or moving to Hollywood in hopes of starting an entertainment career. John chose the latter of the two options, but his entertainment dream did not come to fruition in the U.S. Returning back to England, Johns attended college in Oxford to pursue a performing arts course where he supported himself by performing in the town center.
Will has performed alongside music luminaries including his uncle Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), Nile Rodgers (Chic), Jack Bruce (Cream), Glenn Hughes, Dennis Chambers and Terry Reid just to name a few. With his own Blues Daddy show he has played European festivals, sold out club dates and in 2023 performed in Florida. As a member of the legacy shows The Music of Cream and The Cream of Clapton he has toured the USA, Canada and Europe.
Will Johns Florida Tour Dates:
March 30th – Judson’s Live, Orlando
April 7th – 9th – Paradise Bar & Grill, Pensacola
April 12th – The Center Bar, Bonita Springs
April 13th – Ruby’s Elixir – Special guests of The Cash Box Kings for the Tampa Bay Blues Festival After Party, St. Petersburg FL
