March 11, 2012

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The Wilson Pickett story is almost a stereotype of rock ’n’ roll clichés: a troubled childhood saved by a love of music; a brilliant talent brought low by reckless indulgence; and a difficult relationship with the music business — the first demo he sent to Atlantic records, If You Need Me, was promptly given to Solomon Burke and turned into a hit.

To capture the nuances of such a temperamental personality you need someone with an insight into coping with volatile urges. Step forward Roger Daltrey, who managed to curb his pugnacious manner of dealing with band members when the Who went stratospheric. He describes Pickett’s rise and fall with an obsessive fan’s eye for detail and crowd-pleasing tales of colourful incidents. Like Pickett’s Mustang Sally, it’s a wild and crazy ride.

About The Program

Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the Who, presents a profile of the soul singer, revealing the troubled private life of the man behind hits including In the Midnight Hour, Land of 1,000 Dances and Mustang Sally. With contributions by musician Steve Cropper, Pickett's former partner Dovie Hall and fellow soul stars Bobby Womack and Eddie Floyd.

The Wicked Pickett: The Life and Times of Wilson Pickett is on Radio 2 on Monday 12 March at 10pm.